Common Cause in Wisconsin Reform Update
Tuesday November 25, 2014
1. Why Does Speaker Robin Vos hate the independent, non-partisan Government
Accountability Board?
2. Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform Push to Continue
3. Flood of Last Minute Outside Secret Money Tips Assembly Election
4. Thanksgiving Greetings
1. Assembly Speaker
Robin Vos (R-Burlington) seems to display astonishing selective amnesia about
why the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board was created as a non-partisan and independent state agency in 2007 to oversea the state's election, campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws.
Vos was elected to the Assembly in 2004, two years after the Legislative Caucus Scandal had erupted and brought down the top Democratic State Senate and Republican Assembly leaders (including Assistant Majority Leader
Bonnie Ladwig who preceded Vos and had been his boss). That scandal was the impetus behind the creation of the G.A.B. because the State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board had utterly failed to investigate and uncover the unfolding corruption that was occurring under the Capitol dome for years before five top Democratic and Republican legislative leaders were criminally charged with felony and misdemeanor misconduct in public office in 2002.
Retiring State Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) devised the idea of establishing a non-partisan and independent agency to oversee elections, campaign finance, lobbying and ethics in the wake of the Caucus Scandal and CC/WI worked closely with him and other legislators to construct the legislation which passed with the votes 
of every Republican legislator in a Special Session in early 2007, including the vote of Vos and of State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) who has also said he wants to dismantle the G.A.B.
Why the change of heart by Vos and Fitzgerald? It turns out that legislative leaders want absolute power and don't like non-partisan, independent entities making decisions the leaders haven't approved of first. Vos, in particular, seems to really have a problem with an independent G.A.B. and its able and respected executive director, Kevin Kennedy, who has led the G.A.B. since its inception and who, for nearly 30 years prior to establishment of the G.A.B., had directed the partisan State Elections Board in a professional, non-partisan manner.
CC/WI weighed in against the Vos assault on G.A.B in this article that has appeared in many daily newspapers across the state. CC/WI Director Jay Heck also discussed this matter at length in this recent radio broadcast. CC/WI and others who value a non-partisan, independent G.A.B will be making a lot more noise about this in the weeks ahead before Vos and Fitzgerald move to destroy it next year.
2. Another reform that the citizens of Wisconsin sorely need and that Vos and Fitzgerald have thus far resisted and ignored is non-partisan redistricting reform based on what Iowa enacted into law in 1980.
Throughout the 2013-2014 legislative session, CC/WI led the statewide effort in support of Senate Bill 163 and Assembly Bill 185, identical legislative measures which garnered the editorial support of an unprecedented 19 daily Wisconsin newspaper editorial boards and a significant number of legislators. We have been talking to legislators about ensuring that identical legislation will be introduced in early 2015.
During the 2014 election season, CC/WI asked candidates who supported non-partisan redistricting reform to contact us and let us know of their support and many did. Here is a listing of those supporters who were elected on November 4th and who will be serving in the 2015-2016 Wisconsin Legislature (as well as those State Senators who support this reform but who were not up for election this year).
3. In 2012, State Rep. Mandy Wright was narrowly elected in what is one of just a handful of competitive state legislative districts left in Wisconsin after the hyper-partisan, secretive and expensive (to taxpayers) 
2011 redistricting gerrymander.
In 2014, the election was expected to be close again and it was – Wright lost to Republican Dave Heaton by 86 votes. But the vote tally doesn't tell the whole story. A deluge of outside special interest money, most of it secret, poured into Wausau during the final weeks of the campaign attacking Wright. By some estimates, the figure could be as high as $250,000. Less than $100 was spent in Wright's behalf by outside groups. Heaton also received a surge of late money for his own campaign. Total spending in this single Assembly election approached $500,000 with Wright being outspent by more than a 3 to 1 margin. An Assembly district in Wisconsin contains less than 60,000 citizens.
Last week, we invited Mandy Wright to come before the CC/WI State Governing Board meeting in the Capitol to tell us what happened and what, if any lessons, could be learned from this onslaught of outside special interest money in this Assembly election. Wisconsin Eye filmed her appearance and you can view and/or listen to it here.
4. Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays because it gives CC/WI an opportunity to thank all of the many good citizens, members of the media and elected officials who support honest, accountable and transparent state government and politics, and who have honored CC/WI with their support and encouragement.
So to all of you – as well as to all those who may disagree with us but who still want what is best for Wisconsin – the State Governing Board and staff of Common Cause in Wisconsin wish you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
CONTACT:
Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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MEDIA ADVISORY
Thursday - November 20, 2014
State Representative
Mandy Wright (D-Wausau) was narrowly elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2012. Her re-election contest in 2014 was decided by an even narrower margin – just 86 votes – in her loss to Republican challenger
Dave Heaton. What was different from 2012 was the vast amount of outside money that poured into this election during the last month, most of it attacking Wright.
Today, Thursday, November 20th at
1:00 PM, Wright will address the Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board in
Senate Hearing Room 225 North-West of the Capitol to tell what happened.
Her presentation of 15 to 20 minutes will be followed by Q&A from CC/WI Board Members.
CC/WI members and the media are invited to attend.
CONTACT:
Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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Common Cause in Wisconsin Reform Update
Friday September 5, 2014
1. Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson Urged to Put Country over Party and Vote for Senate Joint Resolution 19 on Monday
2. Wisconsin Citizens Overwhelmingly Want to Know Who the Donors Are to Outside Spending Groups in Elections
3. Governor Scott Walker Now Apparently Opposes Disclosure Measure Introduced By State Representative Scott Walke
1. On Monday, U.S. Senators will return to the nation's Capitol for a key test vote on support for a constitutional amendment to control money in politics. The measure (
S.J. Resolution 19) would give Congress and the states explicit power to set limits on campaign contributions and spending, including the power to ban campaign money from corporations, unions and other "artificial" entities. S.J. Res. 19 would overturn U.S. Supreme Court decisions equating campaign spending with speech and that the First Amendment prohibits limits on campaign money.
In other words, S.J. Res 19 would overturn the terrible 2010
Citizens United vs. F.E.C. decision as well as the even more infamous 1976
Buckley v. Valeo decision which started all of this mess.
Half of the 100 U.S. Senators, including Wisconsin's
Tammy Baldwin, are co-sponsors and supporters of S.J. Res. 19. Wisconsin's other U.S. Senator,
Ron Johnson, ought to be a true "maverick" in our state's finest tradition, and buck his party leadership's opposition to the measure and support it.
Here is our letter to Senator Johnson urging him to do just that.
You can call Senator Ron Johnson at 202-224-5323 or email him using the contact form
here (a phone call is far more effective), and urge him to support S.J. Res19 for Wisconsin!
2. Last week, the widely-touted Marquette University Poll asked Wisconsin 
residents a variety of questions about the race for Governor of Wisconsin and other elections this Fall. It also asked a question about secret money in Wisconsin, specifically about whether Wisconsin voters favored knowing who was behind the millions of dollars of communications (particularly TV and radio ads) run by outside special interest groups.
The statewide Wisconsin Radio Network interviewed CC/WI Director Jay Heck about the poll's findings on campaign disclosure.
3. In 1997, then-State Representative Scott Walker (R-Wauwatosa) introduced legislation that CC/WI supported and which would have required the disclosure of donors to all groups outside of Wisconsin who spent money in Wisconsin trying to influence the outcome of Wisconsin elections. We reported on this in mid-August.
Recently, the Shepherd Express in Milwaukee explored this issue in more depth with CC/WI Director Jay Heck and further, compared what Governor Walker may have been doing in 2011-2012 to conceal outside spending with what State Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) merely talked about doing last April before being driven into retirement.
CONTACT:
Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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For Release: Thursday - August 14, 2014
State Rep. Scott Walker Introduced Bill Requiring All
Out-Of-State Groups to Report Source of Funds
Sometimes it's good to be a pack rat. In sorting through the CC/WI office recently, we came across a press release from then-State Representative
Scott Walker (R-Wauwatosa) proposing that
all out-of-state groups that spend money in Wisconsin elections disclose where those funds came from. He strongly supported the type of full disclosure of the donors of outside money that Wisconsin has needed for two decades.
