Race
for the Capitol 2002
Spectators and Sponsors
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Wisconsin elections
are a lot like NASCAR® races. The contestants in Wisconsin's
elections are backed by a few well-heeled sponsors while the voters are
(mostly reluctant) spectators. In NASCAR® races, however, the
spectators usually know the identity of the sponsors and actually want
to watch the race. Most eligible Wisconsin
voters made no financial contribution to the 2002 election campaign. As
few as 13 out of 100 voters contributed indirectly to candidates by donating
a dollar to the Wisconsin Election Campaign Fund (WECF)
through their income tax forms, but fewer than four out of a hundred made
any direct contributions to candidates. |
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The
3.5% of the population making direct contributions to candidates in 2002
gave $15.9 million or nearly 97% of all the money from direct individual
contributions and the WECF grant in the election year. Those
who gave $100 or more provided $13.6 million, those giving less than $100,
$2.3 million, and contributors through the WECF grant $515,000. The result?
Voters are ignored and subjected to insulting
campaign ads while large donors are granted
budgetary favors and special consideration in
policy-making. |
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