Walker Cancels Grant for Controversial Sportsmen’s Group
By Patrick Lynn
Governor Scott Walker canceled a controversial $500k grant to a little- known sportsmen’s group late Thursday following new information about the group’s tax exempt status.
The recently- founded United Sportsmen of Wisconsin was the lone bidder for the grant which was designed to promote hunting, trapping and fishing throughout the state. The grant approval came under fire last week when it was discovered the group had no experience promoting or training Wisconsin’s already- widely exercised sporting heritage.
During the application process the group’s president Andy Pantzlaff told a state sporting committee his group was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and similar information was on letterhead from the group sent to the state. But the group has not yet been approved for tax exempt status from the IRS, which it applied for in March.
“Mr. Pantzlaff did not speak directly with the foundation’s counsel concerning the 501(c)(3) status, and was mistaken about the exemption process,” said a statement issued by United Sportsmen of Wisconsin. “There was no intent to mislead anyone and … the foundation apologizes for any confusion caused by this misunderstanding.”
Pantzlaff was also cited in 2005 for hunting with an improper license. State records indicate the citation was a municipal violation and not criminal.
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp said the group still qualifies for the money but she was ordered by Walker Thursday night to stop the process of finalizing the grant.
“We also agreed that it is essential for any organization that receives financial support from the state to have the trust of the public in its capabilities to produce concrete results,” Stepp said in a statement.