While back in 1997, State Rep. Walker strongly supported electioneering disclosure, Governor Walker has been much less supportive. In fact, he and his allies have been major impediments to providing information voters need about who is behind the millions of dollars being spent in Wisconsin elections – particularly in gubernatorial elections.
Governor Walker could learn something from State Representative Walker.
Below,
verbatim, is the March, 1997 Walker press release on his disclosure legislation. Needless to say, it didn't get very far back then and that's a major reason we have so much secret money in Wisconsin today.
CONTACT:
Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org
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CONTACT:
Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)
For Release: May 7, 2014
New Urgency to Close Phony Issue Ad Loophole in Wisconsin
in Wake of Federal Judge's Order to Halt Investigation
U.S. District Judge
Rudolph Randa yesterday issued a
decision to halt a secret "John Doe" investigation by five county district attorneys that
began in 2012 to investigate possible illegal campaign coordination between Governor
Scott Walker's campaign in the recall election of 2011-2012 and outside conservative special interest groups who supported Walker. The decision will almost certainly be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeals in Chicago. But Randa's decision underscores the continued and urgent need for Wisconsin to enact into law effective electioneering disclosure legislation.
Randa ruled that
Wisconsin Club for Growth and other outside special interest groups such as
Wisconsin Right to Life and
United Sportsmen of Wisconsin were not in violation of Wisconsin law prohibiting coordination between such groups and a candidate's campaign because they did not engage in "express advocacy" in their efforts for Walker. Instead they utilized issue advocacy – or in reality – "phony" issue advocacy, which is express advocacy masquerading as issue advocacy. Randa said in his decision "the (Wisconsin Club for Growth and its treasurer) have found a way to circumvent campaign finance laws . . . "
In Wisconsin, express advocacy is subject to registration, regulation and disclosure requirements. Phony issue advocacy is not – yet, but should be.
Express advocacy has been defined by Courts since the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision as communications that utilize terms such as "vote for," or "defeat," or "support." But for years, the way to get around that definition and the requisite disclosure requirements was to avoid the express advocacy terms referred to as "magic words." And obviously it is easy to do and still be able to influence the outcome of an election.
An example of express advocacy that would trigger disclosure and would make it illegal for there to be any coordination between a group utilizing it – and the campaign of the candidate they were supporting – would be: "Scott Burke would be a wonderful Governor for Wisconsin and you should vote for Scott Burke on Tuesday." It contains a "magic word term" – vote for.
An example of issue advocacy – really phony issue advocacy, not subject to disclosure – would be: "Scott Burke loves Wisconsin and wants to eliminate your taxes, make your schools better and clean up your environment. Call Scott Burke and tell him you agree with his plan." No magic words.
Obviously in the period before an election there is no difference in the effect that either communication would have in the minds of someone seeing or listening to it. Both advocate for the election of Scott Burke. But only the first one triggers disclosure. The second one does not under current Wisconsin law. That is an obvious loophole in Wisconsin's law the size of Siberia. But it is exactly that loophole that outside special interest groups like Wisconsin Club for Growth have utilized for years to spend millions of dollars to influence the outcome of elections in this state, but have escaped disclosure. And it was this very loophole that Judge Randa cited in his decision to stop the John Doe investigation, presumably because he believes that coordination between outside special interest groups utilizing phony issue ads and candidate campaigns is not illegal.
Wisconsin Club for Growth spent over $9 million on behalf of Walker in 2011-2012, but Randa seems to be saying that because the communications utilized were largely (or completely) phony issue ads and not express advocacy, then there was not illegal coordination. That defies logic – but whether it is illegal or not will be determined by the Federal Court of Appeals.
Since 1997, Common Cause in Wisconsin has advocated closing this phony issue ad loophole and requiring outside groups that run widely-disseminated communications that no reasonable person could otherwise interpret as attempting to influence her or his vote for or against a candidate (even if it does not contain one of the so-called "magic words"), be subject to registration and disclosure – if it is run in the period of 60 days or less prior to the election.
