Incumbents hunkering down in beds of cash
September 26, 2008
AG's voter lawsuit is a fool's mission
September 25, 2008
New guidelines help judicial candidates resist special interest pressures
September 19, 2008
Wealthy outsiders control legislators’ job security
September 18, 2008
Tobacco contributions no spit in the bucket
September 16, 2008
Is cash warming Doyle to nuclear option?
September 3, 2008
Memo to GAB on phony "issue ads"
September 2, 2008
Putting the sham in sham issue ads
August 22, 2008
Special interests conned public in high court races
August 20, 2008
Wisconsin donors slather 527 groups with cash
August 18, 2008
Candidates leave voters guessing on reform
August 14, 2008
Legislative hopefuls score record cash
August 13, 2008
Nasty Supreme Court race cost record $6 million
July 22, 2008
Big money flows to power
July 15, 2008
Ethics questionnaire sent to all legislative candidates
July 10, 2008
New guide brings redistricting out into the open
July 10, 2008
2008 legislative campaign by the numbers
July 9, 2008
Support for reform runs strong in Wisconsin
June 19, 2008
State donors pitch “527” groups record cash
May 28, 2008
New report documents special interest pressure on Midwest courts
May 8, 2008
School voucher supporters top out-of-state givers
May 7, 2008
WDC ranks legislators on political reform
April 29, 2008
Two violate $10,000 contribution limit in 2007
April 16, 2008
Rescue high court, reform groups urge
April 9, 2008
A pox upon the chambers
March 24, 2008
Lawmakers told to keep working
March 13, 2008
WDC spoofs Schoolhouse Rock
March 4, 2008
Reform network releases presidential candidates’ final responses to political reform survey
February 28, 2008
People’s Legislature to hold March 13 ‘There’s Still Work to Do’ rally at Capitol
February 28, 2008
527 groups get record $1 million from Wisconsin
February 26, 2008
Legislators rustle record campaign contributions
February 20, 2008
Midwest Democracy Network calls on candidates to clarify positions on reform
February 19, 2008
Partisan special interests are big backers again in high court race
February 13, 2008
Testimony on special session legislation
February 12, 2008
In search of a good party
February 6, 2008
Testimony on Clean Elections bill
January 29, 2008
Memo to the Government Accountability Board regarding expectations
January 28, 2008
Going nowhere by design
January 25, 2008
Taking democracy’s temperature in the heartland
January 14, 2008
Wisconsin voters: Reform Supreme Court races now
January 10, 2008
Testimony on budget fundraising ban
January 10, 2008
Bar set lower for bench
January 3, 2008
Wisconsin voters have had enough
December 28, 2007
OSU study warns of problems with voter database
December 3, 2007
Only Edwards and Obama answer reform questions
November 27, 2007
Cable bill supporters got 12 times more than foes
November 9, 2007
Answering AT&T’s call
November 6, 2007
WDC testimony to the Government Accountability Board
November 1, 2007
Students contribute $86,000+ to candidates
October 22, 2007
State justice is in supreme trouble
October 22, 2007
Outside money drowns out voters’ voices in legislative races
October 10, 2007
People’s Legislature ‘bangs the pan’ for reform
September 18, 2007
People’s Legislature to whip up storm Tuesday at Capitol
September 13, 2007
Recipe for paralysis
September 13, 2007
Remarks at 6th annual Fighting Bob Fest
September 12, 2007
Midwest Democracy Network questions presidential candidates on reform issues
September 11, 2007
Public pays for elections - one way or the other
August 20, 2007
Doyle state’s top political tourist attraction
August 20, 2007
Digital TV rules lack public benefit
August 15, 2007
Legislators, gov use state budget to milk $2 million from special interests
August 13, 2007
Health care reform opponents hold $7 to $1 edge in contributions
July 30, 2007
High court race cost record $5.8 million
July 23, 2007
Special interests deny treatment to ailing health care
July 23, 2007
27 violated contribution limit in 2006
June 26, 2007
Statement on Supreme Court’s McCain-Feingold ruling
June 25, 2007
Frankenstein veto testimony (pdf file)
June 18, 2007
