March 16 — March 22, 2015
The Billionaire Roofer Behind Scott Walker
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Diane Hendricks’s cash has helped propel the Wisconsin governor into the GOP’s top ranks “It’s sad that we vote for and elect officials to run our state, run our country, over social issues” Wisconsin’s Republican Governor Scott Walker hasn’t formally announced he’s running for president in 2016, but Democrats have already begun treating him like a threat. On March 9, Walker finished the latest chapter in his four-year fight against unions by signing legislation that makes it illegal for them to charge private-sector workers compulsory dues. Hours later, President Obama took the unusual step of rebuking a sitting governor. “Wisconsin is a state built by labor,” the president said. “Even as its governor claims victory over working Americans, I’d encourage him to try and score a victory for working Americans—by taking meaningful action to raise their wages and offer them the security of paid leave.” Walker wasted no time responding. “The president should be looking to states, like Wisconsin, as an example
his plans to crack down on organized for how to grow our economy,” he labor with new laws limiting unionsaid in a statement. The exchange organizing power, such as the one he cemented Walker’s status as a darling just signed, often referred to as “right of anti-Obama conservatives—and as a to work” legislation. “Any chance we’ll front-runner for the GOP nomination ever get to be a completely red state— alongside former Florida Governor Jeb work on these unions and become Bush. It was also a win for the person a right to work?” Hendricks asked. who’s done more than anyone to help Walker’s reply: “The first step is we’re Walker’s ascent: Diane Hendricks, going to deal with collective bargaining the billionaire head of the largest U.S. for all public-employee unions, because wholesale roofing supply company. you use divide and conquer.” Hendricks, whose ABC Supply is Since the death of her husband based in Beloit, Wis., is Walker’s biggest and business partner, Ken, in 2007, individual political benefactor. She’s Hendricks has plowed given more than $540,000 to his millions into conservatwo gubernatorial campaigns and “Any chance we’ll ever get to tive causes. According to to his successful effort to defeat a the Center for Responsive 2012 recall vote. She gave an addi- be a completely red state?” tional $1 million to the Wisconsin —Diane Hendricks, Politics, a nonprofit in Republican Party. Hendricks Washington that tracks to Scott Walker became a lightning rod during the political spending, she gave recall after Walker’s opponents $1 million to the conservative Freedom Partners found footage of them discussing
