New lobbying reports show Potawatomi spending big to kill competition

And the results are in: According to a new report filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Board, the Forest County Potawatomi spent $183,284 lobbying in Madison from January to June of 2007. More than half of that - 55 percent - was focused specifically on pushing Potawatomi's anti-competition agenda in the State Capitol, either through a bill known as AB-205 or unnamed "matters related to off-reservation casinos."

The new records show that Potawatomi's high-priced lobbyists spent 139 hours trying to sell legislators on AB-205, an anti-competition measure that would require legislative approval, on top of the Governor's signature, for new off-reservation gaming in Wisconsin. Even people in Milwaukee think AB-205 is a bad idea, but Potawatomi supports it because it essentially puts a government lock on the monopoly their off-reservation Milwaukee casino has held for nearly two decades.

The records show that the Potawatomi spent more time on AB-205 than any other Wisconsin Tribe or organization - and certainly far more than those associated with the Kenosha casino project can afford to spend fighting it. That's really no surprise, because the Potawatomi have worked tirelessly (but unsuccessfully) over the past two sessions to push through similar anti-competition legislation that would maintain their monopoly.

It should be noted that the $183,284 figure doesn't represent the full dollar amount Potawatomi's plunked down to stamp out competition - it's just six months' worth of lobbying costs. When you add in research, public relations work, advertising, talking with media, polling and more, it totals some pretty hefty Potawatomi checks. But no one ever said government-backed monopolies come cheap.

If you're wondering how Potawatomi's lobbying expenditures stack up against other big Wisconsin entities, here are some examples. During the same timeframe, the state's largest healthcare provider recorded $189,716 in lobbying costs. The state's largest brewer spent $66,195. The state's largest telecommunications provider - which is mired in a hot and heavy competition debate of its own - spent $205,451.

When it comes to throwing money around in Madison, the competition-fearing Potawatomi are going "all in" in hopes of keeping one of the state's poorest tribes, the Menominee, from having a seat at the table. Shame on you, Potawatomi. Competition is good for everyone.

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