Campaign Finance Reform and Clean Government

My Thoughts on Campaign Finance Reform
 
Honesty in government is essential to the success of our political system. Political reform and campaign finance reform go hand in hand. It is important that the campaign finance system be changed in Wisconsin. If it is not changed we will continue to have corrupt government processes where decisions are made behind closed doors and are based on the influence of money. The current system has gotten us to this point where financial contributions appear to strongly influence the government decision making, legislative and rule setting processes. Clean and honest elections are needed to secure the future of Wisconsin.
 
Campaign Finance Reform should include:
 
Truth in campaigning.

    • Full contribution disclosure
    • Limitation of issue adds and independent expenditures
    • Disclosure of who pays for issue ads and makes the independent expenditures

Creation of open and honest elections with the voter having the strongest voice.

  • Limit campaign contributions and expenses or equalize them through publicly financed matching grants
  • Limit the length of campaigns
  • Develop election processes with paper trails and tamper proof voting machines
  • Move to public financing of campaigns

Develop a non-partisan State Election and campaign control structure.

    • Support ethics in government with an independent audit system
    • Develop strong punitive actions for those who break the laws
    • Support “clean” campaigns
    • Support contested elections

Develop competitive voting districts, not safe gerrymandered voting districts.

    • Use of specific criteria such as population density to set up tamper proof and non-partisan voting districts

Provide for a larger voice for Third Parties, giving voters a greater choice and keeping campaigns issue focused.

  • Use a voter choice/immediate run off voting system

With these changes in place Wisconsin can once again be proud of its election process and the resulting elected officials.
 
In January 2007 the State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board were combined into the Government Accountability Board. This is only a beginning step. I was disappointed because the State Legislature choose not to pursue campaign finance reform. I will be a leader in the State Assembly on this issue.
 
Penny Bernard Schaber