PriyaPatelTLDR:
- A bipartisan bill to centralize all campaign finance-related filings in Wisconsin with the state has stalled in the Assembly.
- The bill aims to simplify the reporting process for candidates and reduce the burden on local clerks.
A bipartisan bill in Wisconsin that proposes to centralize all campaign finance-related filings with the state has hit a roadblock in the Assembly. The bill, which is set to begin implementation in 2025, aims to streamline the reporting process for candidates and reduce the workload on local clerks.
The proposed law would require campaign committees, political parties, and conduits at the local level to file their campaign finance reports with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, which already manages a statewide database. Proponents of the bill argue that it would make it easier to track dark money in campaigns, especially at the local level, where outside interest groups can have a significant impact on policy decisions.
While the bill has faced no registered opposition, there are concerns about its impact on candidates running in low-spending races. Some critics argue that the bill could distract the Ethics Commission from overseeing more critical compliance issues in higher-level races.
Despite support from municipal associations, such as the League of Wisconsin Municipal Associations, and the Wisconsin Towns Association, the bill’s passage this session remains uncertain. Although the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection advanced the bill for a floor vote, the Assembly version currently sits in the Committee on Campaigns and Elections without a clear path forward.
Full Article:
A bipartisan bill to centralize all campaign finance-related filings in Wisconsin with the state has stalled in the Assembly. The bill, which is set to begin implementation in 2025, aims to streamline the reporting process for candidates and reduce the burden on local clerks. The current law only requires candidates for state office, including district attorneys, to file campaign finance disclosures detailing political spending on their campaigns. The proposed law would extend this requirement to campaign committees, political parties, and conduits at the local level.
