Hijacking Justice 2007

Independent Expenditures in the 2007 Supreme Court Campaign

Posted: February 28, 2007
Updated: October 31, 2007

PACs that made independent expenditures in the 2007 Supreme Court election. Links to information on past independent spending since 2000 are also provided.

Concerned Business & Industry

This political action committee is run by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. WMC does its reported independent spending through this group but spends far more on "issue advocacy." WMC also runs a conduit called the Capitol Gains Club through which it makes direct contributions to candidates.

Supported: Ziegler
Spent: $36,100

Last independent spending: 2004

Fair Wisconsin PAC

This is the new political action committee of Action Wisconsin in Madison and Center Advocates in Milwaukee. Fair Wisconsin was previously registered as a referendum group in 2006 to campaign against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin. This is the first time it has supported a candidate or made independent expenditures.

Supported: Clifford
Spent: $4,547

Greater Wisconsin Committee PAC

This is the political action committee of a Milwaukee-based group formed in mid-2004 that uses negative radio, television and newspaper advertising and mailings to support Democratic candidates and oppose Republican candidates. The group draws its cash from labor, lawyer, tribal and business interests. Originally it restricted itself to issue ads which it also produced and aired during the Supreme Court race.

Supported: Clifford
Spent: $20,008

Last independent spending: 2006

Human Rights League PAC

Sponsored by the Milwaukee chapter of the Human Rights League for Lesbians and Gays, this PAC seeks to elect candidates who will defend and promote equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

Supported: Clifford
Spent: $287

Last independent spending: 2006

MTI Voters (Madison Teachers Inc)

MTI Voters is the political action committee of Madison Teachers Inc., a union for Madison area public school teachers.

Supported: Clifford
Spent: $3,076

Last independent spending: 2004 • 2003

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is a statewide political action committee formed in 2002 to make independent expenditures on behalf of pro-choice, pro-family planning candidates for state office.

Supported: Clifford
Spent: $35,285

Last independent spending: 2006

TAA-PAC (UW-Madison Teachers Assistants)

University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Teaching Assistants' Association's PAC formed in 2004. Its parent union is the statewide Wisconsin Federation of Teachers Committee on Political Education (WFT-COPE).

Supported: Clifford
Spent: $445

Last independent spending: 2005