The abandoned plan by state Assembly Democratic leaders to attend a campaign golf fundraiser next week proves at least two things.
A little public pressure actually can persuade politicians to do the right thing.
The rules restricting fundraising during budgeting must be toughened.
The Assembly earlier this year touted a rule it passed that prohibits members from raising funds for their personal political campaigns while the state budget is being crafted. The rule is intended to lessen the influence of special interests in the budget process.
A problem, though, is that the rule is not a law. There are no penalties for violations. Another issue is that the rule extends only to the Assembly, not the Senate.
And Democratic leaders just exposed another loophole in the rule. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, and Majority Leader Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, both planned to attend a $1,000-a-head golf outing June 15 in Wisconsin Dells. The funds would go to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee. The budget still will be very much in play on June 15.
Last week, the Democrats claimed attending the fundraiser didn't violate the Assembly rule because there wouldn't be money raised specifically for their own campaigns. Yet the Democratic Campaign Committee does disperse funds to individual candidates. It was a flimsy argument, at best.
After Republican Party criticisms and an editorial spanking from the Wisconsin State Journal, the Democratic leaders relented Monday, saying the golf event will be moved to a later date - after the budget is complete.
What theLegislature should do is make the fundraising ban a law that has some teeth to it. Then ban all fundraising, including party committee events.
A little public pressure actually can persuade politicians to do the right thing.
The rules restricting fundraising during budgeting must be toughened.
The Assembly earlier this year touted a rule it passed that prohibits members from raising funds for their personal political campaigns while the state budget is being crafted. The rule is intended to lessen the influence of special interests in the budget process.
A problem, though, is that the rule is not a law. There are no penalties for violations. Another issue is that the rule extends only to the Assembly, not the Senate.
And Democratic leaders just exposed another loophole in the rule. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, and Majority Leader Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, both planned to attend a $1,000-a-head golf outing June 15 in Wisconsin Dells. The funds would go to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee. The budget still will be very much in play on June 15.
Last week, the Democrats claimed attending the fundraiser didn't violate the Assembly rule because there wouldn't be money raised specifically for their own campaigns. Yet the Democratic Campaign Committee does disperse funds to individual candidates. It was a flimsy argument, at best.
After Republican Party criticisms and an editorial spanking from the Wisconsin State Journal, the Democratic leaders relented Monday, saying the golf event will be moved to a later date - after the budget is complete.
What theLegislature should do is make the fundraising ban a law that has some teeth to it. Then ban all fundraising, including party committee events.
