Litigation

Wisconsin Reforms Advance

By Charlie Hall

Two important reform bills moved ahead in Wisconsin today, when an Assembly committee endorsed public financing for state Supreme Court candidates and backed a bill that would force special interest groups to disclose their financial sources for any electioneering ads.

In a statement released today, Justice at Stake’s executive director, Bert Brandenburg, said:

?Wisconsin court elections have sparked some of the nation?s worst political bloodbaths in recent years. These bills would, in one stroke, make Wisconsin a national leader in keeping campaign cash out of the courtroom.”

A statement also was issued by Common Cause in Wisconsin. The legislation also is actively backed by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a Justice at Stake partner.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections erupted in 2007 and 2008, both in spending and political mud-slinging. As the JAS statement noted, “Only four states have exceeded the $3.5 million raised by Wisconsin high court candidates” in the last two years.

To see earlier Gavel Grab reports on Wisconsin, click here.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 16, 2009 (boomark / email).