A political watchdog says million dollar legislative campaigns show spending on politics is out of control in Wisconsin. The state Assembly’s Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform is holding hearings to get public input on taxpayer financing of elections. So what’s wrong with the current system? Mike McCabe with the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign asserts campaign spending by Wisconsin legislative candidates is out of control.
Contrast that, says McCabe, with the situation in Minnesota, where public financing allows legislative candidates to spend less time raising money and more time representing their constituents. It wasn’t always that way, says McCabe.
For example, Minnesota has a five dollar tax form checkoff which raises money for campaigns. Wisconsin also has a checkoff but it’s only a dollar, and there’s very low participation, meaning very little money is generated for campaign finances.
The ‘clean elections tour’ hearings got underway Thursday in Madison and, via video teleconference, Green Bay. Two more will be held in the Milwaukee area and Eau Claire.
