Maybe this will finally be the legislative session when the Wisconsin Legislature can pass campaign finance reform. In the least, we should be able to enact into law issue ad regulation. I have since my first swearing-in, supported, as an author, comprehensive campaign finance reform. I still believe this is the best way to improve out antiquated campaign finance system. We have not updated the laws since the mid-1970s and obviously a lot has changed since then, especially the value of the dollar spent in an election.
With Senator Ellis, I have proposed increased spending caps for those who voluntarily comply with spending and contribution limits in the Wisconsin Clean Election Fund, increased dollar amounts of the public grant (45 percent), caps on conduit contributions, elimination of the leadership campaign committees, so-called issue ad regulation, and matching funds for independent expenditures including regulated issue ads. This comprehensive, bipartisan, fair campaign finance reform package will be reintroduced this session. I am unsure, however, if it will move because of its fiscal tag and the state's dire financial situation. However, I still will fight to make it happen. In the least we should enact regulation of "issue ads".
Issue ads are run by groups that have been allowed by the courts to operate outside of current law in Wisconsin. That means they spend money in elections, clearly to influence an election, but they do not have to register their group. We cannot know who their officers are, and they can spend money that is otherwise illegal in the political process. There have been attempts to regulate issue ads in the past, most notable the federal law that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in the summer of 1997. The decision said we cannot ban issue ads because there is some legitimate purpose for true issue ads that are for purposes of lobbying the public. In this decision, we were given a clear path by Chief Justice Roberts who wrote the decision on how to move ahead. That's exactly what I will try to do again this session. Legitimate issue ads will be allowed, but an ad that cannot reasonably be interpreted to be anything other than a campaign expense will be required to raise and spend money like other campaigns. There are a strict set of rules that really should curb the illegal activity and bring some civility and responsibility back to political campaigns.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th State Senate District.
With Senator Ellis, I have proposed increased spending caps for those who voluntarily comply with spending and contribution limits in the Wisconsin Clean Election Fund, increased dollar amounts of the public grant (45 percent), caps on conduit contributions, elimination of the leadership campaign committees, so-called issue ad regulation, and matching funds for independent expenditures including regulated issue ads. This comprehensive, bipartisan, fair campaign finance reform package will be reintroduced this session. I am unsure, however, if it will move because of its fiscal tag and the state's dire financial situation. However, I still will fight to make it happen. In the least we should enact regulation of "issue ads".
Issue ads are run by groups that have been allowed by the courts to operate outside of current law in Wisconsin. That means they spend money in elections, clearly to influence an election, but they do not have to register their group. We cannot know who their officers are, and they can spend money that is otherwise illegal in the political process. There have been attempts to regulate issue ads in the past, most notable the federal law that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in the summer of 1997. The decision said we cannot ban issue ads because there is some legitimate purpose for true issue ads that are for purposes of lobbying the public. In this decision, we were given a clear path by Chief Justice Roberts who wrote the decision on how to move ahead. That's exactly what I will try to do again this session. Legitimate issue ads will be allowed, but an ad that cannot reasonably be interpreted to be anything other than a campaign expense will be required to raise and spend money like other campaigns. There are a strict set of rules that really should curb the illegal activity and bring some civility and responsibility back to political campaigns.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th State Senate District.
