Big Money Blog

A Plan Fit To Be Damned

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Today the Wisconsin State Journalendorsed a one-term limit for state Supreme Court despite having this to say about the proposal floated recently by the state bar association: "Voters would lose influence.... They would no longer be able to vote out justices for making unpopular decisions.... Candidates for state Supreme Court would still have to shill for votes and campaign donations to get through an initial election. Moreover, special interest groups might increase their spending on high court campaigns, knowing they'll have fewer opportunities to affect the makeup of the court."

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A Budget For Two Wisconsins

Friday, June 21, 2013

Scott Walker and his legislative allies must really love Wisconsin. Because they seem determined to create two of them.

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While Wisconsin Slept

Thursday, June 06, 2013

In the middle of the night a key committee of Wisconsin's Legislature did something petty, vindictive and un-American.

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Junk Bond

Monday, June 03, 2013

Luther Olsen has always struck me as a good guy. I have known the Ripon-area senator for about 20 years. I dealt with him extensively on school issues when he was in the state Assembly and chaired the education committee. I always found him to be a straight shooter.

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All Vessel, No Cargo

Friday, May 31, 2013

I couldn't help but notice how former Governor Jim Doyle made Mike Tate's case for another term as the state Democratic Party's chairman.

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How To Govern Without Public Support

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A representative democracy is built on a simple premise: Those who govern need the consent of the governed. Win the most votes, get power. Earn public approval of your actions, stay in power.

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Say It Ain't So, PBS

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

An eye-opening article in New Yorker magazine tells the story of how public television backed away from its commitment to fund a new documentary film titled "Citizen Koch." Readers learn that the politically meddlesome billionaire David Koch has given public television $23 million, and don't have to read between many lines to come to the understanding that public television cooled on the project in hopes of appeasing Koch.

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Political Contributions From Jobs Agency Board Members Vary Widely

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors includes seven business owners or executives whose fellow employees have contributed $776,161 to candidates for statewide office and the legislature, including $146,576 to Republican Governor Scott Walker, from 2005 through mid-2012.

Campaign finance records reviewed by the Democracy Campaign showed the bulk of the contributions came from employees of the Foley & Lardner law firm who contributed $637,097 to legislative and statewide candidates, including $105,318 to the governor. The law firm’s director of public affairs, Scott Klug, is the WEDC board treasurer. Klug alone has contributed $7,388 to all candidates, including $2,813 to Walker.

Associated Banc Corporation executives have contributed $106,696 to legislative and statewide candidates, including $32,570 to the governor. Associated’s senior vice president, Corey Hoze, and a WEDC board member has contributed $1,525 to all candidates and $1,250 to Walker.

Despite the eclectic mix of legal, business and banking knowledge on the board, the gaffe-prone jobs agency has been roundly and repeatedly criticized in audits over the past year for its poor business, financial and management practices involving millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars since it began handing out cheap loans and tax breaks to businesses two years ago.

Executives of Ariens Company in Brillion which makes lawn equipment and snow blowers contributed $21,655 to all candidates, including $4,025 to Walker. Company president Dan Ariens, the WEDC’s vice-chair and second in command to Walker, contributed $13,200 to legislative and statewide candidates, including $1,500 to the governor.

Tool Service Corporation executives contributed $8,063 to legislative and statewide candidates, including $4,163 to Walker. Company President Lisa Mauer, who serves as WEDC board secretary, has no record of making large individual contributions to legislative or statewide candidates from 2005 through mid-2012.

The three remaining private sector WEDC board members – Raymond Dreger of Seeds and Stuff Market in Colfax; Paul Radspinner of Madison-based vaccine maker FluGen; and Milwaukee attorney C. Thomas Sylke – and their fellow employees contributed a total of $2,650 to legislative and statewide candidates, including $500 to Walker.

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It's Time For GAB To Reconsider Surrender

Thursday, May 09, 2013

Wisconsin's campaign finance disclosure system once was the envy of the nation but now leaves a great deal to be desired. That sad reality came into sharp focus with the recent revelation that a private school voucher advocacy group, the American Federation for Children, told its members and funders that it spent close to $2.4 million last year to influence elections in Wisconsin after reporting less than $345,000 in campaign spending to state election authorities.

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Closed Loophole Remains Open

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

More than three years ago, the retired judges who serve on the state Government Accountability Board acted unanimously to close a gaping loophole in Wisconsin's disclosure rules for election campaigning – putting a stop to the phony "issue ad" gambit employed by interest groups that involves careful avoidance of what have come to be known as the "magic words" of election advocacy in order to sidestep disclosure requirements.

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