Wealthy Outsiders Control Legislators’ Job Security
Most contributions come from outside special interests, not constituents
September 18, 2008
Madison - Legislators collectively accepted $2 of every $3 in large individual contributions in 2007 from special interests who lived outside their districts and could not vote for them, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows.
That startling gap in out-of-district and in-district contributions means most legislators are more dependent on distant, wealthy special interests to pay for their election campaigns and help them keep their jobs than they are on their constituents. That also means the policy and spending wish lists of special interests are put ahead of the needs of constituents who rely on their legislators to represent their interests.
Members of the Senate and Assembly raised $2.07 million in $100-plus donations in 2007 of which $1.35 million or 65.3 percent came from business, manufacturing, real estate, construction, banking and other powerful special interests. Only $717,810 or 34.7 percent of the large individual contributions legislators accepted in 2007 came from their constituents. And the latest figures are as bad as those in past, comparable years (see Chart 1).
/district2007/image001.gif "Chart 1: In-District and Out-of-District Contributions to Legislators")
In 2005, legislators raised 71.5 percent or $1.12 million of their $100-plus contributions from wealthy outsiders and only 28.5 percent or $448,715 from their constituents. In 2003, legislators raised $1 million or 67.1 percent of their large contributions from outside their districts and $493,482 or 32.9 percent from constituents.
Other key findings in the WDC analysis include:
- Eleven legislators accepted all of their $100-plus contributions in 2007 from donors outside of their districts, ranging from $100 by Republican Representative Al Ott of Forest Junction to $4,550 by Democratic Representative Fred Kessler of Milwaukee;
- Forty-five – or one-third – of the 132 legislators in the Assembly and Senate accepted 75 percent or more of their campaign cash from donors outside of their districts and 80 legislators accepted 50 percent or more in large individual contributions from outside their districts;
- In dollars, Republican Senator Alberta Darling of River Hills accepted the most contributions of any legislator from outside of her district – $95,807 or 40 percent of the $239,186 in large individual contributions she raised in 2007 (see Table). Darling was followed by Democratic Senator Lena Taylor of Milwaukee who accepted $85,486 or 94 percent of her contributions from outside her legislative district. However, some of those out-of-district contributions were likely from Milwaukee County residents who contributed to her unsuccessful campaign last spring to become county executive. Rounding out the top three was Republican Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch of Onalaska who accepted $72,435 or 83 percent of his total $86,985 in large individual contributions from outside his district;
- Among the four legislative caucuses, the Senate Democrats collected the largest percentage of large individual contributions from outside their districts – 77 percent or $341,484 – and the Senate Republicans collected the lowest percentage – 48 percent or $298,753 (see Chart 2).
Darling faces Democratic Representative Sheldon Wasserman in what may end up being one of the most expensive Senate races in state history. Wasserman raised $33,901 or 56 percent of his total $60,634 in large individual contributions in 2007 from outside his district.
/district2007/image002.gif "Chart 2: 2007 In-District and Out-of-District Contributions by Caucus")
- By party, the legislature’s 65 Democrats collected 74 percent or $598,197 of their large individual contributions from outside their districts and $215,295 or 26 percent from their constituents. The legislature’s 67 Republicans got 60 percent or $755,156 from outside their districts and 40 percent or $502,515 from their constituents;
The ratio for the two Assembly caucuses was nearly the same – Republicans accepted 71 percent or $456,403 from outside their districts and the Democrats accepted 70 percent or $256,713 from outside their districts;
- Only two legislators accepted all of their large individual contributions from inside their districts – Democratic Senator Fred Risser of Madison and Republican Representative Samantha Kerkman of Genoa City who each raised $300. Nineteen other legislators did not raise any large individual contributions in 2007.