Midwest reform groups challenge FCC, Congress
June 12, 2007
Divided court to decide McCain-Feingold’s fate
June 6, 2007
Age-old rivalry is a no-contest match
May 29, 2007
$6 million Wisconsin Supreme Court race is part of a disturbing national trend
May 17, 2007
Citizens demonstrate for judicial ethics
May 7, 2007
So-called ‘issue ad’ groups living a lie
May 2, 2007
WDC testimony on campaign finance reform
April 10, 2007
WDC requests ethics probe of Supreme Court candidate
March 19, 2007
Support reveals nonpartisan farce of high court race
March 13, 2007
Lt. governor to kick off dialogue on women, money and politics at UW-Oshkosh
March 6, 2007
Court candidate violates contribution limit
March 5, 2007
Special interests spent $19 million on electioneering
February 21, 2007
Brennan Center finds Wisconsin campaign finance laws lacking
February 20, 2007
AG race cost $8.3 million
February 8, 2007
The cost of ugly: $32 million
February 6, 2007
WDC statement on passage of ethics reform bill
January 30, 2007
WDC testimony on January 2007 Special Session Assembly Bill 1
January 16, 2007
WDC statement on latest ethics reform proposal
January 11, 2007
Bipartisan agreement reached on ethics reform
December 14, 2006
Local TV feeds viewers 2.5 times more ads than news
November 21, 2006
No more excuses! Ethics reform has enough votes
November 15, 2006
Shadow groups send another $705,000 to pro-Doyle issue ad group
October 24, 2006
Diocese pro-referendum flier violates state law
October 17, 2006
Election coverage accounts for 36 seconds of typical 30-minute local TV newscast
October 12, 2006
WDC files FEC complaint against Green
September 27, 2006
Legislative candidates amass record war chests
September 18, 2006
Landmark survey of public attitudes shows distrust of government, faith in reform
September 14, 2006
Remarks from the 5th Annual Fighting Bob Fest
September 11 , 2006
Testimony at town meeting on the future of media
September 11, 2006
WDC’s testimony on Green's PAC money
September 1, 2006
Elections Board decision on Green's PAC contributions
August 30, 2006
Groups call for all three candidates in debates
August 22, 2006
Green’s PAC money violates state campaign laws in more ways than one
August 22, 2006
Ethics survey reopened for
late responses
August 21, 2006
Legislators favor campaign
contributors over safe water
August 10, 2006
Legislative fundraising =
bid-ness as usual
August 7, 2006
Candidates for legislature
and statewide offices respond to questionnaire
August 1, 2006
WDC asks AG for opinion on
voter privacy law
July 31, 2006
Governor candidates lean
heavily on few big donors
July 27, 2006
WDC memo to Elections
Board on Green PAC money
July 24, 2006
Wisconsin contributions to
‘527’ groups hit $1.1 million
July 20, 2006
Guv's out-of-state
contributions top $1 million
July 18, 2006
2006 legislative campaign
by the numbers
July 13, 2006
Questionnaire for fall
2006 government ethics voter guide
July 12, 2006
Legislators glad handing
outside special interests
July 5, 2006
Groups urge TV stations to
stand tall on election and public affairs coverage
June 29, 2006
WDC opposes gay marriage
amendment
June 21, 2006
Candidates working the fat
cats
June 15, 2006
Doyle got $10,000 from
lawyers of indicted firm
May 30, 2006
Twelve violate
contribution limit in 2005
May 11, 2006
Governor urged to call
special session on ethics reform
May 5, 2006
The ghost of Byron Kilbourn
April 27, 2006
Governors associations
playing money laundering role in ’06 Wisconsin race
April 20, 2006
The difference between
leaders and politicians
April 19, 2006
Green repeatedly voted to
weaken ethics rules
April 12, 2006
Tech companies at the
trough
March 27, 2006
Wisconsin cash to 527
groups topped $600K in '05
March 23, 2006
Legislators ramped up cash
grab in ’05
February 21, 2006
Docks unlimited
January 30, 2006
WDC testimony on
Senate Bill 1
January 25, 2006
‘Public
Telling’ draws overflow crowd
January 23, 2006
People’s
Legislature to hold ‘Public Telling’
January 6, 2006
Contributions recharge nuke plant sale
December 6, 2005
Shady donors funnel money to Wisconsin governor candidates
November 28, 2005
