WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Governor OKs increasing public money for elections
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Associated Press - December 1, 2009 12:05 PM ET
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Gov. Jim Doyle has signed into law a bill designed to negate the impact of special interest money in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections.
Doyle called the new law he signed Tuesday an important reform that will ensure impartiality and public confidence in the Supreme Court.
Election reform groups including Common Cause and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign supported the new law, which increases public taxpayer dollars that will be available to Supreme Court candidates.
But opponents say it won't be effective because it doesn't do anything to stop unregulated commercials from third-party groups that attack a candidate but don't expressly advocate for his or her opponent.
The new system is estimated to cost taxpayers about $3.5 million per election.
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