Table
In-District and Out-District Large Individual Contributions to Legislators in 2007
Listed in Descending Order by Out-District Contributions
| Legislator | Office | Party | In-District Contributions | In-District Percentage | Out-District Contributions | Out-District Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darling, Alberta | S08 | R | $143,379.00 | 59.94% | $95,807.00 | 40.06% |
| Taylor, Lena C | S04 | D | $5,395.00 | 5.94% | $85,485.65 | 94.06% |
| Huebsch, Michael | A94 | R | $14,550.00 | 16.73% | $72,435.00 | 83.27% |
| Kanavas, Theodore J | S33 | R | $30,100.00 | 29.62% | $71,522.00 | 70.38% |
| Hansen, Dave | S30 | D | $17,403.00 | 20.71% | $66,632.50 | 79.29% |
| Breske, Roger | S12 | D | $17,665.00 | 21.15% | $65,837.76 | 78.85% |
| Wirch, Robert | S22 | D | $14,163.00 | 18.30% | $63,238.00 | 81.70% |
| Colon, Pedro | A08 | D | $1,450.00 | 2.33% | $60,681.50 | 97.67% |
| Fitzgerald, Scott | S13 | R | $12,113.20 | 22.44% | $41,864.36 | 77.56% |
| Vos, Robin | A63 | R | $6,100.00 | 12.98% | $40,912.50 | 87.02% |
| Fitzgerald, Jeff | A39 | R | $3,162.50 | 7.28% | $40,263.50 | 92.72% |
| Wasserman, Sheldon | A22 | D | $26,733.00 | 44.09% | $33,901.00 | 55.91% |
| Davis, Brett H | A80 | R | $14,959.56 | 35.98% | $26,615.00 | 64.02% |
| Kapanke, Dan | S32 | R | $44,699.00 | 62.87% | $26,400.00 | 37.13% |
| Lazich, Mary | S28 | R | $14,600.00 | 38.12% | $23,700.00 | 61.88% |
| Van Roy, Karl | A90 | R | $1,300.00 | 6.22% | $19,593.00 | 93.78% |
| Jorgensen, Andy | A37 | D | $2,760.00 | 12.97% | $18,524.00 | 87.03% |
| Moulton, Terry | A68 | R | $8,515.00 | 31.53% | $18,488.00 | 68.47% |
| Nelson, Thomas | A05 | D | $4,518.00 | 19.76% | $18,343.24 | 80.24% |
| Hines, JA | A42 | R | $11,015.03 | 40.00% | $16,525.00 | 60.00% |
| Kedzie, Neal | S11 | R | $34,959.51 | 68.60% | $16,000.00 | 31.40% |
| Miller, Mark | S16 | D | $15,475.00 | 49.28% | $15,925.00 | 50.72% |
| Murtha, John | A29 | R | $7,013.32 | 30.97% | $15,630.00 | 69.03% |
| Kreuser, James | A64 | D | $1,900.00 | 11.29% | $14,923.00 | 88.71% |
| Mason, Cory | A62 | D | $5,095.00 | 25.86% | $14,610.00 | 74.14% |
| Gunderson, Scott | A83 | R | $1,475.00 | 9.34% | $14,318.00 | 90.66% |
| Garthwaite, Philip C | A49 | D | $3,001.00 | 17.97% | $13,700.00 | 82.03% |
| Wieckert, Steve | A57 | R | $5,100.00 | 27.49% | $13,450.00 | 72.51% |
| Suder, Scott | A69 | R | $3,615.00 | 22.89% | $12,180.00 | 77.11% |
| Hraychuck, Ann | A28 | D | $5,709.00 | 32.07% | $12,091.05 | 67.93% |
| Nerison, Lee A | A96 | R | $2,673.00 | 19.66% | $10,924.00 | 80.34% |
| Newcomer, Scott | A33 | R | $2,150.00 | 16.68% | $10,741.00 | 83.32% |
| Montgomery, Phil | A04 | R | $9,700.00 | 47.72% | $10,625.00 | 52.28% |
| Lasee, Frank | A02 | R | $2,405.00 | 19.23% | $10,100.00 | 80.77% |
| Mursau, Jeffrey L | A36 | R | $2,200.00 | 18.07% | $9,975.00 | 81.93% |
| Stone, Jeff | A82 | R | $2,085.00 | 17.53% | $9,810.00 | 82.47% |
| Kramer, Bill | A97 | R | $5,250.00 | 35.29% | $9,625.00 | 64.71% |
| Soletski, Jim | A88 | D | $3,356.24 | 26.15% | $9,479.00 | 73.85% |
| Williams, Mary | A87 | R | $2,995.00 | 24.74% | $9,109.00 | 75.26% |
| Gundrum, Mark | A84 | R | $3,100.00 | 25.51% | $9,050.00 | 74.49% |
| Harsdorf, Sheila | S10 | R | $21,988.70 | 71.65% | $8,700.00 | 28.35% |
| Hintz, Gordon N | A54 | D | $5,865.00 | 40.99% | $8,445.00 | 59.01% |