Feingold receives ‘Mr. Smith Award’
November 22, 2005
Mail-order TV licensing
November 14, 2005
Money talks, public walks
November 7, 2005
Remarks at the People Legislature's rally
November 7, 2005
Green keeps greenbacks out of voters’ view
November 2, 2005
Media reform coalition challenges Milwaukee TV stations’ licenses
November 1, 2005
People’s Legislature to Lobbyists' Legislature: Sweep it clean
October 27, 2005
People’s Legislature to meet Lobbyists’ Legislature October 27
October 24, 2005
Corrupt Capitol needs housecleaning
October 19, 2005
Three already violate annual contribution limit
October 17, 2005
Doyle tapping special interests far and wide
October 12, 2005
Democracy in name only
September 14, 2005
Communities losing to big contributors
August 4, 2005
Legislative leaders continue to milk budget cash cow
August 1, 2005
One person, one vote, no voice
July 26, 2005
Accenture-ating the positive
June 9, 2005
Playing the taxpayers for fools
May 25, 2005
Our common interest in political reform
May 3, 2005
Contribution limit violations plummet
April 27, 2005
Environmental deregulation littered with big money
April 12, 2005
Tolerating corruption
April 12, 2005
State donors give $24 million to federal campaigns
March 28, 2005
‘Have-Mores’ clean up at corporate welfare trough
March 16, 2005
31 groups back reform agenda
February 22, 2005
Special interest campaigning reaches new peak
February 21, 2005
Campaign fundraising, spending smash records
February 14, 2005
While the dome burns
February 11, 2005
Legislative leaders milk special interests for record cash
February 8, 2005
WDC to co-sponsor Student Dialogue for Democracy
January 31, 2005
Justice delayed, justice denied, justices depraved
January 24, 2005
Democracy Campaign to air TV ad
January 24, 2005
New reform bill keeps soft money loophole
January 10, 2005
People's Legislature draws more than 1,100
January 6, 2005
WDC files lawsuit challenging Accenture contract
January 3, 2005
'People's Legislature' to meet January 4
December 16, 2004
A better way to vote
December 7, 2004
Voters should choose representatives, not the other way around
November 30, 2004
Utility projects fire up contributions to Doyle
November 18, 2004
WDC proposes reform agenda
November 9, 2004
State donors give record sums to federal campaigns
October 27, 2004
9 get Nero Award for blocking reform
October 19, 2004
Ignore the polls
September 27, 2004
Challengers face uphill fight
September 27, 2004
Fat cats dominate list of state donors to 527s
September 8, 2004
WDC calls for new vote on disclosure rule
September 2, 2004
Public let down again
September 1, 2004
Another moment of truth on campaign finance reform
August 27, 2004
State contributions to 'shadow parties' top $1M
August 25, 2004
Taxpayers fleeced as big donors get privatization deal
August 18, 2004
Legislative fundraising up 55%
August 2, 2004
2 million voters face no-choice election
July 8, 2004
State’s fat cats open checkbooks to ‘shadow parties’
July 6, 2004
Democrats flip flop on campaign reform
June 9, 2004
Elections Board buys time on issue ad disclosure rule
May 19, 2004
Bringing media reform back home
May 18, 2004
Contributions from groups with a stake in TABOR
May 6, 2004
Gard sets record for out-of-district contributions
April 20, 2004
Subverting the public's right to know
April 7, 2004
Special interest group donations more hidden than disclosed
April 5, 2004
Four violate contribution limits in 2003
March 24, 2004
Casino, loan shark money flows to Doyle
March 17, 2004
The ups and downs of campaign finance reform
March 16, 2004
Check-bundling hides special interest clout
March 8, 2004
WDC statement on new campaign reform bill
March 3, 2004
Money shouts at Capitol
February 23, 2004
Rich get richer
February 18, 2004
Velvet discrimination
January 28, 2004
Class war chests
January 26, 2004
Contributions from “Job Creation” bill supporters
January 12, 2004
Doyle dithers on reform
December 15, 2003
Twelve Days of Christmas (Revised)
12/12/03
Statement on US Supreme Court's campaign finance ruling
December 11, 2003
Elections board does it again -- nothing
December 10, 2003
