MILWAUKEE, WI (AP)-- A $500,000 grant appears headed to a group with ties to Republican insiders that's lobbied for less regulation of iron mining and development in wetlands.
The United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation formed in January. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports it was the only applicant for a scantly noticed grant to promote hunting, fishing and trapping. The group has no record of its own in outdoors training.
A special panel reviews the application Thursday.
United Sportsmen has ties to allies of outgoing Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder, including donors, lobbyists and his former chief of staff.
Suder says the grant process was fair and open and United Sportsmen is "eminently qualified."
But George Meyer of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation says it looks like the grant was designed for one group.