| Honadel, Mark | A21 | R | $4,854.00 | 39.42% | $7,459.00 | 60.58% |
| Rhoades, Kitty | A30 | R | $3,000.00 | 29.85% | $7,050.00 | 70.15% |
| Nygren, John | A89 | R | $4,670.00 | 41.53% | $6,575.00 | 58.47% |
| Kreitlow, Patrick J | S23 | D | $7,936.00 | 55.13% | $6,459.00 | 44.87% |
| Jauch, Robert | S25 | D | $600.00 | 8.57% | $6,400.80 | 91.43% |
| Kleefisch, Joel | A38 | R | $7,600.00 | 54.68% | $6,300.00 | 45.32% |
| Ott, Jim | A23 | R | $4,950.00 | 44.00% | $6,300.00 | 56.00% |
| Sheridan, Michael | A44 | D | $1,475.00 | 19.84% | $5,960.00 | 80.16% |
| Plale, Jeffrey | S07 | D | $800.00 | 12.11% | $5,807.00 | 87.89% |
| Smith, Jeffrey E | A93 | D | $11,180.68 | 67.55% | $5,370.00 | 32.45% |
| Hixson, Kim | A43 | D | $5,220.00 | 49.41% | $5,345.00 | 50.59% |
| Bies, Garey D | A01 | R | $2,700.00 | 33.75% | $5,300.00 | 66.25% |
| Zipperer, Rich | A98 | R | $5,160.00 | 49.33% | $5,300.00 | 50.67% |
| Decker, Russ | S29 | D | $1,000.00 | 16.08% | $5,220.00 | 83.92% |
| Kessler, Frederick P | A12 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $4,550.00 | 100.00% |
| Lasee, Alan | S01 | R | $1,000.00 | 18.18% | $4,500.00 | 81.82% |
| Fields, Jason M | A11 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $4,300.00 | 100.00% |
| Vinehout, Kathleen | S31 | D | $8,510.00 | 67.49% | $4,100.00 | 32.51% |
| Vruwink, Amy Sue | A70 | D | $6,055.00 | 60.74% | $3,914.39 | 39.26% |
| Schultz, Dale | S17 | R | $2,600.00 | 40.94% | $3,750.00 | 59.06% |
| Carpenter, Tim | S03 | D | $850.00 | 18.68% | $3,700.00 | 81.32% |
| Zepnick, Josh | A09 | D | $300.00 | 7.74% | $3,575.00 | 92.26% |
| Hilgenberg, Steve | A51 | D | $8,847.00 | 71.51% | $3,525.00 | 28.49% |
| Petersen, Kevin David | A40 | R | $8,925.00 | 71.83% | $3,500.00 | 28.17% |
| Roth, Roger J Jr | A56 | R | $2,450.00 | 41.18% | $3,500.00 | 58.82% |
| Hahn, Eugene | A47 | R | $825.00 | 19.19% | $3,475.00 | 80.81% |
| Tauchen, Gary | A06 | R | $5,500.00 | 62.50% | $3,300.00 | 37.50% |
| Erpenbach, Jon | S27 | D | $3,550.00 | 53.26% | $3,115.00 | 46.74% |
| Lassa, Julie | S24 | D | $7,927.00 | 72.16% | $3,059.00 | 27.84% |
| Lehman, John | S21 | D | $1,110.00 | 27.34% | $2,950.00 | 72.66% |
| Richards, Jon | A19 | D | $1,100.00 | 29.33% | $2,650.00 | 70.67% |
| Nass, Stephen L | A31 | R | $1,350.00 | 35.06% | $2,500.00 | 64.94% |
| Meyer, Dan | A34 | R | $6,676.50 | 73.16% | $2,450.00 | 26.84% |
| Wood, Jeffrey S | A67 | R | $500.00 | 18.35% | $2,225.00 | 81.65% |
| Sherman, Gary | A74 | D | $6,741.00 | 75.82% | $2,150.00 | 24.18% |
| Leibham, Joseph | S09 | R | $11,655.00 | 84.67% | $2,110.00 | 15.33% |
| Friske, Donald | A35 | R | $1,814.30 | 46.95% | $2,050.00 | 53.05% |
| Grothman, Glenn | S20 | R | $2,200.00 | 55.00% | $1,800.00 | 45.00% |
| Seidel, Donna J | A85 | D | $2,675.00 | 60.45% | $1,750.00 | 39.55% |
| Staskunas, Tony | A15 | D | $100.00 | 5.41% | $1,750.00 | 94.59% |
| Coggs, G Spencer | S06 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $1,700.00 | 100.00% |
| Sullivan, Jim | S05 | D | $1,550.00 | 48.38% | $1,654.00 | 51.62% |
| Pridemore, Don | A99 | R | $200.00 | 10.81% | $1,650.00 | 89.19% |
| Cowles, Robert | S02 | R | $700.00 | 31.82% | $1,500.00 | 68.18% |
| Vukmir, Leah | A14 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $1,450.00 | 100.00% |
| Pocan, Mark | A78 | D | $1,350.00 | 50.94% | $1,300.00 | 49.06% |
| Albers, Sheryl | A50 | R | $3,410.00 | 73.18% | $1,250.00 | 26.82% |