State elections board to act on WDC complaints against Doyle, Gard
December 9, 2003
Profiles in plutocracy
November 24, 2003
Public suppression act of 2003
November 12, 2003
Cash and carry lawmaking: Legislature's fall agenda heavy on favors for big donors
November 3, 2003
WDC files complaints against Doyle, Gard for illegal donations
October 14, 2003
“Buy-Partisan” politics: Bet hedging by big donors
October 1, 2003
WDC hangs out capitol’s dirty laundry
September 22, 2003
Wisconsin gets a lackluster grade for campaign finance disclosure
September 17, 2003
WDC renews media campaign for reform
September 15, 2003
4 Get ‘Nero Award’ for Blocking Reform
September 10, 2003
Grafting the state budget
August 15, 2003
A ‘3-lie budget’: Graft tax up to $1,358 per taxpayer
August 11, 2003
Special interests lubricate political machinery
August 5, 2003
Battle of the network pimps
August 5, 2003
Do-nothing Elections Board does little
July 30, 2003
Donors, ex-governor face nearly $317,000 in fines
July 29, 2003
TV industry profiteering on democracy
July 23, 2003
Feds investigating Wisconsin money laundering
July 8, 2003
A rebel whisper: 2nd in a two part series
July 4, 2003
Our journey back to colonization: 1st in a two part series
July 3, 2003
State budget amounts to ‘fiscal feudalism’
June 18, 2003
Out-of-state contributions hit record high
June 2, 2003
WDC files 43 complaints against fat cats
May 13, 2003
Earth Day speech
April 22, 2003
Budget writers take $3 million from special interests
April 21, 2003
WDC releases new ads in media campaign for reform
April 4, 2003
Graft tax scorecard
April 3, 2003
WDC endorses new impartial justice bill
April 2, 2003
Budget comes down to fear of special interests
March 27, 2003
‘Graft tax’ grows to over $1,300 per taxpayer
March 19, 2003
WDC memo concerning Voter ID Bill
March 13, 2003
Big spenders rule legislative races
February 24, 2003
WDC testimony on Ellis-Erpenbach Bill
February 12, 2003
Governor’s race cost $23 million
February 6, 2003
Academic study shows link between campaign donations and state contracts
February 4, 2003
WDC launches media campaign for reform
January 31, 2003
Madison TV aired hours of political ads, little news
January 28, 2003
Groups urge new governor and legislature to take action on reform
January 15, 2003
Political corruption cause of state budget mess
January 14, 2003
Each taxpayer pays $1,200 'graft tax' to keep big donors happy
January 13, 2003
Federal judge strikes down campaign reform law as expected
December 12, 2002
Electoral crack-up
November 15, 2002
Election turns on a dime
November 13, 2002
36,000 campaign ads aired at cost of $12.8 million
November 12, 2002
WDC grades candidates on disclosure
October 28, 2002
24,000 doses of poison
October 22, 2002
Special session must address root causes of corruption
October 21, 2002
October 3, 2002
WDC to broadcasters: Let ‘em all debate
September 19, 2002
Odds worsen for challengers
September 17, 2002
TV political ad spending on record pace
September 16, 2002
Incumbents won't allow true reform
September 5, 2002
52 Candidates pledge ‘Clean Sweep’, most incumbents take the fifth
August 14, 2002
Governor candidates woo elite, not grassroots support
August 7, 2002
Legislative officeholders have 14-1 cash edge on challengers
August 1, 2002
Candidates asked to pledge 'clean sweep' of capitol
July 29, 2002
WDC urges partial veto of campaign reform plan
July 12, 2002
Number of unopposed candidates skyrockets
July 10, 2002
Budget bill is special interest protection plan
July 9, 2002
Budget deal includes campaign reform
July 3, 2002
Testimony before judiciary committee
July 3, 2002
Testimony before governor's task force on ethics
June 25, 2002
McCain, Feingold unveil free air time proposal
June 19, 2002
Another campaign coincidence
June 19, 2002
Doyle spin on vitamin grants unconvincing
June 17, 2002
Doyle's grants-for-cash warrant investigation
June 12, 2002
Skindrud's caucus comments expose hypocrisy
June 12, 2002
Public supports free air time, new poll shows
June 11, 2002
WDC hands out 'Nero Awards'
June 4, 2002
WDC wins new rule on campaign disclosure
May 22, 2002
Freese rant draws WDC response
May 16, 2002
