Bice: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's 'once-in-a-lifetime' Alaska cruise canceled
You may have to settle for the Dells this year.
That's because Gov. Scott Walker'sChristian cruise to Alaska won't be setting sail this summer, after all.
Officials confirmed they have canceled the "inspirational" cruise that Walker and first lady Tonette Walker were planning to lead on Aug. 12-19. The Walkers were to be accompanied as hosts by a small group of evangelical Christian leaders and musicians.
A brochure for the event was taken off the website for Inspiration Cruises & Tours over the weekend. Lifeshape, an Atlanta-based evangelical nonprofit that was organizing the trip, had asked the Walkers to host the cruise earlier this year.
"We were notified by Lifeshape that it was canceled due to scheduling issues," said Walker spokesman Tom Evenson.
Lifeshape CEO Larry Cox did not return calls or emails this week.
His nonprofit was founded by Trudy Cathy White, whose father founded Chick-fil-A Inc. She was planning to join the Walker cruise along with gospel singer Wes Hampton and conservative Christian brothers and entrepreneurs Jason and David Benham, who lost their planned HGTV show in 2014 for their anti-gay remarks at a prayer rally.
According to an online pitch for the cruise, Walker promised that the "once-in-a-lifetime" trip would have featured faith, freedom and family values. The cruise would have cost between $1,298 and $3,368, depending on the size of the cabin and its view, according to a brochure.
Government watchdog groups had expressed concern that Lifeshape was offering the cruise to the Walkers free of charge. State ethics rules say Wisconsin officeholders can't use their positions to obtain something of value for them or their families.
Walker was awaiting advice from the state Ethics Commission on whether the invitation complied with state law.
That, of course, is now no longer necessary.
Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @ DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.