Public News Service

National polling shows most Americans closely follow presidential election news but start to feel worn out by the coverage when Election Day draws closer. (Adobe Stock)

Will events of 2024 lead to a reset on the pace of presidential campaigns?

A day after introducing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris takes her presidential campaign to Wisconsin…

As with most presidential elections, Wisconsin is viewed as a

Constitutional amendment highlights WI primary ballot

Early voting is underway for the Wisconsin primary election and while the presidential primaries already appear settled for now, pro-democracy …

Campaign contributions for this year's Wisconsin Supreme Court race have more than doubled the previous record for a state-level judicial election. (Towfiqu Barbhuiya/Pexels)

WI Supreme Court Race: Record Spending Leads to Reform Calls

Leading up to this week's election, Wisconsin voters have been inundated with campaign ads for the high-profile state Supreme Court race, and …

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has previously opposed other measures to alter the U.S. Tax Code, including the expanded Child Tax Credit, which he referred to as

Groups Push for Greater Accountability for WI Senator

Members of social-justice organizations gathered outside the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday in an effort to draw attention to allegations of uneth…

A bill in the Wisconsin Legislature attempts to shed more light on the sources of money used to purchase political ads that run in the state. (Chung Sun Jung/Getty Images)

Who’s Paying for Political Ads in Wisconsin?

MADISON, Wis. - A bill to require corporations and political action committees to make public their advertising buys close to an election is being …

Wisconsin voters may get a chance to try to alter the flow of money into politics. (DenisField/iStockPhoto.com)

Wisconsin Democrats Seek Referendum to Repeal Citizens United

MADISON, Wis. - The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case declared that corporations are people and that money is speech…

Politics in Wisconsin is like the Wild West, according to a clean-government advocate. (CrackerClips/iStockphoto)

Political Money: “Wisconsin Darkest of All the States”

MADISON, Wis. - Because of Wisconsin's status as a battleground state, political money is pouring into the coffers of both parties, much of it …

One of Wisconsin's Native American tribes has contributed more to candidates in the last seven months than in the past six years. (Kagenmi/iStockPhoto.com)

Wisconsin Tribe Dramatically Increases Political Spending

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin is home to 11 sovereign American Indian tribes, and rarely do any of the tribes spend much money supporting political …

Which candidate will win a ten-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court? A UW-Madison political scientist says this could be the hottest statewide race on the April ballot. (WI Court System)

Wisconsin's Supreme Court Race Heating Up

MADISON, Wis. – Just two percentage points separated incumbent Justice Rebecca Bradley and Appeals Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg in the Feb…

The grassroots group Blue Jean Nation is holding a town hall meeting it calls a revival, saying there's a lot that needs reviving in American politics. (arinahabich/iStockPhoto.com)

Political Revival Aims to Get Back to Basics

NEENAH, Wis. – When you think of a revival, you might picture a big tent and a religious event. But the grassroots group Blue Jean Nation is …

Because of recent changes in Wisconsin law, the Badger State could see even more in the way of nasty political ads this election cycle. (ValeriyKachaev/iStockPhoto.com)

Wisconsin Watchdog: “We’ll See Wall-to-Wall Nasty Ads”

MADISON, Wis. - According to a recently passed Wisconsin law regarding campaign finance, political parties can collect contributions of unlimited …

The non-presidential primary election on Tuesday will be the first statewide Wisconsin election where Voter ID will be required. A driver's license is acceptable. (WI Department of Transportation)

Wisconsin Election to Require Voter ID

MADISON, Wis. – Those wishing to cast a ballot in Wisconsin’s non-presidential primary election on Tuesday will need to show appropriate …

The spring race for a 10-year seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is being called more of an auction than an election by a government watchdog group. (wicourts.gov)

Wisconsin Supreme Court: Election or Auction?

