MADISON – Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) offered the Democratic weekly radio address today. In his radio message, Sen. Hansen highlighted the Taxpayer Protection Act which would increase public transparency for politicians running for higher office.

"Lately, Gov. Scott Walker is more difficult to find in Wisconsin than the Milwaukee Lion. While he travels the country and the world to run for president, the people of Wisconsin are too often footing the bill." - Sen. Dave Hansen

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here:

http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen30/hansenradio8.27.15.mp3

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hi. I’m Senator Dave Hansen with this week’s Democratic radio address. Lately, Gov. Scott Walker is more difficult to find in Wisconsin than the Milwaukee Lion. While he travels the country and the world to run for president, the people of Wisconsin are too often footing the bill. Since taking office Governor Walker has charged Wisconsin taxpayers over $7 million for his security including over $138,000 for his trip to London. And we still don’t know the costs for his trips to Israel, Germany, France, Spain and Canada.

“Wisconsin taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for Gov. Walker’s – or any state official’s – trips that are primarily taken for seeking higher office. Under a new bill that Representative Katrina Shankland and I have put forward, any state official who is running for – or considering running for – higher office would be required to submit a monthly travel form that lists any trips taken, along with their itineraries and an itemized list of expenses and security costs and who paid for them.

“They must also state whether it was a campaign-related trip or if any campaign-related events took place during the trip. More importantly, the bill would require any campaign-related expenses to be repaid to the state in a timely manner. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund the political ambitions of this governor or any state elected official. Thank you.”