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Sheridan pays back state for double-billed flight

By RYAN J. FOLEY

Associated Press Writer

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan paid back the state $631 for inappropriate travel expenses Friday, including a flight for which he was inappropriately reimbursed twice.

Records released Friday show Sheridan was reimbursed $320 both by his campaign and the state to attend the annual meeting of the Council of State Governments in La Quinta, Calif. in November.

Sheridan said he had not requested reimbursement from the state for the flight, but was erroneously given the money when his flight itinerary was submitted to the Assembly chief clerk with other travel materials.

Sheridan said his office discovered the mistake when reviewing his expenses this week. He said the flight was the cheapest available, but also required him to stay an extra day in La Quinta at a cost of $311. He paid back the state for that amount, too.

Sheridan spokeswoman Rebekah Sweeney characterized the extra expenses as an honest mistake, but the news was the latest setback for Sheridan, a Janesville Democrat already reeling from questions about his relationship with a payday lending industry lobbyist.

Sweeney said earlier this week that the lobbyist Sheridan has admitted dating, Shanna Wycoff, attended the California conference and another conference Sheridan attended in October in Georgia. She said they both went in their professional roles and did not travel together or share hotel rooms.

Sheridan filed for divorce from his wife in October.

The Democratic-controlled Assembly is expected to consider a bill Tuesday to regulate the payday lending industry. Republicans are accusing Democrats of rushing through the bill to distract attention from Sheridan’s problems.

Some Democrats, meanwhile, are upset the bill isn’t as strong as an original proposal that would have capped the interest rate that payday lenders could charge at 36 percent. Sheridan supported a similar plan in a previous session, but reversed course last year and referred the bill to a committee, where it died.

The news of the double-billing came Friday as Sheridan filed an amended campaign finance report with greater detail on his expenses. A report filed earlier this month failed to break down some $5,000 in travel and other spending as required by law. Separately, the Assembly chief clerk’s office also released records on Sheridan’s California trip expenses.