The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign released a report Thursday saying 14 campaign donors had exceeded the $10,000 annual campaign funding limit for contributions made to state and local officials in 2008.

According to Mike McCabe, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a non-profit organization concerned with government transparency, the annual report is based on the candidate’s campaign finance reports, which include the sources of their contributions and how the money was spent.

“When this started, there were numerous cases of individuals who violated campaign finance law, and the state election board was giving them a slap on the wrist, if anything,” McCabe said.

Among the highest donors listed was Herzing University Executive Sally Herzing, who donated $18,125 total to several campaigns, including $5,000 to Justice Louis Butler Jr., who was recently nominated to serve as a United States district court judge. W. Jerome Frautschi, the Madison philanthropist known best for the $205 million dollar gift used to build the Overture Center, spent $11,500 on campaign contributions, which included a one-time donation of $10,000 to Jim Doyle.

According to Wayne Bigelow, chair of the Dane County Democratic Party, one of the many recipients of such campaign contributions, the legal liability in this issue rests solely with those who donated the fund, not those who received them.

“There’s nothing illegal about it from our end of things. This is just a mere fraction of the campaign contributions we’ve received and honestly, in a big election year like 2008 was, I’m surprised the number who exceeded the limit was only 14,” Bigelow said.

However, according to McCabe, things have changed for the better since the formation of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board in early 2008.

GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said once a violation has taken place, the board is able to fine those offenders one-and-a-half times the amount their contribution went over.

“The bigger the offense, the bigger the punishment,” Magney said.

While many agree enforcing the current law is a must, Rep. Donald Pridemore, R-Hartford, a member of Assembly Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform, did not think the problem was widespread enough to warrant further government involvemen. He added that people are far more concerned with donating to federal elections.

However, Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, another member of the Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform, said such issues point to larger problems that must be addressed, including the fact all punishments for violating the law are enforced after the campaign has finished. She added the government should continue to crack down on those who violate the law.

“Unlimited campaign contributions are something that would prove to be insidious to democracy,” Roys said. “The biggest thing we can do right now is enforce the law and keep everyone accountable.”