March 28, 2017
Testimony opposing the proposed Article V Constitutional Convention delivered by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matt Rothschild.
March 27, 2017
The state made a sweetheart settlement with the 3M Co. for two years of air pollution violations without seeking a fine against the company. Employees of the company have contributed more than $80,000 to Wisconsin legislative and statewide candidates over the past five years.
March 27, 2017
March 24, 2017
The Barron County Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, accusing him of lending his name to a partisan fundraising event.
March 24, 2017
GOP lawmakers in Wisconsin plan a hearing next week on resolutions calling for a convention to propose a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
March 23, 2017
Democrats are circulating a legislative proposal that would show individual property taxpayers how much state aid is being cut from their public schools to pay for the state’s school voucher programs.
March 22, 2017
On March 21, the Lincoln County Board, based in Merrill, Wis., voted by 18-4 in favor of a resolution demanding the nonpartisan drawing of fair legislative maps.
March 22, 2017
The state Democratic and Republican parties and four legislative fundraising committees accepted about $1.3 million in corporate contributions in 2016. The contributions from corporate, union, trade association, and tribal treasuries were allowed for the first time last year under sweeping changes to state campaign finance laws by the GOP-controlled legislature and Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
March 21, 2017
A group that recruits and trains Democratic candidates to run for state and local offices made more than $97,000 in contributions to an Assembly Democratic fundraising committee during the latter half of 2016, according to a campaign finance report filed by the committee. This appears to exceed the legal contribution limit by a factor of eight.
March 20, 2017
A Democratic lawmaker has introduced a package of bills to tighten Wisconsin’s judicial recusal rules, particularly involving cases when one of the parties is a big campaign contributor to the judge.
March 17, 2017
Business owners who are awarded state grants and other corporate welfare could face prison time and a $50,000 fine if they lie or don’t use the aid for its expressed purpose, according to a bipartisan proposal being circulated at the State Capitol.
March 16, 2017
Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 state budget contains millions of dollars in lower fees and taxes for business, construction, agriculture, health care and utility interests, which contributed $10.2 million to his campaign over the past five years.
March 15, 2017
Restaurants, fish farms, and grocery store owners are among the interests backing a GOP bill that would loosen regulations and allow the state to provide public resources to private fish farms.
March 14, 2017
Members of two legislative committees scheduled to hear testimony Wednesday on proposals to loosen regulations involving controversial high-capacity wells have received about $223,000 in contributions from the agriculture industry, which backs the bills.
March 13, 2017
Wisconsin’s local governments and school districts would be forced to buy property insurance on the private market under a plan in Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 state budget.
March 7, 2017
Higher weight limits sought by special interests are allowing heavier trucks on Wisconsin roads. But a recent Wisconsin Public Radio report revealed heavy truck traffic is the No. 1 cause of road damage and deterioration, and that the heavier trucks have come with fewer inspections to protect state roads and other drivers.
March 6, 2017
Republican lawmakers are working on a legislative proposal that would prohibit University of Wisconsin doctors under contract with Planned Parenthood from performing abortions.
March 2, 2017
Spending by candidates and special interest groups hit a record $28.1 million in the 2016 fall legislative races, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows.
February 28, 2017
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who penned the court opinion that ended the controversial John Doe probe of Scott Walker’s campaign activities, is one of the featured speakers at a Republican Party fundraiser – along with the head of a shadowy rightwing group that the John Doe prosecutor was reportedly looking into. That group, Wisconsin Club for Growth, spent more than half a million dollars to get Gableman elected in 2008.
February 23, 2017
The GOP-controlled state Senate has approved a 31 percent hike in their per diems, allowing them to claim up to $115 a day for expenses when they are in Madison.
February 21, 2017
A state watchdog that oversees controversial for-profit colleges would be dumped under a plan by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who has received about $56,000 in campaign contributions from for-profit college owners and employees.
February 16, 2017
The construction industry opposes requiring new homes to be built with more devices to prevent electrical fires and shocks. But state firefighters have told Gov. Scott Walker’s administration that the proposed state requirement would save lives and prevent serious injuries.
February 15, 2017
Here are the top contributors since Jan. 1 to the three candidates vying for state school superintendent in next Tuesday’s spring primary. (Top contributors from the previous reporting period can be found here.)
February 14, 2017
Several large farms with an interest in the issue of high-capacity wells have been throwing tens of thousands of dollars over to Republican legislative campaign committees.
February 8, 2017
GOP lawmakers are circulating a bill that would prohibit the state from offering insurance coverage to state workers for abortion in most cases. Anti-abortion groups in Wisconsin exercise influence more by outside election spending than by direct contributions to candidates.