Wisconsin's political class isn't letting budget work get in the way of fundraising, in fact far from it. State Senate Republicans attending a game between the Madison Mallards and La Crosse Loggers, and Lieutenant Governor Barb Lawton at a fundraiser for Milwaukee Senate Democrat Lena Taylor, are just a couple of examples of events this week. Meanwhile the legislature's budget conference committee meets, for just the second time, on Wednesday. Jay Heck with Common Cause says there are a couple reasons to ban fundraising during budget time. "They'd get it (the budget) done quicker," says Heck, "because they'd all be very eager to begin campaign fundraising for the next election." Heck also believes a ban on political fundraisers would help restore public confidence in the budget process. By statute, the budget is supposed to be finished by the end of June, but there's no penalty on lawmakers for delaying the process. Heck favors legislation (AB-61) that would ban fundraising while the budget is being worked on. Several other states, including Minnesota and Texas, have such bans in place.
