MADISON - A rule banning Wisconsin Assembly members from raising funds during debate of the state budget is a "step in the right direction," Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said Wednesday.
But while he was pleased by the rule's passage by a bipartisan committee, he thinks more needs to be done.
"Ultimately, I believe we will not have real reform until a bill is passed that has the power of the law behind it," Davis said Wednesday in a news release. "As the co-sponsor of a bill that would extend the fundraising ban to members of the state Senate and the governor, I am hopeful the leadership of both houses will schedule the legislation for a full floor vote."
The rule approved Wednesday by the eight-member Assembly Organization Committee applies only to the Assembly. And because it is a rule, not a law, there are no criminal or civil penalties for violations. A lawmaker who breaks the rule could be subject to penalties within the Assembly, such as removal from a committee or censure.
Three Republicans on the committee argued that it would be better to pass a law, but they supported the rule change. It was placed in the Assembly's policy manual.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a government watchdog group, called the rule change a positive first step. Lawmakers held more than 100 fundraisers during debate of the last budget, which was more than four months late, the Democracy Campaign said.
The state Republican Party called on Gov. Jim Doyle to voluntarily stop fundraising during the budget.
Doyle said last week he would not do that. Instead, Doyle said he favors a law that applies to everyone, not just the Assembly. Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Schofield, hasn't shown any interest in passing a similar ban, saying the existing fundraising limitations are sufficient.
Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, agreed to debate a bill proposed by Rep. Mark Gottlieb, R-Port Washington, that would put the ban in law. That bill is one of several campaign finance reform proposals that have been introduced.
The ban approved Wednesday only affects individuals, not the committees organized to elect Republicans or Democrats to the Assembly. Members of the Assembly running for another elected office also would not be covered and could raise money for those campaigns.
Even with those loopholes, which allow campaign donations to be funneled to the party's committees instead of individual lawmakers, Democratic leaders said they were taking a bold step.
Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, said a similar rule prohibiting lawmakers from accepting donations from political action committees has proven effective.
But while he was pleased by the rule's passage by a bipartisan committee, he thinks more needs to be done.
"Ultimately, I believe we will not have real reform until a bill is passed that has the power of the law behind it," Davis said Wednesday in a news release. "As the co-sponsor of a bill that would extend the fundraising ban to members of the state Senate and the governor, I am hopeful the leadership of both houses will schedule the legislation for a full floor vote."
The rule approved Wednesday by the eight-member Assembly Organization Committee applies only to the Assembly. And because it is a rule, not a law, there are no criminal or civil penalties for violations. A lawmaker who breaks the rule could be subject to penalties within the Assembly, such as removal from a committee or censure.
Three Republicans on the committee argued that it would be better to pass a law, but they supported the rule change. It was placed in the Assembly's policy manual.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a government watchdog group, called the rule change a positive first step. Lawmakers held more than 100 fundraisers during debate of the last budget, which was more than four months late, the Democracy Campaign said.
The state Republican Party called on Gov. Jim Doyle to voluntarily stop fundraising during the budget.
Doyle said last week he would not do that. Instead, Doyle said he favors a law that applies to everyone, not just the Assembly. Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Schofield, hasn't shown any interest in passing a similar ban, saying the existing fundraising limitations are sufficient.
Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, agreed to debate a bill proposed by Rep. Mark Gottlieb, R-Port Washington, that would put the ban in law. That bill is one of several campaign finance reform proposals that have been introduced.
The ban approved Wednesday only affects individuals, not the committees organized to elect Republicans or Democrats to the Assembly. Members of the Assembly running for another elected office also would not be covered and could raise money for those campaigns.
Even with those loopholes, which allow campaign donations to be funneled to the party's committees instead of individual lawmakers, Democratic leaders said they were taking a bold step.
Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, said a similar rule prohibiting lawmakers from accepting donations from political action committees has proven effective.