MADISON, Wis. -- Three national, nonpartisan groups are coming out in favor of public financing for Supreme Court races in Wisconsin.

The groups spoke Monday in support of a bill that cleared the state Senate last week but has yet to be taken up by the Assembly. The bill enacts public financing for Wisconsin Supreme Court races.

The groups are the Committee for Economic Development, which consists of 200 business leaders and university presidents, and the Justice at Stake Campaign, which is a partnership of 50 groups dedicated to keeping courts fair and impartial.

The third group is the Reform Institute, which works for campaign finance reform.

Candidates Clash Over Letter

Meanwhile, the two candidates currently running for the state Supreme Court sparred over a fundraising letter that said the incumbent's ruling in a case resulted in the release of a sex offender.

Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gableman's campaign sent the letter. Gableman is running against Justice Louis Butler.

Butler said that the letter is wrong because the predator was never released. He said that all the court's ruling did was require that a release plan be written.

State prison records show that the sex offender remains in prison.

Gableman has refused to retract the letter, saying that he stands by it.

The two candidates debated Monday before the Dane County Bar Association.