Assembly Committee Debates Fundraising Bill

MADISON, Wis. -- A bill is circulating in the state Assembly that aims to keep the next state budget from being months late.

The Assembly Committee on Elections debated on Thursday a bill that would ban political fundraising by legislators and the governor during a budget cycle. It would start Jan. 1 of the budget year and last until the budget is passed.

Supports said it would prevent budget deadlocks similar to the one in 2007.

"This is a matter of public confidence. This is a matter of a clean budget process, and I can tell you, and I'm sure you all realize, that if such a ban were in place, my guess is that the budget process would be completed well before the June 30 statutory deadline," said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin.

The committee also discussed banning fundraising for opponents of incumbents in the Legislature in order to keep a level playing field.