Walker's meals not always a 'brown bag'

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Records show Republican Scott Walker's campaign for governor has spent thousands of dollars on meals, sometimes at expensive restaurants, despite his claim he is so cheap he packs his lunch every day.

Walker's campaign has launched a Web site, www.brownbagmovement.com, where he talks about packing his brown bag lunch to save money. Supporters can even buy lunch bags that promote his anti-tax philosophy on the site.

But campaign finance records show Walker's campaign has rang up big tabs at some restaurants for meetings, including more than $2,000 at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Middleton in October.

Jay Heck of Common Cause in Wisconsin says the campaign's free spending on meals does not square with the image of the candidate it is promoting.

Walker campaign spokeswoman Jill Bader says that criticism is absurd and the spending was appropriate.