MADISON, Wis. – This spring, Wisconsin voters will decide whom they want to fill a seat on the state Supreme Court for the next 10 years…

Wisconsin's prized clean air and water took a back seat to the wishes of special interests in 2015, according to an environmentalist. (Clean Wisconsin)

Wisconsin Environmentalist: We're Going Downhill

MADISON, Wis. - Looking back at 2015, the executive director of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, Kerry Schumann, says it was a bad year …

2015 was a year of highs and lows in the state Legislature, according to the executive director of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. (legislature.wi.gov)

2015 in Wisconsin a Year of Highs and Lows

MADISON, Wis. - The executive director of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Matt Rothschild, thinks people will remember 2015 as a year …

Conservation organizations are supporting bipartisan legislation to permanently reinstate the lapsed federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has been used in counties all across Wisconsin to preserve scenic beauty and natural resources. Credit: CleanWisconsin

Conservationists: Wisconsin Needs Land-Water Conservation Fund

MADISON, Wis. - For decades, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has helped the state preserve the scenic beauty for which Wisconsin …

Democrat Chris Taylor of Madison says the move to privatize public education in Wisconsin is not coming from the people of the state, but from the American Legislative Exchange Council. Courtesy: Rep. Chris Taylor

ALEC's Next Wisconsin Target: Public Education

MADISON, Wis. - After targeting three of Wisconsin's long-standing laws regarding clean government, which are currently in play at the state capitol…

Supporters say a move to appoint inspectors general in 13 state agencies will help combat fraud, but clean government groups are calling it an invitation to corruption. Credit: GilDesign/iStockPhoto.com

Proposal to Create Inspectors General in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – A bill is being circulated at the state capitol that would bypass the authority of the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau …

Despite massive bipartisan pushback in July when Wisconsin's Republican leadership introduced legislation to gut Wisconsin's Open Records Law, watchdog groups say there's been another push to keep legislative deliberations secret. Credit: zoranm/iStockphoto

Watchdog: Wisconsin Legislative Leadership "Cannot Be Trusted"

MADISON, Wis. – Evidence uncovered by the Center for Media and Democracy shows that Wisconsin’s Republican leadership is still working on …

Wisconsin State Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) is pushing legislation that would take the task of drawing political boundaries away from politicians and give the job to a nonpartisan board. Credit: legis.Wisconsin.gov

Another Push for New Political Boundaries in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Many clean government advocates say Wisconsin's political map is drawn in a clearly unfair manner to safeguard political …

Clean-government advocates are protesting a bill circulating at the state Capitol. Credit: Anita Burgemeister, Wikimedia Commons

More Special Treatment for Wisconsin Politicians?

MADISON, Wis. - Late last week, a state Assembly committee advanced a bill that would prevent prosecutors from investigating politicians using a John …

There is a Republican-led push to dismantle Wisconsin's official government watchdog and ethics agency, the Government Accountability Board. Clean government advocates say the Board is an impartial umpire. Credit: R.B. Fried/iStockPhoto.com

Watchdog: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Should Stay

MADISON, Wis. – There is a move from Wisconsin's Republican Party leadership to dismantle the state's independent government watchdog and …

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has put an end to the ongoing John Doe probe exploring connections between Gov. Scott Walker's recall election campaign and outside special-interest groups. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

John Doe Decision "Opens the Money Floodgates"

MADISON, Wis. – The 4-to-3 ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to end the 2012 John Doe probe into Governor Scott Walker's recall election …

Photo: Disgraced former Republican State Assembly Leader Scott Jensen has been named

Watchdog Group Highlights Political Power Brokers

MADISON, Wis. - Saying the citizens have a right to know who's pulling the levers of power in the state Legislature, the nonpartisan Wisconsin …

Photo: According to the non-partisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, outside interests spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to influence voting in Wisconsin's spring election. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Money Talks? Outside Money and the Wisconsin Spring Election

MADISON, Wis. - Although outside political money had a big impact on the referendum to change the way the Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice is …

PHOTO: One of the featured speakers at the Seventh Annual Wisconsin Progressive Grassroots Festival in Mazomanie Saturday is state Rep. Sondy Pope, D-Cross Plains, who says the Citizens United decision has allowed wealthy people and corporations to purchase election results. (Photo credit: wisconsinwatch.org)