This is not an infringement of free speech. This is common sense. And even the conservative U.S. Supreme Court majority who "gave" us the Citizens United V. F.E.C. decision in 2010 told Congress and the states that they really ought to require disclosure and regulation of the massive amount of outside money they were unleashing on our elections.
In 2013-2014, CC/WI helped initiate and promoted such electioneering disclosure legislation with bipartisan co-sponsorship – Senate Bill 166. Clearly after Judge Randa's decision yesterday, it is needed even more urgently than ever.
For more on this developing story go here, here and here.
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686
For Release: Friday, March 7, 2014
Fate of Anti-Election Disclosure Bill Rests With
Six Pro-Election Disclosure Republican State Senators
Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) Announces Opposition on Thursday
Terrible Legislation that would hinder electioneering disclosure of outside special interest dark money (
Senate Bill 654) and increase the ability of lobbyists to make campaign contributions (
Senate Bill 655) – both proposed and pushed by special interest group lobbyists – was introduced late Monday, rushed to a public hearing on Wednesday and SB 655 was reported out of committee yesterday for scheduling and a possible vote by the full State Senate.
The fate of both of these misguided measures – but particularly that of Senate Bill 654 – rests in the hands of six current Republican State Senators – who, in 2010, voted in support of a
strong electioneering disclosure measure that would have required disclosure of the donors to widely-disseminated communications (including phony issue ads) in the period 60 days or less prior to an election. Senate Bill 654 seeks to codify into law the ability of the purveyors of campaign communications masquerading as issue advocacy to
not have to disclose the source of this dark money so that the voters of Wisconsin would
not be able to know who is trying to influence their vote.
The six Republican State Senators who would have to change their position 180 degrees and do a full fledged "flip flop" to vote in favor of Senate Bill 654 are: Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay), Mike Ellis (R-Neenah), Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) and Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center).
On Thursday, Senator Ellis announced on Radio Station WHBY in Appleton, that he opposes both Senate Bill 654 and Senate Bill 655.
The State Senate Committee on Elections and Urban affairs, chaired by State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) and the author – together with State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) – of both SB 654 and SB 655, yesterday reported out Senate Bill 655 with a few minor changes and it is now available for scheduling for a vote by the full State Senate.
However, Senate Bill 654 – the anti-disclosure measure – did not receive a vote and apparently lacks sufficient votes in the committee to be reported out at this time. Senator Lazich did not even mention the legislation during the executive session.
But State Senate Majority Leader Fitzgerald could still bring the measure to the floor of the full Senate for a vote – even if Lazich's committee lacks a majority of votes to approve SB 654. The measure is not "dead" until the session ends.
CC/WI has aggressively opposed both measures and CC/WI director Jay Heck testified at Wednesday's hearing in the Capitol. You can access the hearing here. (Heck's testimony begins at 1:35:43)
The Wisconsin State Journal strongly editorialized against both of these measures (and cited CC/WI) in Thursday's issue.
The Capital Times published Jay Heck's opinion-editorial railing against both measures on Wednesday.
For other coverage of these fast moving developments go here, here, and here.
Jay Heck will debate these issues further on Capitol City Sunday on Channel 27 - WKOW in Madison, this Sunday - March 9th at 9:00 AM.
And please, if you have not yet done so, contact your State Senator ASAP and urge her or him to oppose both Senate Bill 654 and Senate Bill 655. If you are not sure who your State Senator is, go here.
Revised 3/7/2014 - 7:06 AM.
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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Common Cause in Wisconsin Reform Update
Tuesday - March 4, 2014
CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686
1. Bill Kraus: The Invasion of the Super PACs
2. Video of February "Reform Forum" with Senators Schultz and Risser Posted Online
3. Redistricting Reform Event in Madison on Wednesday Evening
4. Wisconsin's Restrictive Voter Photo ID Law is Criticized by Conservative Justices
1. The unprecedented flood of money – most of it from special interest groups who want something for it, and much of it undisclosed – has become a rapidly-spreading
cancer in our elections and public policy-making. Someone who knows very well what Wisconsin politics was like years ago, and how that compares with what we have to endure today is
Bill Kraus, the Chair of CC/WI since 1995 and a long-time Republican political strategist who served as the top assistant and press secretary to former Republican Governor
Lee Sherman Dreyfus (1979-83) and as a key adviser and strategist for former Republican Governor
Warren Knowles (1965-71).
