WisPolitics Budget Blog

The key ingredient to any campaign finance reform must include disclosing who is funding the effort.

Here in WI, associations have fought against this element, suggesting constitutional Freedom of Speech issues pre-empt disclosure requirements. What a crock.

But in DC, House Republicans are rightfully offering a transparency provision to those IRS Code 527 campaign assassin groups that McCain-Feingold gave birth to.

As someone who is employed in the business of politics, campaigns have morphed into a 3rd party exercise; candidates today have very little control over their own destiny.

Organizations camouflage themselves to mislead, period. They hide their donors from campaign finance reporting to avoid explanations, period.

If someone like, oh, Herb Kohl, spends $20 million of his own inheritance on a US Senate campaign, then we all know it's his money. But, if some organization like, oh, MoveOn.org, spends $20 million to defeat Kohl's opponent, then I want to know where the funding is coming from.

Give voters more information, not less. Let the source of the funding be a factor in determining whether voters believe it should be a consideration in who they vote for...or against.