[Appleton, WI] – Today, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel released a report looking into extraordinarily outrageous expenditures by Lieutenant Governor Barnes and found that he abused taxpayer dollars and state-funded security for personal trips around the state.
Highlights include:
- Barnes charged the taxpayers more than $600,000 worth of security expenses from the State Patrol for travel and security to participate in personal events such as marathons, concerts, and an untold number of campaign events.
- Barnes has charged taxpayers an average of nearly 14 hours a day of paid private security through the State Patrol, including weekends and holidays.
- His expenses for security and travel are more than 10 times the amount former Lt. Governor Kleefisch used.
“The egregious spending by Lieutenant Governor Barnes to be chauffeured around for personal activities and events is a slap in the face to the hardworking taxpayers of Wisconsin,” said Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Paul Farrow. “As a staunch supporter of the ‘Defund the Police’ movement, Barnes has displayed his hypocrisy and open contempt for law enforcement and disregard for Wisconsin taxpayers while only serving himself.”