Read his insightful column on the subject of this onslaught of money in our politics
here.
2. Our
February 17th "Reform Forum" at Edgewood College in
Madison, with State Senators
Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and
Fred Risser (D-Madison), and moderated by
Wisconsin State Journal editorial page editor
Scott Milfred, attracted a sizable and lively audience despite polar temperatures and a nasty snow storm. Many who wanted to attend, but could not because of the bad weather, have asked to see a video of the forum – we filmed and posted it on YouTube
here in four parts so that they (and you) could view the event its entirety.
3. This coming Wednesday evening, March 5th, CC/WI Director Jay Heck will participate in a forum solely devoted to non-partisan redistricting reform, which has been our top reform priority for the past year.
This event is being conducted by the League of Women Voters of Dane County and will be held in downtown Madison beginning at 7:00 PM. You are cordially invited to attend.
4. In case you missed it, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a lawsuit against Wisconsin's extreme and restrictive voter photo ID law which 
was enacted in 2011 and became Act 23. With the exception of one primary election in 2012, the law had not been in effect because it was enjoined by lower courts as being too restrictive and in violation of Wisconsin's Constitution and of Federal Voting Rights law.
Two years ago, CC/WI filed an amicus brief in support of a suit based on the law's violation of the Voting Rights Act, and a decision is still pending in federal court in Milwaukee. News accounts of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court last week were surprisingly "promising" in that several of the members of the Court's conservative block expressed concerns about the burden Act 23 places on some voters in Wisconsin. You can read about these promising developments here.
In a related development, State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said recently he may try to push through in April a revised voter photo ID measure (Assembly Bill 493), that passed in the Assembly last Fall, before the Legislature adjourns for the year. But he may not have the votes to do so. At our February 17th "Reform Forum" in Madison, Senator Schultz announced he would not support any further attempts to restrict the ability of Wisconsin voters to cast a ballot as AB 493 would do. That brings to 16 the number of votes against the measure, one shy of a majority. So this battle is not over. Stay tuned.
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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For Release: Friday - February 14, 2014
This Monday night, we hope to further build the momentum in support of
non-partisan redistricting reform – and other vital political reforms – by bringing together members of the Legislature, reform experts, and Wisconsin citizens at a
free public forum in Madison at Edgewood College. The event will run from 6:30 to 8 PM and will include a lengthy Q&A with the audience.
Why should area citizens attend this forum?
In 2011, Wisconsin experienced the most secretive, partisan and expensive (at over $2 million) redistricting process in state history – resulting in dramatically less competitive State Legislative and Congressional districts. We'll talk about why a measure that takes redistricting out of the hands of partisan legislators and puts that process into the hands of a non-partisan entity should be put into place
now – for the next redistricting process that will occur in 2021.
Tens of millions of dollars were spent in Wisconsin by outside special interest groups for largely negative communications leading up to the 2012 general election. But Wisconsinites are still in the dark about who was really behind much of this avalanche of “outside” campaign cash and the constant barrage of “phony issue ads” during the election.
On Monday, panelists and audience members will explore whether this lack of disclosure of these anonymous communications is a form of protected "free speech" – or if citizens should have the right to know who is trying to influence their vote.
We will also discuss Wisconsin’s 2011 photo voter ID law – one of the most extreme and restrictive such measures in the nation. It has been blocked by the courts, but may return in a new form soon. Is requiring a photo ID at the polls needed? Is there really voter fraud or is this a voter suppression measure?
And, we will look at the U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous 2010 decision in Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission which allows corporations, labor unions and other interest groups (and their "Super PACs") to use unlimited money from their general treasury coffers to flood our airwaves with negative messages, giving them far greater influence on the outcome of elections. Attendees will learn more about how the Citizens United decision has affected Wisconsin and why it matters.
