UPDATED Wednesday, February 17, 2010 --- 7:45 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says his relationship with a payday lending industry lobbyist is over and he wants to put a painful chapter in his life behind him.

Sheridan also apologized for making initial public statements that minimized the extent of his relationship with the lobbyist, Shanna Wycoff.

Sheridan says he was uncomfortable talking about his personal life, and he understands why there was a perception that he was being misleading but that was not his intent.

Sheridan, who is going through a divorce, says the episode has been hard on his family and his colleagues in the Legislature and he wants to move on.

Sheridan spoke after the Assembly approved a bill Tuesday evening to regulate the payday lending industry.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Friday, February 12, 2010 --- 4:30 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A spokeswoman says Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan has reimbursed the state for questionable travel expenses, including a $320 flight for which he was inappropriately reimbursed twice.

Records released Friday show Sheridan was reimbursed $320 by both his campaign and the state for a flight to a conference in California in November.

Spokeswoman Rebekah Sweeney says Sheridan 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.

She says Sheridan's office discovered the mistake this week and immediately repaid the state. She says Sheridan also paid back $311 for other expenses.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Friday, February 12, 2010 --- 3:05 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin residents angry about their Democratic Assembly Speaker's relationship with a lobbyist have sent him insulting e-mails, including some calling for his expulsion from his leadership position.

Assembly Democrats have stood by Mike Sheridan since he admitted dating a lobbyist for the payday loan industry in a Jan. 30 Janesville Gazette story.

Sheridan has said he's done nothing inappropriate even though legislation to strengthen state regulation of the industry is being considered by the Assembly.

But his assurances aren't enough for some members of the public. At least one e-mail sent to him this week says he's not taking the issue seriously enough.

Messages released Friday to The Associated Press show there also were a handful of encouraging notes.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED: Monday, February 1, 2010 --- 4:42 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Democratic Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says there is nothing wrong with him dating a lobbyist for the payday loan industry.

Sheridan said Monday during an interview in his Capitol office that he dated the woman off and on for a few months. He says it did not compromise his work as leader of the Assembly.

The lobbyist, Shanna Wycoff, is listed as the manager of government affairs for Cincinnati-based Axcess Financial, which owns the payday lending chain Check 'n Go.

She did not return calls and e-mails seeking comment.

Last year Sheridan expressed concerns with a bill that would increase regulation of the industry. He previously supported a similar bill.

Sheridan says he is not stopping the new bill and his personal relationship won't affect how he handles it.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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POSTED: Monday, February 1, 2010 --- 11:24 am

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Democratic Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan tells the Janesville Gazette newspaper that he has been dating a lobbyist for the payday loan industry even though a bill to increase regulations in that industry is pending in the Legislature.

Sheridan told the newspaper in a story published on Saturday that he didn't believe the relationship with the lobbyist was inappropriate.

Sheridan says he plans to steer a strong bill through the Legislature.

He says he understands that his integrity is being questioned, but he would not compromise the bill for a personal relationship.

Sheridan declined to identify the woman, saying he's dated her for several months but doesn't know whether he will again.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.