Assembly Republicans on Monday sent Gov. Scott Walker a bill rewriting campaign finance laws and were poised to approve one replacing the state’s ethics and elections board with two new commissions.
The measure eliminating the Government Accountability Board was prompted by GOP ire over an investigation of Walker’s campaign that was terminated this summer by a state Supreme Court ruling. Anger over the probe also partly inspired the campaign finance legislation, which codifies the court’s finding that candidates and issue groups can work closely together.
The campaign finance bill would also double the amount donors can give candidates; allow corporations and unions to give money to political parties and campaign committees controlled by legislative leaders; and end the requirement that donors disclose their employers. That would make it harder for the public to find outwhich industries are funneling money to candidates.
The measure passed 59-0, with all Republicans favoring it and all Democrats refusing to vote. Democrats declined to vote because they argued it was a conflict of interest for lawmakers to vote on changes to campaign finance laws that would take effect before the next election.
The legislation and the court’s ruling this summer could change the way candidates run campaigns. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said in a meeting last week with editors and reporters from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he was open to partnering with issue groups that do not have to disclose their donors. Such groups run campaign-style ads that escape regulation.