Email date: 9/5/13

In this update:
1. Coalition urges senators to reject ‘More Money in Politics’ bill
2. Over 14,000 new records added to WDC’s donor database
3. Walker’s casino stance favors tribes that give most to GOP
4. Bob turns 12
5. “A remarkable advocacy campaign is happening”
6. Democracy Campaign director to be honored at Oct. 1 event

Email date: 8/22/13

In this update:
1. The man who makes it possible to follow the money in Wisconsin
2. IRS word play does violence to democracy
3. “Gerrymandering is corruption. Pure and simple.”

Email date: 8/20/13

In this update:
1. Don’t let redistricting reform die without a fight
2. PAC donation database updated

Don’t let redistricting reform die without a fight
Eight newspapers and a television station joined reform groups like the Democracy Campaign in calling for public hearings on legislation that would take the task of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts after each census out of the hands of lawmakers and give it to an independent, nonpartisan redistricting authority.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post-Crescent, Wausau Daily Herald, La Crosse Tribune, Kenosha News, Beloit Daily News and WISC-TV editorialized in recent days that legislators should stop stonewalling and start listening to the public about needed changes to the way redistricting is handled.

The suburban Milwaukee Republican who chairs the Senate committee that has bottled up Senate Bill 163 insists there is no need for redistricting reform. The latest addition to our blog explains why she is wrong.

TAKE ACTION: Step 1 - Contact members of the Senate committee and urge them to hold hearings on redistricting reform and then take action on Senate Bill 163. Step 2 - Tell members of the Assembly committee to stop stalling and hold hearings on Assembly Bill 185. Step 3 - Call or write your own legislators to urge them to get behind the push for redistricting reform.

PAC donation database updated
More than 400 new records of campaign contributions by political action committees operating in Wisconsin were added to our database last week.

Email date: 8/14/13

In this update:
1. Public and politicians far apart on money in politics
2. “60 Minutes” correspondent tells it like it is
3. Documentary film overcomes censorship
4. Stamp out money in politics
5. After nearly four decades in shadows, ALEC in unwelcome limelight

Email date: 8/7/13

In this update:
1. Money flows to party in power
2. West Bend senator seeks to drastically scale back donor disclosure
3. Democracy reformers from across nation to convene this weekend

Email date: 7/25/13

In this update:
1. WDC puts price tag on state Supreme Court, school superintendent races
2. Legislation calls for statewide vote on Citizens United
3. Business leaders have major misgivings about political giving
4. Walker continues to rely heavily on out-of-state donors

Email date: 7/11/13

First the good news.... Things look a lot better for the Democracy Campaign in July than they did in January.

Email date: 7/8/13

In this update:
1. Public, politicians at odds over money in politics
2. A better response to Citizens United
3. The best response to Citizens United
4. Tell PBS to air ‘Citizen Koch’

Email date: 6/24/13

In this update:
1. Helping a few at the expense of the many, part 1
2. Helping a few at the expense of the many, part 2
3. Who voted against doubling donation limits in the Assembly