Bucks’ Arena Meets Politics

The Milwaukee Bucks say they have ponied up $300 million toward a proposed $500 million replacement for BMO Harris Bradley Center, but will need some public funding assistance to complete the package.

But Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry jeopardized approval of a plan because he greeted President Barack Obama at the city’s airport last month.

Vos, a Republican, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Lasry’s appearance “did not make my job easier” in terms of convincing Republicans that control both houses of the state legislature to back a possible financial plan to build a new, multipurpose arena in Milwaukee.

Lasry’s son, Alex, is a former Obama White House aide and a Bucks VP. In addition, Lasry has given nearly $300,000 to Democratic candidates and causes over the last decade.

Vos told the paper the Bucks will need to offer a detailed plan for the arena and show lawmakers that it will boost the area’s economy, and that others in the legislature would be less open to providing help for the Bucks than he is.

His comments didn’t go unnoticed. Advocacy group One Wisconsin Now on Nov. 12 asked Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisolm and Racine County District Attorney W. Richard Ciapete to investigate similar, televised comments made by Vos to WISN-TV’s Mike Gousha.

The groups says Vos may have broken a state law barring public officials from promising to take, or not take, official actions because of political contributions. Vos

told the Journal-Sentinel the group was creating “political mischief” and he was simply being honest about the proposal.

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