Obsolete Campaign and Ethics Laws
Press Releases
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's press releases and special reports cover issues central to our mission, including campaign fundraising, political corruption and more.
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Smear Groups Raised $49 Million From Secret Sources
Only $1 in $81 raised by recall groups came from fully identified donors
September 17, 2012
Madison – Over half of the money raised by special interest smear groups that spent more than $75 million to influence the 2011 and 2012 recall elections came from undisclosed sources, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review found.
Effort to End Legal Political Bribery in Wisconsin Launched
September 11, 2012
At events in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison, clean government advocates and non-profit groups announced an initiative to end the legal bribery of Wisconsin politicians. Decades-old Wisconsin ethics laws designed to prevent wealthy special interests from corrupting the legislative process have not been updated to take into account the huge amounts of money coursing through the electoral system.
Officeholders Have Biggest Money Edge Since ‘02
Legislative candidates raise $3.5 million in first six months despite recalls
August 14, 2012
Madison – Legislative officeholders running for reelection this fall had a $10 to $1 advantage over their challengers – the largest midyear cash edge in 10 years, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review found.
Recall Race for Governor Cost $81 Million
Fifteen recall races in 2011 and 2012 cost $137 million
Posted: July 25, 2012
Updated: January 31, 2013
Madison – Candidates, special interest groups and political committees spent nearly $81 million in the failed attempt to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker in June – more than double the record $37.4 million spent for a statewide office in the 2010 governor’s race, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows.
Groups Call for Hearings on Reform
July 10, 2012
Twenty citizen groups including the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign signed a letter that was delivered today to legislative leaders calling on them to hold public hearings this summer on ways to create more transparency and accountability in Wisconsin elections.
Barrett Post-Election Contributions Above $1,000
May 22, 2012 through June 30, 2012
Posted: July 6 , 2012
Updated: May 31, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Tom Barrett's gubernatorial campaign between May 22, 2012 and June 30, 2012 (the post-election and July reporting period) as reported by his campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board. A similar list is available for earlier reports filed in April and May.
Walker Post-Election Contributions Above $1,000
May 22, 2012 through June 30, 2012
Posted: July 6, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Governor Scott Walker between May 22, 2012 and June 30, 2012 (the recall post-election and July reporting periods) as reported by the governor's campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board. A similar list is available for earlier reports filed in December, January, April and May.
2012 Fall Legislative Campaign by the Numbers
June 5, 2012
Groups Call for Election Money Overhaul
Record-Breaking Campaign Spending Leaves Wisconsinites in the Dark, Candidates Notably Silent on Solutions
May 31, 2012
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Madison – A coalition of Wisconsin leaders and organizations is calling on Republican Governor Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Tom Barrett to pledge to the people of Wisconsin that they will take action, call a special session and provide Wisconsinites full disclosure of the source of campaign dollars and issue ads for state races and close loopholes that allow unlimited campaign fundraising.
Barrett Contributions Above $1,000
April 24, 2012 through May 21, 2012
Posted: May 30, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Tom Barrett's gubernatorial campaign between April 24, 2012 and May 21, 2012 (the pre-election reporting period) as reported by his campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board. A similar list is available for an earlier report filed in April.
Walker Contributions Above $1,000
April 24, 2012 through May 21, 2012
Posted: May 29, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2012
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Governor Scott Walker between April 24, 2012 and May 21, 2012 (the pre-election reporting period) as reported by the governor's campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board. A similar list is available for earlier reports filed in December, January and April.
Special Interests Pig Out On The Taxpayers' Tab
Governor, legislature approve bills costing families $235 a year
May 21, 2012
Madison – Republican Governor Scott Walker and the legislature have approved nearly five dozen proposals sought by powerful special interests that will cost the average family $235 in 2012 and continue to grow to nearly $300 annually in 2020, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign report shows.
Falk Contributions Over $1,000
January 1, 2012 through April 23, 2012
Posted: May 1, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Kathleen Falk's gubernatorial campaign between January 1, 2012 and April 23, 2012 as reported by her campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board.
Barrett Contributions Over $1,000
March 20, 2012 through April 23, 2012
Posted: May 1, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Tom Barrett's gubernatorial campaign between March 20, 2012* and April 23, 2012 as reported by his campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board.
Walker Contributions Exceeding $1,000
January 18, 2012 through April 23, 2012
Posted: April 30, 2012
Updated: May 30, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Governor Scott Walker between January 18, 2012 and April 23, 2012 as reported by the governor's campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board.
WDC Files Complaints Against ‘Charitable’ Groups
IRS asked to investigate political activity and review groups’ tax-exempt status
March 13, 2012
Madison – Three outside electioneering groups violated their federal tax-exempt status by sponsoring advertising and other political activities to help Republican Governor Scott Walker in a likely recall election, according to complaints filed Tuesday with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Wealthy Special Interests Drove 2011 Fundraising
Recall candidates raised four times more than the rest of the legislature
February 21, 2012
Madison – Twenty-two legislators involved in recall and special elections in 2011 raised $8.22 million – more than four times the $1.9 million raised by the rest of the legislature, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review found.
Recall Smear Groups Depended On Out-of-State Cash
Teachers union, businesses, tribe among top state contributors to recall groups
February 10, 2012
Madison – Seven shadowy smear groups that sponsored negative broadcast ads and other activities in last summer’s recall elections raised only $1 in $7 from Wisconsin contributors during the last six months of 2011, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review shows.
Walker Contributions Over $1,000
December 11, 2011 through January 17, 2012
Posted: January 24, 2012
Updated: May 31, 2013
Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Governor Scott Walker between December 11, 2011 and January 17, 2012 (the day recall petitions were due) as reported by the governor's campaign committee to the Government Accountability Board. A similar list is available for his previous report. For more campaign finance details see our Recall 2012 feature.
WDC Testimony on Disclosure
Hearing on Senate Bill 292 – Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections
January 12, 2012
(Testimony before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Mike McCabe in opposition to Senate Bill 292.)
Mining Project Execs Gave Walker $10,000
Mining industry, law firm contributed nearly $40,000 in two months
December 15, 2010
Madison – Republican Governor-elect Scott Walker accepted $10,000 in campaign contributions from a mining company owner and one of his executives around the time the company reportedly contacted Walker about developing an open-pit iron ore mine, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review found.
Reaction to Loss of Rail Funds
December 10, 2010
Down is up. Backward is forward. The loss of $810 million in federal funds and thousands of jobs is a victory for the state of Wisconsin.
Walker's Retiree Parties, Tax Cuts May Reward Donor Base
Retirees bolted to governor-elect, Republican legislative candidates
November 22, 2010
Madison – Republican Governor-elect Scott Walker’s idea to hold parties for retirees in Sun Belt states and pitch tax cuts to lure them back to Wisconsin may be an effort to reward and expand his biggest donor base which gave him nearly $600,000 since January 2009, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows.
Scott Walker: Transportation Chameleon
Governor-elect is top recipient of campaign donations from road builders
November 15, 2010
Madison – As recently as August, newly elected Governor Scott Walker said he opposed toll roads. Now he supports them. Walker used to like trains. Now he’s against them, petitioning the federal government to allow Wisconsin to use over $800 million earmarked for high-speed rail for “crumbling” roads and bridges instead.