NEWS
Policy could aid campaign transparency
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Courtney Johnson:
- Construction pops up on State Street this spring (November 6, 2007)
- Woods ahead in fundraising race (March 28, 2007)
- E-mail sparks privacy concern (October 9, 2007)
- Big Ten Network reaches deal with UW housing (August 31, 2007)
- City agency to run Halloween entertainment (May 10, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Heck: insurance on leave not valid (February 27, 2006)
- Court wants answers from Elections Board (October 12, 2006)
- FBI to aid in investigation (November 1, 2006)
- Senators contend election hijacked (November 1, 2006)
- SSFC examines bylaw modification (March 7, 2008)
Share This:
by Courtney Johnson
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Wisconsin State Elections Board approved a policy last week that requires campaigns to provide a detailed description of their credit-card activities, including the name of each vendor and the amount and purpose of each purchase.
The policy's intention is to help campaign transparency. It was proposed in response to an Appleton reporter's discovery that several Wisconsin politicians — including current Gov. Jim Doyle — were making large campaign payments with credit cards with little or no explanation about the purchase.
"Currently, candidates can report on their election reports simply a 'Visa payment' or 'Mastercard payment,' and it could be $3,000, and there is no detail on what that payment is for," said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, a non-partisan citizens' reform advocacy group.
This policy was on the Elections Board's agenda for several months and then was postponed; Heck said this is a long overdue reform that is absolutely needed to improve campaign transparency.
"Citizens want to know that contributions they are making are being used in a proper fashion," he added.
While supporters say the policy is a step in the right direction toward campaign finance reform, the Elections Board does not believe it will significantly affect campaigning in Wisconsin.
"I wouldn't expect it to affect [campaigns] much, unless there is someone who has been spending money in a way that they did not want the public to know about and was trying to cover it up by using a credit card," State Elections Board spokesperson Kyle Richmond said.
However, the Elections Board does expect it to affect the way the public views politics.
"It is important to make sure that as much information is [as] transparent as possible so that the public has confidence in the electoral system and public servants," Richmond said.
Richmond also cited the various scandals in the U.S. Congress regarding politicians taking private trips at the expense of certain lobbyists or interest groups, saying that the public needs to feel more confident in their government.
Some believe this policy will also improve the media's ability to report on campaign activity, hopefully resulting in more informed voters.
"The more the public knows, the better it is. It is just good common sense," Heck said.
Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said he sees this reform as "a victory for the public's right to know."
"This will absolutely help campaign transparency," he added.
