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==Repudiation of the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Grant==
On August 29, 2013, The United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation was named the recipient of a $500,000 grant by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The endowment came under intense scrutiny, as United Sportsmen was the sole applicant for the grant. The grant was poorly advertised and included terms that excluded most sporting groups in the state, despite its alleged purpose to promote hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin.<ref name="group"/> Moreover, United Sportsmen had no record of outdoors training - but according to the ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,'' did demonstrate "close ties to GOP politicians."<ref name=Sportsmen> Paul Smith and Jason Stein, [http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/dnr-ousts-longtime-operator-of-environmental-center-b9991886z1-222615021.html Scott Walker Cancels $500,000 Grant to Sportsmen's Group with GOP Ties], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', September 5, 2013.</ref>
Assembly Majority Leader at the time, [[Scott Suder]], was reportedly the organizer of the deal. According to the ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'':
:"In May and June, Suder had worked with other GOP lawmakers to insert a provision into the state budget creating a grant so narrowly tailored that the United Sportsmen Foundation was all but assured of receiving it."
According to Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), this is not how the grant was proposed to the budget committee. Mason noted that he initially thought the grant would be competitive -- but later came to believe, "in hindsight, [the grant] seems like a sweetheart deal for one group that has ties to Scott Suder."<ref name="group">Jason Stein and Paul Smith, [http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/sportsmens-grant-criticized-as-sweetheart-deal-for-group-b9982384z1-221015581.html#ixzz2ilNTDY5F Group with no training record may get $500,000 over 2 years], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', August 25, 2013.</ref>
The Journal Sentinel also pointed to Suder's emails and a planned fishing trip with the head of United Sportsmen in August of 2013 as evidence of Suder's relationship to the group. The emails also reveal Suder and United Sportmen had ties to the conservative advocacy group [[Americans for Prosperity.]] <ref name="fishing trip">Patrick Marley and Jason Stein, [http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/fishing-trip-underscores-close-ties-between-suder-united-sportsmen-b99108668z1-225745101.html Fishing Trip Underscores Close Ties Between Suder, United Sportsmen], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', September 30, 2013.</ref>
The deal was cancelled on September 5, 2013, after it was revealed that United Sportsmen's President Andy Pantzlaff "misrepresented [United Sportmens'] federal tax-exempt status to state officials throughout the grant process." <ref name="Sportsmen"/>
The response to Suder's alleged deal was significant. Sportsmen were "outraged" and "the liberal group One Wisconsin Now filed an ethics complaint with the state Government Accountability Board over the matter."<ref name="PSC"/> As a result of the public outcry, Suder --who was already appointed to work for the Public Service Commission--did not accept the position. In his brief resignation, he stated:
"I want to thank you for offering me an opportunity to work with the Public Service Commission, however I must respectfully decline as I have decided to accept a position in the private sector at the Wisconsin Paper Council. Thank you for your consideration."<ref name="PSC">Jason Stein, [http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/former-lawmaker-at-center-of-grant-controversy-steps-away-from-psc-job-b99112647z1-226336791.html#ixzz2ilRQzJMQ Scott Suder steps away from job in Scott Walker's administration], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', October 3, 2013.</ref>
The investigation is led by former federal prosecutor Francis Schmitz -- who was once a finalist for U.S. Attorney under George W. Bush -- and is being overseen by Kenosha County Judge Barbara A. Kluka.
==2012 Recall Election==