WDC responds to latest reform proposal
May 15, 2002
WDC grades officials on disclosure
May 13, 2002
WDC rips legislature for caucus legal fee cover-up
May 7, 2002
State free air time coalition grows, sixteen groups join
May 2, 2002
Nineteen wealthy contributors violate campaign finance laws
April 30, 2002
State budget repair bill is big-donor protection plan
April 22, 2002
McCallum's new inner circle fails ethical smell test
April 18, 2002
Campaign finance reform in budget repair bill
April 17, 2002
McCallum throws cold water on reform talks
April 5, 2002
WDC joins national campaign for free candidate air time
April 1, 2002
Flagging poll numbers prompt call for special session on campaign finance reform
March 21, 2002
Governor urged to call special session on campaign finance reform
March 13, 2002
Legislature needs to work overtime on campaign finance reform
March 13, 2002
Reports reveal paper-thin public support for candidates
March 5, 2002
Campaign donors undaunted by terrorism
February 25, 2002
Congress hobbles Shays-Meehan at broadcasters' bidding
February 22, 2002
Campaign war chests bursting
February 19, 2002
TV gouges democracy in Wisconsin
February 7, 2002
Governor obstructs reform
February 5, 2002
Open letter to governor on Senate Bill 104
February 1, 2002
Campaign finance reform needed to fix budget mess
January 11, 2002
Small change buys big change
January 7, 2002
Testimony in favor of eliminating shakedowns in the statehouse
December 20, 2001
McCallum ducks, Doyle dodges on campaign reform
December 12, 2001
WDC calls for elections board overhaul
December 3, 2001
WDC calls the question on reform bill
November 27, 2001
Top state politicans earn poor marks for shabby disclosure
November 5, 2001
Doyle should challenge caucus legal fees
November 1, 2001
Joint Finance urged to use caucus money for Ellis-George reform bill
October 23, 2001
Lobbyist's pay-to-play memo prophetic, analysis shows
October 15, 2001
Caucus defense fund is bipartisanship at its worst
October 13, 2001
Agreement reached to eliminate caucuses
October 12, 2001
October 11, 2001
Legislators add insult to injury in caucus scandal
October 3, 2001
Six well-heeled contributors violate campaign finance laws
September 26, 2001
Hey, Bidder, Bidder: Budget on the Auction Block
September 24, 2001
Reform groups ask Chvala to allow vote on Ellis-George campaign finance reform compromise
September 10, 2001
Blown save: Governor misses opportunity to side with public on scandal-plagued caucuses
August 29, 2001
Democracy Campaign accuses parties of breaking campaign laws
August 9, 2001
Budget becomes campaign cash cow as lawmakers milk special interests for $1.6 million
August 2, 2001
Reform groups urge McCallum to veto funding for legislative caucuses
August 2, 2001
Caucuses have got to go
July 13, 2001
Reform groups file complaint over caucus scandal
June 6, 2001
WDC calls on Ethics and Elections Boards to investigate legislative caucus scandal
May 23, 2001
Welfare for incumbents turns legislature into 'gated community'
May 2, 2001
Budget writers accept over $2 million from special interests
April 23, 2001
61 Deep Pockets Give 11% Of State Campaign Cash
April 9, 2001
Special interest spending on state school chief race smashes old record
March 29, 2001
Tight budget still laced with special interest goodies
March 26, 2001
Mathematically eliminated
March 5, 2001
McCallum asked for campaign reform pledge
February 28, 2001
WDC applauds bipartisan group's campaign finance reform initiative
February 13, 2001
Candidate, special interest spending soars in 2000
February 8, 2001
Green blizzard strikes McCallum Campaign Fund
February 6, 2001
Little air time for candidates at WTMJ-Milwaukee
February 5, 2001
Special interests realize 33,000% gain on campaign contributions
January 17, 2001
Local TV responds to Alliance challenge
December 11, 2000
Legislative Candidate Spending Soars Over '98
November 2, 2000
Ad Frenzy in 10th Senate District
October 31, 2000
Candidates rake in outside money
October 27, 2000
Legal Laundering -- Part II
October 17, 2000
Momentum for TV air time builds as WDJT Milwaukee (CBS) joins effort
