NEWS
Let issue ads be, lobby group says
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by Keegan Kyle
Friday, March 30, 2007
One of Wisconsin's most powerful lobbying organizations said Thursday it would strongly oppose any effort by the Legislature to reform "issue advertising" prior to elections.
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, one of the state's first organizations to produce issue ads, opposes the proposed regulation, saying it would violate the constitutional freedoms of speech and association.
"What they're really talking about is censorship," said Jim Pugh, a spokesperson for WMC. "Many, many thousands of voices would be silenced."
WMC, which reported spending more money lobbying the Capitol than any other organization last year, has argued before state and U.S. Supreme Courts over regulations forced upon issue advertising.
"This is a very dangerous set of proposals that would undermine our democracy," Pugh said. "The politicians want to have sole control over the messages in the debate … so they don't have to talk about the issues that matter."
The organization's reaction comes in response to a to a sister bill proposed Wednesday by nine Assembly Democrats that would regulate issue ads distributed by individuals and organizations 60 days prior to any election for state office.
Seemingly, the battle is set.
However, according to Mike McCabe, executive director of the government watchdog group The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, the Legislature will need its leadership to win.
Both Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, have voiced openness toward disclosure reform, but McCabe said their opinions might not be enough.
"Now those words need to be followed up with action," McCabe said. "Without leadership from both Houses and both political parties, this won't happen."
Doyle spokesperson Carla Vigue said the governor has not yet examined the proposed bills closely enough to express his complete support. However, reform proponents were encouraged by Doyle's State of the State address in January.
"Gov. Doyle has repeatedly said that putting an end to phony issue ads will be a good start toward election reform," Vigue said.
While the proposed bills would not prohibit issue or negative ads during elections, some say public disclosure would be enough to "level the playing field."
In the state Supreme Court election, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign estimates interest groups have spent more than $2 million on issue advertising. McCabe said he is concerned the groups currently hold too much weight in the people's government.
"They want to be able to sway elections, and they want to be able to do it all under a cloak of secrecy," McCabe said. "They don't care about the public interest because they're trying to get their own agenda."
McCabe and other government analysts believe the Legislature may have enough votes this year to pass legislation to regulate issue ads. In the past, McCabe said, the issue was partisan since Republicans had a perception it was somehow advantageous.
But McCabe said the perceptions have changed today.
"I think both parties realize these interest groups have them in the crosshairs," McCabe added. "Republicans are just as likely to be victims of this as Democrats are."
In the state Supreme Court race, WMC and Club for Growth Wisconsin have largely produced advertising that supports Washington County Circuit Court Judge Annette Ziegler, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The Milwaukee-based Greater Wisconsin Committee has produced advertising that supports Madison lawyer Linda Clifford.
Anonymous (March 30, 2007 @ 2:55pm):
Great article. Jim Pugh gets paid big money to turn the agrument on its head. The only voices that would be silenced are those that currently are hiding behind this "cloak of secrecy" that McCabe discusses and who choose to stay hidden (voluntarily stay quiet). They could continue to spend big money on election-related activities but would simply have to let the public know who is doing the spending and how much was spent to try to influence voters. What is fundamental to any functioning democracy is an informed and engaged electorate.
Xoff (March 30, 2007 @ 5:12pm):
McCabe's organization, however, doesn't disclose its donors, either.
Xoff (March 30, 2007 @ 6:02pm):
By the way, Greater Wisconsin Committee is based in Madison, not Milwaukee, and does not run ads "supporting" anyone, but discussing relevant issues.
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