Open Memo to Assembly on Voter ID Bill
March 13, 2003
Big Spenders Rule Legislative Races
Candidates Who Spent the Most Win 106 of 116 Races
February 24, 2003
Madison - Legislative candidates who spent the most money in 2002 won nine of every 10 races up for grabs last November, according to a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis released today.
WDC testimony on Ellis-Erpenbach Bill
Testimony of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign to the Senate Education, Ethics and Elections Committee
February 12, 2003
Thank you for this opportunity to offer testimony on Senate Bill 12.
Governor’s Race Cost $23 Million
Spending nearly triples previous record set in last election
February 6, 2003
Madison - The candidates for governor and special interests spent nearly $23 million in a race marred by repeated volleys of negative and misleading television advertising and devoid of issue discussion vital to voters, according to figures released today by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Academic Study Shows Link Between Campaign Donations and State Contracts
February 4, 2003
A new study by a University of Michigan researcher identifies a strong connection between campaign donations by construction and road-building contractors and major state contracts awarded by former Governor Tommy Thompson’s administration.
WDC Launches Media Campaign for Reform
January 31, 2003
Madison - The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign today announced it will begin running newspaper and radio ads throughout the state to raise public awareness of the cost to taxpayers of political favors state lawmakers do for their biggest campaign donors.
Madison TV Aired Hours of Political Ads, Little News
WISC a bright spot on dreary local TV landscape, however
January 28, 2003
Madison - Local television stations in Madison aired over 33 hours worth of political ads in the three weeks leading up to the November 5 election, but devoted only a few minutes a night to campaign news coverage and mere seconds to candidates discussing issues, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis of evening newscasts in the Madison TV market shows.
Groups Urge New Governor and Legislature to Take Action on Reform
Posted: January 15, 2003
Letters to the governor and legislature to take action on reform with the beginning of new legislative session.
Special Interest Perks Top $4.6 Billion
Each taxpayer pays $1,200 'graft tax' to keep big donors happy
January 13, 2003
Madison - Breaks and policy favors state lawmakers furnish their biggest special interest donors carry an annual price tag of over $4.6 billion - far more than Wisconsin’s projected two-year state budget deficit - and cost the average taxpayer nearly $1,200 a year, a new study released today by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign shows.