| Petrowski, Jerry | A86 | R | $500.00 | 29.41% | $1,200.00 | 70.59% |
| Shilling, Jennifer | A95 | D | $1,350.00 | 56.63% | $1,033.91 | 43.37% |
| Kestell, Steve | A27 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $1,000.00 | 100.00% |
| Olsen, Luther | S14 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $1,000.00 | 100.00% |
| Grigsby, Tamara D | A18 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $992.00 | 100.00% |
| Parisi, Joseph T | A48 | D | $300.00 | 25.00% | $900.00 | 75.00% |
| Hebl, Gary | A46 | D | $1,880.00 | 68.86% | $850.00 | 31.14% |
| Toles, Barbara L | A17 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $750.00 | 100.00% |
| Ballweg, Joan | A41 | R | $1,950.00 | 79.59% | $500.00 | 20.41% |
| Cullen, David | A13 | D | $600.00 | 54.55% | $500.00 | 45.45% |
| Gottlieb, Mark | A60 | R | $1,760.00 | 77.88% | $500.00 | 22.12% |
| LeMahieu, Daniel R | A59 | R | $2,444.50 | 85.94% | $400.00 | 14.06% |
| Hubler, Mary | A75 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $300.00 | 100.00% |
| Musser, Terry | A92 | R | $800.00 | 72.73% | $300.00 | 27.27% |
| Townsend, John | A52 | R | $134.00 | 30.88% | $300.00 | 69.12% |
| Pope-Roberts, Sondy | A79 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $250.00 | 100.00% |
| Robson, Judith | S15 | D | $200.00 | 50.00% | $200.00 | 50.00% |
| Black, Spencer | A77 | D | $100.00 | 50.00% | $100.00 | 50.00% |
| Molepske, Louis John Jr | A71 | D | $500.00 | 83.33% | $100.00 | 16.67% |
| Ott, Alvin | A03 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $100.00 | 100.00% |
| Roessler, Carol | S18 | R | $234.00 | 70.06% | $100.00 | 29.94% |
| Schneider, Marlin | A72 | D | $700.00 | 87.50% | $100.00 | 12.50% |
| Strachota, Pat | A58 | R | $450.00 | 81.82% | $100.00 | 18.18% |
| Benedict, Chuck | A45 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Berceau, Terese | A76 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Boyle, Frank | A73 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Ellis, Michael | S19 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Gronemus, Barbara | A91 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Jeskewitz, Suzanne | A24 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Kaufert, Dean | A55 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Kerkman, Samantha | A66 | R | $300.00 | 100.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Krusick, Peggy | A07 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Lothian, Thomas A | A32 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Owens, Carol | A53 | R | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Risser, Fred | S26 | D | $300.00 | 100.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Sinicki, Christine | A20 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Steinbrink, John | A65 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Travis, David | A81 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Turner, Robert | A61 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Van Akkeren, Terry | A26 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Williams, Annette Polly | A10 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Young, Leon | A16 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Ziegelbauer, Bob | A25 | D | $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
