Most of the time, public officials in Wisconsin obey the state’s openness laws. Sometimes, they need a little prodding from the courts.
When transparency is treated with contempt
By ExposedByCMD Editors | at
Wisconsin
Megadonor Uihlein’s PAC Spends $5 Million in First Quarter
By David Armiak | at
The quarterly filing released Friday for Restoration PAC, the political action committee almost exclusively funded by GOP megadonor Richard Uihlein, shows it brought in $2.6 million and disbursed close to $5 million in the first three months of 2022.
How Far Right Will the AG Race in Wisconsin Go?
By Don Wiener | at
Despite having no prosecutorial experience, a former rightwing state legislator has raised more campaign cash than both a county district attorney and a private practice lawyer competing in the Wisconsin Republican primary for attorney general.
Dark Money Group Spends $100K to Back Sen. Ron Johnson’s Reelection Bid
By Don Wiener and David Armiak | at
The National Victory Action Fund, a little-known super PAC that has received most of its current election cycle contributions from a dark money group, has disclosed spending $100,000 for digital ads in support of Ron Johnson, the Republican senior senator from Wisconsin now seeking reelection.
Once Obscure Secretary of State Races Suddenly Hot
By Don Wiener | at
Upcoming races for secretaries of state across the country could determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
Bradley and Koch Cash Fuels Push to Eliminate Wisconsin Income Tax
By Don Wiener and David Armiak | at
With backing from a myriad of right-wing groups, the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison released a “research report” last month on the need to eliminate the income tax in the state.
Koch Group Canvasses for Schmitt in Crowded GOP Primary for Open Missouri Senate Seat
By Don Wiener | at
Charles Koch’s Americans for Prosperity Action has spent $300,000 for door-to-door canvassing to support Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s U.S. Senate bid, its biggest expenditure yet for the 2022 elections.
Bradley Foundation Bankrolls Controversial ALEC Voter Software
By David Armiak | at
The right-wing Bradley Foundation has earmarked at least $1.7M for ALEC’s distribution of sophisticated voter management software deeply tied to the Republican Party since 2017, the subject of an IRS whistleblower complaint and multiple state campaign finance complaints.
Wisconsin Loophole Lets Legislators Destroy Embarrassing Emails
By ExposedByCMD Editors | at
At the heart of this exemption from the retention rules for state lawmakers are arrogance and cowardice. Arrogance that legislators don’t think they should be subject to the same scrutiny as other public officials. Cowardice that they’re afraid of the scrutiny.
New Report: The Big Oil and ALEC Ploy for Getting Unions to Help Chill Climate Protests
By ExposedByCMD Editors | at
The Center for Media and Democracy released a new report today, “Using Unions to Carry Big Oil’s Water,” detailing how the fossil fuel industry and the American Legislative Exchange Council cynically use unions to win Democratic support for legislation that criminalizes and chills environmental protests under the guise of “worker safety.”