Thompson Just a Guy From Elroy?

Republican Senate candidate Tommy Thompson says he is still just a “gentleman from Elroy,” despite becoming a multi-millionaire and refusing to release his latest tax returns. Democrats say Thompson has changed.

State Democrats continue to pressure Thompson to release up to 10 years of tax returns, as Democratic Senate hopeful Tammy Baldwin has done. The Democrats say they will keep the heat on the former Republican governor, who grew up in Elroy. At a news briefing on Saturday, Thompson said having money has not made him less transparent.

Democrats say they wonder if Thompson made a major error on any of his tax returns since departing as governor in 2000, becoming a Cabinet member and then a consultant to corporations. Thompson made a couple of errors in the mid-1990s, when he improperly claimed a full deduction for one of his daughters. State Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate says Thompson is no longer a college student from Juneau County.

Thompson reports his financial assets now top $13 million. He says he has nothing to hide in his unreleased tax returns, and he is still that same guy from Elroy.