These and other vital political reform issues will be the focus of discussion in Madison on Monday evening during one in an ongoing series of "reform forums" held across the state by Common Cause in Wisconsin:
"What Ever Happened to Good Government in Wisconsin?
And How Can We Fix It?"
Monday Evening, February 17th
6:30 to 8:00 PM
Edgewood College - Anderson Auditorium
1000 Edgewood Drive, Madison, WI
Panelists will include:
State Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center)
State Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison)
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Executive Director Andrea Kaminski
Political Science Professor Steven Davis of Edgewood College
Executive Director Jay Heck of Common Cause in Wisconsin
Scott Milfred, Editorial Page Editor of the Wisconsin State Journal will serve as Moderator.
Please join us for what will be an informative and lively discussion.
Full details can be found here.
CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
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Common Cause in Wisconsin Reform Update
Thursday November 21, 2013
CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686
1. CC/WI Analysis Shows More Competitive Legislative Elections Before the 2011 Gerrymander
2. Wisconsin Citizens Continue to Clamor for Redistricting Reform Hearings
3. Unfolding Investigation of Walker Campaign and Outside Groups During Recall Election Underscores Need for Electioneering Disclosure Law
1. One of the primary reasons redistricting reform is needed in Wisconsin is because of the secretive, hyper-partisan and expensive (to Wisconsin taxpayers) 2011 redistricting process that
produced fewer competitive state legislative elections in which Wisconsin voters have a real choice in general elections and thereby now have to endure a far more unresponsive and arrogant Legislature.
CC/WI compared the number of competitive State Assembly and State Senate elections in 2010 -- before gerrymandering -- with the 2012 elections. (We define "competitive" as general elections decided by 10 percentage points or less -- so no election with a greater spread than 55 percent to 45 percent).
In 2010, there were 21 Assembly general elections that fell in the "competitive" category. Those occurred in Assembly Districts: 15, 20, 26, 37, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 57, 62, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75, 80, 85, 88, 93, and 94.
In 2012, the number of "competitive" Assembly general elections fell by about 30 percent from 2010 to just 15. Those Assembly districts were: 1, 26, 37, 49, 50, 51, 62, 67, 68, 70, 72, 75, 85, 88, and 93.
The fall off in the number of "competitive" State Senate general elections was even more dramatic. In 2010, there were six "competitive"
general elections that occurred in State Senate Districts: 5, 21, 23, 25, 29, and 31. In 2012, after gerrymandering, the number of "competitive" State Senate general elections fell to just two. Those happened in State Senate Districts 18 and 30. Note in the map of State Senate districts in the 2012 elections (to the right) the contorted shape of many of the districts. This is classic, partisan gerrymandering
Opponents of redistricting reform continually and inaccurately complain that reforming this process didn't happen prior to the 2010 elections so why is there so much noise about doing it now? The answer is simple, obvious, and straightforward: There are many fewer competitive general elections in Wisconsin now as a result of the 2011 gerrymandering. That, and the fact that the process is now intolerably hyper-partisan, secretive and a massive rip-off of Wisconsin taxpayer money.
2. A recent article by Bill Lueders of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows that numerous citizens have contacted Republican state legislative leaders and the chairs of committees with jurisdiction over redistricting reform legislation demanding public hearings. Many others have written to newspapers supporting hearings, and the number of citizens opposing either redistricting reform or public hearings is negligible. Instead of abating, the demand for action on this reform is rising. Common Cause in Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin have been relentless in calling public attention to the need for redistricting reform and for public hearings -- and we are not about to stop now. Neither are most of Wisconsin's daily newspapers, like the Wisconsin State Journal, which yesterday editorialized: Earth to GOP: Hold a hearing now.
3. The continuing, unfolding revelations in yet another secret "John Doe" investigation of possible illegal 
campaign activities by Governor Scott Walker's campaign and outside special interest groups supporting his re-election during the 2012 recall election is about many things. But central to it is the vast and increasing amount of secret and undisclosed money that flowed in that election and which continues to pollute and undermine the integrity of Wisconsin's statewide and legislative elections.
