Scott Walker’s $400 Million Arena Subsidy Belies His Tightfisted Image
The Republican runs the risk of rankling conservatives in those places who believe government shouldn’t choose economic winners.
Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign stop in Davenport, Iowa, U.S., on Friday, July 17, 2015.
Photographer: Daniel Acker/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Governor Scott Walker’s fiscal conservatism will collide with the reality of sports-team subsidies when he commits Wisconsin taxpayers to pay $400 million for a new basketball arena.
At Wednesday’s signing, the Republican presidential candidate’s message of being a tightfisted taxpayer champion will be weighed against public costs spread over 20 years. The ceremony also may draw attention to the $200,000 that the co-owners of the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks donated to a group backing his campaign.