Letters raise questions for Jeff Stone

This story is a little complicated, but worth the effort to tell.

It involves State Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale), his campaign treasurer, Thomas Burant, and Burant's niece, Katie.

Katie, a 10th grader at Cedar Grove Belgium High School, has been accepted as a member of Wisconsin's People to People student ambassador program to England, Wales and Ireland this summer. The 20-day program costs $5,370, and Katie set out to raise the money.

Stone sent her a contribution, along with a letter on State Assembly stationery, praising the program and her efforts.

So far, so good. But then Katie's Uncle Tom, Stone's treasurer, wrote a fund-raising letter on "Friends of Jeff Stone" letterhead, signing it with his title of treasurer. He asked recipients to help his niece, Katie, with a contribution. He also enclosed a letter from Katie and Stone's letter to Katie.

We don't know exactly who received the letter, but it refers to "the generosity of businesses such as yours," so it presumably went to businesses. It also went to some lobbyists.

"Corporate contributions are welcome," Burant said in his letter, repeating near the end that, "We request a corporate or personal check ..."

But it was the last sentence of Burant's letter that really raises questions. "Miss Burant will forward to Representative Stone copies of all checks and letters received immediately upon receipt."

Does that sound like a corporate shakedown or what?

The Ethics Board, apparently contacted by a lobbyist who received the letter, "investigated," if that's what you call it. At least, they asked Stone what the deal was.

Stone said he did not authorize or know about the solicitation. The Ethics Board then sent an e-mail to its list of registered lobbyists, saying that Stone was in the clear, and attaching a letter from Stone, saying the Burant letter was sent "without his approval and without the use of campaign resources," and asking that no lobbyists or their clients send any contributions. Stone said he would ask that any such contributions be returned.

Unanswered questions:

What about corporate contributions from businesses who do not employ any of the lobbyists who were solicited? Will they be returned, too? Whether they're returned or not, will Stone get copies of the checks?

And, finally, is Tom Burant still Stone's campaign treasurer?