Legislative Developments
From this page you can access WDC press releases and other documents pertaining to various legislative proposals that have had an impact on democracy in Wisconsin over the years.
2017
WDC opposes more WMC, Koch-backed anti-regulation bills (SB15 and AB317)
Statement supporting Sen. Larson's Campaign Integrity Package (LRB-1290 – LRB-1297)
WDC opposes SB295/AB384, bill backed by Koch and other big business groups to bury regs
WDC opposes AB299, restricting free-speech in the University of Wisconsin System
WDC supports AB137 requiring more judicial donor transparency
Why we need a statewide referendum to help overturn Citizens United (support for AJR53/SJR54)
Why AB153/SB102, the “We Hate Jill Stein” bill, is bad
WDC opposes AB109 on Dane County zoning
WDC testimony on proposed Article V Constitutional Convention (AJR20/SJR19, AJR21/SJR18, AB165/SB107)
Democrat wants to change judicial recusal requirements (Wisconsin Fair Courts Reforms AB132-137)
Wisconsin GOP backs article V convention. No Dems allowed! (AJR20/SJR19, AJR21/SJR18, AB165/SB107)
Wisconsin Legislators Denounce Islamophobia (SJR9)
Dems offer proposal for new redistricting process (SB13/AB44)
2016
WDC statement on legislative and congressional redistricting (Assembly Bill 328 and Senate Bill 58)
WDC testimony opposing AB 723, regulating photo ID cards issued by local units of government
Coalition letter to Senators in opposition to SB 295 eliminating voter registration drives
Wisconsin Republicans try to crush voter registration drives
WDC opposes Senate Bill 533 regulating photo ID cards issued by local units of government
2015
WDC testimony in opposition to creating a legislative office of inspector general (Assembly Bill 382)
Dark day for Wisconsin, but it won’t last (AB387 and AB388)
Statement on Governor Walker signing bill dismantling the GAB (AB388)
Dark day in Madison, sunny dawn in Milwaukee (Final passage - AB387 and AB388)
The mugging of democracy in Wisconsin (Senate passage - AB387 and AB388)
Press conference on proposals to gut Wisconsin's campaign finance laws (Video)
Testimony on Government Accountability Board and Campaign Finance 'Reforms' (Oppose AB387/SB292 and AB388/SB294)
GOP bill guts state campaign finance law (Oppose AB387/SB292)
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign denounces Republican plan to smash the GAB (Oppose AB388/SB294)
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign supports Iowa-model redistricting reform (Support SB58/AB328)
Efforts to curb gerrymandering grow confidence following U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Support SB58)
Leading good government groups in Wisconsin denounce bill to destroy audit bureau
We don’t need more secret campaign money (Oppose AB176)
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Backs Bill to Cloak Campaign Contributions (Oppose AB176)
Testimony on Chapter 11 rewrite, regarding campaign finance
Wisconsin Assemblywoman Introduces Resolution to Overturn Citizens United (Support AJR8/SJR12)
WDC statement regarding Audit Report 14-14: Government Accountability Board
2014
2013
WDC testimony on 'More Money in Politics' bill
WDC testimony on Assembly anti-dislosure legislaton
WDC testimony on Senate anti-disclosure legislation
Anti-disclosure legislation to get hearing Thursday
Coalition urges Senate to reject ‘More Big Money in Politics’ bill
Legislation calls for statewide vote on Citizens United
Bipartisan deal in works to double political donation limits
Was anyone heard at yesterday’s hearing?
WDC testimony in opposition to Assembly Bill 225
What killing democracy looks like
2012
Memo on obsolete campaign and ethics laws
Groups launch effort to end legal political bribery
Groups call for hearings on reform
Groups call for election money overhaul
WDC memo to Assembly on anti-disclosure bill (AB196)
Another attack on campaign dislosure
WDC memo to senators on anti-disclosure bill (SB292)
2011
Testimony on redistricting plan (SB148/149/150)
Response to Arizona public financing case
WDC testimony on out-of-state committee reporting requirements
Voter ID
2010
WDC testimony on judicial recusal
Candidates respond about ethics, other issues
WDC testimony on judicial discipline
Fee speech advocates sue to block election spending disclosure
Candidates asked about ethics, other issues
Rule closing "issue ad" loophole takes effect August 1 (pdf file)
WDC statement on GAB action closing “issue ad” loophole
WDC testimony on shareholder consent (pdf file)
2009
With court election reform done, closing “issue ad” loophole is next
Governor signs Impartial Justice bill
WDC urges governor to sign Impartial Justice
WDC statement on passage of Impartial Justice
WDC testimony at Assembly informational hearing on campaign finance reform
WDC testimony on impartial justice and electioneering disclosure bills
Groups send letter to committees on reform bills
Joint public hearing on reform to be held in Madison and Eau Claire on May 27
WDC statement on Assembly fundraising ban during the state budget process
Letter to Governor and Legislature calling for campaign finance reform
2008
Big win for reform: WDC statement on GAB’s new rules for issue ads
Majority of new Legislature on record in favor of reform
Candidates leave voters guessing on reform
Ethics questionnaire sent to all legislative candidates
New guide brings redistricting out into the open
Support for reform runs strong in Wisconsin
WDC ranks legislators on political reform
Lawmakers told to keep working
Senate committee approves 6 reform bills
Senate passes Impartial Justice bill
Senate to vote on Impartial Justice bill
Testimony on special session legislation
Senate to set special session in motion
Testimony on Clean Elections bill
Memo to the Government Accountability Board regarding expectations
2007
Governor calls special session on campaign finance reform
Frankenstein veto testimony (pdf file)
Citizens demonstrate for judicial ethics
WDC testimony on campaign finance reform
Brennan Center finds Wisconsin campaign finance laws lacking
WDC statement on passage of ethics reform bill
Poison pill removed from ethics bill
Legislature keeps moving on ethics reform bill
WDC testimony on January 2007 Special Session Assembly Bill 1
2006
Bipartisan agreement reached on ethics reform
No more excuses! Ethics reform has enough votes
Landmark survey of public attitudes shows distrust of government, faith in reform
Ethics survey reopened for late responses
Candidates for legislature and statewide offices respond to questionnaire
Questionnaire for fall 2006 government ethics voter guide
Governor urged to call special session on ethics reform
WDC testimony on Senate Bill 1
2005
Pictures from the People’s Legislature Rally
People’s Legislature to Lobbyists’ Legislature: Sweep it clean
2004
WDC calls for new vote on disclosure
Democrats flip flop on campaign reform
2003
Statement on US Supreme Court’s campaign finance ruling
WDC renews media campaign for reform
WDC endorses new impartial justice bill
WDC memo concerning Voter ID Bill
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign testimony on Senate Bill 12
Groups urge new governor and legislature to take action on reform
2002
Federal judge strikes down campaign reform law as expected
Special session must address root causes of corruption
Incumbents won’t allow true reform
52 Candidates pledge ‘Clean Sweep’, most incumbents take the fifth
Candidates asked to pledge ‘clean sweep’ of capitol
WDC urges partial veto of campaign reform plan
Budget deal includes campaign reform
Freese rant draws WDC response
WDC responds to latest reform proposal
Campaign finance reform in the budget repair bill
McCallum throws cold water on reform talks
Governor urged to call special session on campaign finance reform
Legislature needs to work overtime on campaign finance reform
Open letter to governor on Senate Bill 104
2001
McCallum ducks, Doyle dodges on campaign reform
WDC calls question on reform bill
Joint Finance urged to use caucus money for Ellis-George reform bill
Reform groups ask Chvala to allow vote on Ellis-George campaign finance reform compromise