The Governor and Legislature could act tomorrow (or even today) to disclose much of this secret money by calling up and acting on bipartisan electioneering disclosure legislation, Senate Bill 166, which was introduced last April by State Senators Mike Ellis (R-Neenah), Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah), with consultation and the strong support of CC/WI. Enactment into law of this critical measure would go a long way toward eliminating much of the mystery, and therefore the possibilities for illegal wrongdoing, that the latest criminal investigation is digging up. Just as important, Wisconsin citizens deserve to have the same right that citizens in many other states (including Illinois) currently have in knowing who is trying to influence their vote at election time. Secret money in politics very often leads to wrongdoing and scandal. Senate Bill 166 would help reduce much of this secretiveness.
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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Common Cause in Wisconsin Reform Update
Tuesday October 8, 2013
1. Nation's Highest Court Takes Up "Citizens United II" for September?
2. Speaker Vos Says Rep. August Should Not Hold Public Hearings on Redistricting Reform Legislation
3. Wisconsin Needs Electioneering Disclosure And More Transparency, Not Less
1. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in
McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission,
a case that will determine whether or not the corrupting influence of money in politics will be expanded, as it was in the 2010
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.
Citizens United overturned more than a century of settled law and precedent and opened up federal and state elections to be influenced by unlimited (and largely undisclosed) corporate and union "outside" money.
McCutcheon would strike down current limits on the aggregate total a wealthy individual could give to multiple candidates during an election cycle and greatly enhance the corrupting influence of wealthy donors. Many legal experts surmise that if
McCutcheon is upheld then it is only a matter of time before individual contribution limits to candidates are eviscerated and federal and state elections will be subject to virtually no limitations and will evolve into lawless contests where anything goes at any cost.
Steve Spaulding, the staff counsel for national Common Cause, has written this excellent
opinion-editorial which explains the case and what is at stake.
Former national Common Cause Presidents Fred Wertheimer and Don Simon, two of the leading experts in campaign finance law in the nation, have provided this excellent Q & A on the McCutcheon case that will help you understand the significance of this critical issue.
2. For several months now, CC/WI, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and most of Wisconsin's newspapers have been relentless in calling on Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), 
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) to direct or allow committee chairs, State Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) to hold public hearings on non-partisan redistricting reform legislation -- Assembly Bill 185 and Senate Bill 163. The question about public hearings is being asked of Vos and Fitzgerald much more frequently. Last week, veteran journalist Steve Walters of Wisconsin Eye asked Vos about public hearings at the outset of his program "Civil Dialogue." Vos said that while he hasn't ordered August not to allow a public hearing, he hopes August doesn't hold one. Talk about a difference without a distinction! To see Vos' misleading dodge to this question, go here. It is the very first topic of the interview.
3. Last week, the same State Senate committee with jurisdiction over redistricting reform and chaired by Mary Lazich, held a hearing on a terrible legislative measure -- Senate Bill 282 -- 
proposed by State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) that would greatly raise the threshold at which a candidate would have to report to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, the occupation of a donor to his or her campaign. In short, this would weaken disclosure of campaign money and it is exactly the opposite direction that Wisconsin ought to be headed. And while thousands of Wisconsinites have now contacted Lazich and other Republican leaders demanding public hearings on redistricting reform legislation, who -- other than Grothman and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce -- had even requested Senate Bill 282 be introduced, let alone be given a public hearing?
Instead of less disclosure of campaign cash, Wisconsin needs more disclosure -- particularly of outside groups who spend millions of dollars to influence statewide and legislative elections, but dodge the disclosure of their donors because they utilize campaign communications masquerading as issue advocacy. These "phony issue ads" would be disclosed if bipartisan legislation introduced by State Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah), State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), and State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) -- Senate Bill 166 -- were enacted into law.
How about a public hearing on this measure Mary Lazich? (and Scott Fitzgerald?) There are actually many Wisconsin citizens who want to know more about who is influencing our elections, not less.
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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