October 9, 2000
Green Bay CBS affiliate agrees to air nightly issue forums
September 29, 2000
Rent-to-own contributions jump amid try for consumer protection exemption
September 25, 2000
Citizens can talk back to local television stations
September 14, 2000
Fundraising up 60%, incumbent warchests overflowing
September 14, 2000
WISN agrees to Alliance's political airtime proposal
September 7, 2000
Special interests snub law
August 30, 2000
Candidates fail to disclose big donors
August 23, 2000
Pharmaceutical donations up 20%; lobbying up 78%
August 10, 2000
Take the Money and Run: Incumbents hold 14-1 fund raising advantage
July 27, 2000
Voters First initiative
July 25, 2000
TV can only spare a half-a-minute for candidate coverage
June 13, 2000
Final Grades for year 2000 in for Governor and Legislature
May 9, 2000
Payday loan industry major source of out of state funds
May 1, 2000
Local TV shunned April elections, Alliance For Better Campaigns project study shows
April 19, 2000
Modern Carpetbaggers
March 27, 2000
Lawmakers ignore disclosure law on hundreds of large contributions
March 6, 2000
Gasoline retailer violates campaign contribution limits
February 17, 2000
Bankers collect interest after big deposit
February 15, 2000
The Campaign Arms Race Intensifies
February 7, 2000
The Governor's Big Money Day
February 3, 2000
WDC joins Alliance for Better Campaigns Project
January 24, 2000
Your check-mark can send a strong message
January 11, 2000
So called "issue ads" chip away at democratic process
January 11, 2000
WI ranks 35th in disclosure of money in politics
December 13, 1999
5 local government associations ally for campaign finance reform
December 8, 1999
Legal Laundering
November 18, 1999
Lawmakers don't make grade on campaign finance reform
November 15, 1999
Campaign Finance Reform: For the sake of our kids
October, 1999
Lawmakers working on their budgets instead of your budget!
September 23, 1999
Senate Dems and Assembly GOP set pace in money chase
September 7, 1999
Income tax checkoff for campaign financing up again -- taxpayers prefer public checkoff to private donations 3:1
August 12, 1999
Budget process shows that state government's for sale
July 22, 1999
State's bishops 'hit mark' in call for campaign reform
July 15, 1999
Campaign reform funding survives budget process
July 14, 1999
Assembly Republicans up ante to kill campaign reform --GOP caucus votes to subsidize big Donors and neuter public Financing
June 22, 1999
Assembly Republicans "Standing in Schoolhouse Door" cut reform funding
June 17, 1999
Road builders contribute more than $600,000 to governor, legislative candidates
June 3, 1999
Don't waste the opportunity to reform campaign finance
June, 1999
Nursing home industry contributions distort state long term care policy
May 29, 1999
Candidate "self-financing" growing, adding to cost of political campaigns
May 18, 1999
Special interest contributions to members of the joint finance committee
April 27, 1999
Budget writers approve $750,000 for campaign finance reform
April 29, 1999
DLCC uses shell game, allows corporate money to flow into Wisconsin legislative races
March 31, 1999
Governor Thompson spent $6.72 for each vote he received in 1998.
February 3, 1999
27th senate district home to three spending records
February 2, 1999
Small portion of tobacco settlement could pay for all of campaign finance reform
January 26, 1999
WMC spent $414,979 on phony "issue ads" in '98
January 6, 1999
Special interests are making their lists and checking them twice
December 22, 1998
Election '98: What happened and why
November 4, 1998
Legislative challengers in big financial hole
July 27, 1998
Campaign reformers chide Thompson campaign for inaccessibility of information in finance reports
July 24, 1998
The spring special election in the 28th Senate District set a new record for total spending
May 8, 1998
Buy a house? Realtors show political savvy with contributions/lobbying
April 13, 1998
Incumbent war chests bulge to $4.4 million
February 10, 1998
Road builders draw map of political influence
July 7, 1997
State candidates dug deep into own pockets to run in 1996
February 7, 1997
