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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Press Release
October 1, 2013
CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686
A Conspiracy of Silence Against Redistricting Reform Public Hearings
Fitzgerald, Vos, Lazich & August Refuse to Explain
Why They Fear Public Discussion
The unprecedented, united and relentless editorializing by Wisconsin's newspapers calling for legislative public hearings on non-partisan redistricting reform legislation since mid-August, continued this weekend with powerful statements in support of open, accountable state government -- and for the right of Wisconsin citizens to hear a robust debate on whether Wisconsin ought to end hyper-partisan, secretive, expensive gerrymandering that robs voters of real choices in general elections and causes legislators to behave in an unresponsive, unaccountable and arrogant manner. Or not.
State Senate Majority Leader
Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Assembly Speaker
Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and State Senator
Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) and State Representative
Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) --the chairs of committees with jurisdiction over redistricting reform legislation:
Senate Bill 163 and
Assembly Bill 185,
(Click to enlarge) identical measures that were introduced five months ago --
all vehemently oppose redistricting reform and refuse even to allow public hearings on the reform measures. Incredibly, they won't even explain why they refuse to schedule public hearings! They all occupy utterly safe Republican districts and so they feel as if being unresponsive, unaccountable and arrogant will not cost them much, if anything, politically. And so they have forged
a conspiracy of silence on this issue. Wisconsinites ought to be concerned about whether this arrogance and lack of responsiveness will apply to other issues as well. And they ought to be concerned about what negative repercussions this behavior could cause for democracy and accountability.
Read these recent, powerful editorials about the need for redistricting reform, the demand for public hearings, and the self-interest and arrogance of Fitzgerald, Vos, Lazich, August and others:
Wisconsin State Journal - Partisan maps good for politicians, not the public
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Our View | Redistricting - Let the people speak: Hold a hearing on plan
Beloit Daily News - EDITORIAL: What's wrong with talking?
Marshfield News-Herald - Listen to public on redistricting reform: Our View
And this letter to the Editor of the The Oshkosh Northwestern - Letters to the editior: Redistricting process in Wisconsin opens doors
Are you mad yet? You ought to be.
Common Cause in Wisconsin has been working to add more legislative co-sponsors of Senate Bill 163 or Assembly Bill 185. During the month of September we added four new co-sponsors.
For the updated, complete listing of public supporters of non-partisan redistricting reform legislation, go here.
If your State Senator and/or State Representative are not on that list, it is imperative that you contact them and urge them in the strongest possible terms to co-sponsor SB 163 or AB 185 and to join the demand for public hearings on redistricting reform. Here's how to contact them.
If you are not sure who your State Senator and/or State Representative are, go here.
And, if you are still fired up after that, contact Fitzgerald, Vos, Lazich and August and demand they end their arrogant conspiracy of silence and schedule public hearings!
Please let us know what you hear from any legislator on this issue. We are keeping track and need your help.
Are you with us?
__________________________________________
Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686
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Redistricting Reform
Disclosure of Money in Politics
The Citizens United Decision
Public Financing of Elections
Voter Photo ID
"What Ever Happened to Good Government in Wisconsin?
And How Can We Fix It?"
Monday, October 28, 2013
6:30 – 8:00 PM
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Dreyfus University Center - Laird North (Alumni Room)
1015 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
** Event is Free... and so are the cookies! **
Panelists: Former Congressman Dave Obey (D-7th District, 1969-2011)
State Representative Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point)
Bill Kraus, Republican Strategist and Common Cause in Wisconsin Chair
State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point)*Tentative*
and CC/WI Executive Director Jay Heck
Moderator: Professor
Dennis Riley, UW-Stevens Point Political Science Department
Please come join in the discussion and learn more about:
- Redistricting/Gerrymandering reform in Wisconsin – how do we do it?
- Disclosure of interest-group “phony issue ads” and other “outside” spending – is this necessary or would it stifle “free speech”?
- How is the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Citizens United vs F.E.C affecting Wisconsin?
- Would a Voter Photo ID law suppress voter fraud or voters?
- Is Public Financing of our state elections needed?
- Should we Elect or Appoint Wisconsin's Supreme Court Justices?
Presented by Common Cause in Wisconsin Underwritten by
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