A plan to allow public financing of Supreme Court elections clears a legislative committee.
The proposed legislation would allow candidates for the Supreme Court to fund their campaigns with money collected from a tax check-off and the state’s general fund. State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) says the bill will bring integrity back to the high court, which has been tainted after recent elections because of heavy spending by outside groups during the campaigns.
However, state Representative Robin Vos (R-Racine) says the measure just makes taxpayers foot the bill for judicial campaigns. State estimates put the price tag of public financing at about $3.5 million. Vos says that money could be better spent elsewhere.
The Joint Finance Committee approved the plan Tuesday on an 11-4 party-line vote. The Legislature could vote on it later this week.