Wisconsin to Host Huge Grassroots Political Gathering This Weekend

MAZOMANIE, Wis. - The Wisconsin Progressive Grassroots Festival is one of the largest gatherings of its sort in the nation, and the festival this …

PHOTO: Nearly $17 million was spent on fall legislative races in Wisconsin, up from $16.5 million in the last round of legislative elections in 2012, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Photo credit: educationdive.com

Nearly $17 Million Spent on 2014 Wisconsin Fall Legislative Elections

MADISON, Wis. - The amount of money spent in the 2014 Wisconsin fall legislative elections was $16.8 million, slightly higher than the $16.5 million …

GRAPHIC: Today is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which said in essence that money is speech and corporations are people. Many groups across the nation, including Wisconsin, are holding events today to call for the reversal or removal of that decision. (Graphic credit: Common Cause)

Citizens United: 5 Years of Too Much Money in Politics?

MADISON, Wis. - Five years ago today the U.S. Supreme Court, in what's become known as the "Citizens United" decision, said in essence that money is …

PHOTO: The nonpartisan watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says the state Supreme Court is compromised because of so many conflicts of interest, mainly involving political campaign contributions. (Photo of Wis. Supreme Court Chambers courtesy of Wis. Court System)

Watchdog: Wisconsin Supreme Court Mired In Conflict of Interest

MADISON, Wis. – The future of the now stalled John Doe probe into alleged campaign finance law violations by Gov. Scott Walker could rest with …

PHOTO: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will be the keynote speaker at this year's Fighting Bob Fest at the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Progressive Voters of America

Fighting Bob Fest: The Largest Annual Political Festival in the Nation

BARABOO, Wis. – The 13th annual Fighting Bob Fest, called the largest annual political festival in the nation, will be this Saturday at the …

PHOTO: John Nichols of The Capital Times and The Nation will be among the local keynote speakers when the 28th Amendment National Roadshow makes a stop in Madison, Wis., on Saturday. Photo courtesy of The Nation.

28th Amendment National Roadshow Comes to Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – A grassroots movement called the 28th Amendment National Roadshow to permanently overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens …

IMAGE: The grassroots group United Wisconsin says the accusation that Gov. Scott Walker oversaw a criminal scheme to unlawfully coordinate Republican fundraising and campaign activity could have far-reaching implications for campaign finance laws, regardless of whether actual charges are ever filed. (Image from Common Cause)

Watchdog: Latest Walker Flap May Have Huge Implications

MADISON, Wis. – In documents unsealed by a federal judge late last week, prosecutors in the John Doe probe into Gov. Scott Walker's campaigns …

PHOTO: According to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, two-thirds of campaign cash contributions to Wisconsin state legislators are coming from people who can't even vote for them. (Image credit: U.S. Treasury)

WI Legislators: Getting Lots Of Money From People Who Can’t Vote For Them

MADISON, Wis. - State legislators accepted two-thirds of their campaign donations from donors who could not vote for them, according to new research…

GRAPHIC: Some groups that have spent millions of dollars on political ads trying to influence Wisconsin elections, now don't want documents in the John Doe probes into Gov. Scott Walker's campaign to be seen by the public. Others say the public has the right to see documents relating to public officials' conduct. Image courtesy Common Cause.

Watchdog: Wisconsinites Have Right to See "John Doe" Documents

MADISON, Wis. – Several watchdog groups, including the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, are asking a federal court to unseal more …

PHOTO: The grassroots group United Wisconsin is urging Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele to sign a county board resolution for an advisory referendum on the controversial Supreme Court Citizens United decision. Photo courtesy United Wisconsin.

More Wisconsinites Speak Out Against Citizens United

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Late last week, the Milwaukee County Board voted to put an advisory referendum on the November ballot. The Board is seeking a …

PHOTO: State Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) has settled a lawsuit regarding e-mails involving her activity with ALEC, the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council. Photo courtesy Wisconsin Senate.

