Governor Jim Doyle today called a special session of the Wisconsin Legislature for December 11, 2007 at 11 a.m. to take action on comprehensive, bipartisan campaign finance reform. The legislation will modernize Wisconsin’s public financing system by increasing candidates’ spending limits and maximum public grant amounts, ban fundraising during the budget process, and establish a separate fully-funded campaign finance system for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates.
“While the delay in the budget has delayed the legislative agenda, there are several issues the legislature should address by the end of the year. Among them is comprehensive campaign finance reform,” Governor Doyle said. “Legislation has already been drafted that both Democrats and Republicans should support. I am now asking the Legislature to convene in special session and act quickly on the bipartisan package of reforms that will update and improve our campaign financing system in Wisconsin.”
The Governor is asking the Legislature to act on a package of reforms that includes the following components:
· Establish a fully-funded public campaign finance system for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates.
· Modify candidate spending limits for candidates participating in public financing and establish a biennial adjustment of those limitations based on inflation.
· Set increased maximum public financing grant amounts.
· Provide new avenues for funding the public financing system, such as increasing the income tax check-off amount from $1 to $5.
· Establish a system of matching grants for candidates participating in public financing who face opponents who exceed the applicable disbursement limitations.
· Ban fundraising during the budget process for both incumbent and challenger candidates to partisan elective office from the date of the biennial budget address until the date of budget enactment.
Governor Doyle’s Executive Order calling for Special Session: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=12598