ALEC Loses Wisconsin Open Records Law Fight

MADISON, Wis. – Republican State Sen. Leah Vukmir of Wauwatosa has settled a lawsuit brought by the Madison-based Center for Media and …

PHOTO: The grassroots group United Wisconsin says the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McCutcheon v. FEC is a step backward in removing the influence of huge sums of money on politics. Photo courtesy United Wisconsin.

WI Grassroots Group: McCutcheon Decision “Legalized Bribery”

MADISON, Wis. – The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down aggregate limits on individual contributions to federal candidates, political parties …

PHOTO: Cognitive scientist and messaging expert George Lakoff will be one of the featured speakers at the sixth annual Wisconsin Grassroots Festival on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of WI Grassroots Network)

Wisconsin Grassroots Festival: The Antithesis of ALEC

MAZOMANIE, Wis. - "Messaging and Democracy" is the theme of the sixth annual Wisconsin Grassroots Festival, to be held Saturday at Wisconsin Heights …

PHOTO: A document dump in an ongoing John Doe investigation sheds more light on what some are calling a secret e-mail system used during Walker's campaign for governor in 2010. (Official photo from the Governor's office)

Document Release Sheds More Light on Walker’s Secret Email System

MADISON, Wis. – Thousands of pages of documents relating to a secret John Doe investigation, which many say is centered on Gov. Scott Walker's …

PHOTO: Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says Congress is not in touch with the average American. (Photo provided by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign)

Five Wisconsin Members of Congress are Multi-Millionaires

MADISON, Wis. - Members of Congress have for decades been far wealthier than the typical American, but a new analysis from the Center for Responsive …

PHOTO: Mike McCabe, who heads the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, believes no lawmaker should belong to ALEC - the American Legislative Exchange Council. (Photo used with permission.)

WI Watchdog: "No Lawmaker Should Belong to ALEC"

MADISON, Wis. – A third of Wisconsin's lawmakers – 43 of 133 – are members of the conservative, pro-business group ALEC – the …

Photo: Mike McCabe, who heads the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, says women have less access and influence with policymakers because their political contributions are far outshadowed by those from men. Photo courtesy WDC.

Report: "Old Boys Club" Rules WI Political Contributions

MADISON, Wis. – There's a huge gender gap between men and women when it comes to making political donations in Wisconsin, according to a new …

Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign warns that political conduits are having a greater impact on Wisconsin Elections.

Political Conduits: Pouring Millions Into Wisconsin Elections

MADISON, Wis. - The use of political conduits - check-bundling operations that combine donations from a number of people and send a single …

PHOTO: The Center for Media and Democracy says 139 ALEC-generated bills or state budget provisions to privatize education were introduced in the last six months in Wisconsin and 42 other states. Courtesy of Center for Media and Democracy

ALEC: 4 Decades of Huge Political Influence

MADISON, Wis. - You may never have heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), but for the past 40 years, this very conservative group …

Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says a single 16-year term for state Supreme Court justices would not address the issue of money in politics.

Proposal to Limit WI Justices' Term Might Backfire

MADISON, Wis. - In response to ethics complaints and the drama of interpersonal turmoil among the state's Supreme Court justices, the state Bar of …

Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says the Government Accountability Board should follow its own rules.

Watchdog Group Files Complaint over Undisclosed WI Political Spending

MADISON, Wis. - The non-partisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (WDC) has filed a complaint with the state Government Accountability Board, saying that …

PHOTO: Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says there's too much untraceable money in Wisconsin elections since the Citizens United decision.

“Dark Money” Creeping Into Wisconsin Elections

MADISON, Wis. - Money for political ads that is very hard - if not impossible - to track down is having an impact on elections in Wisconsin, …

PHOTO: Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign may be smiling � but not about the political contributions that have helped push SB1 through the State Assembly. Courtesy of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Big Money Behind the Mining Bill

MADISON, Wis. - This week, the Wisconsin State Assembly is likely to take up the controversial mining bill, SB 1, which passed in the state senate …

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WI: Campaign Finance Reform/Money in Pol