Art Hackett:
But first we head to the state Capitol where the spring session of the Legislature is winding down. Our next guest says he hopes it doesn't end before new campaign finance reform legislation passes. Jay Heck is executive director of Common Cause of Wisconsin. So campaign finance reform, we haven't talked about that for quite a while. What's the new legislation?

Jay Heck:
Well, you know, the United States Supreme Court in January issued a decision which changes the landscape, not only in Wisconsin, but nationally. And basically what that allows corporations and unions to do now is to use their general treasury money to be able to spend whatever they want. And in Wisconsin what that means is that these groups will be able to spend freely. And we anticipate there will be more spending.

Art Hackett:
Groups such as?

Jay Heck:
Well, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, but really almost any corporation now, because previously, since 1905, there had been a ban on using general treasury money from corporations in campaigns. Now they can spend it. But there was one silver lining, if there was any silver lining in that otherwise horrendous decision, and that was that we can now require disclosure of the groups that run those types of ads, what we used to call “phony issue” ads. And we had not been able to do that before.

Art Hackett:
What's changed?

Jay Heck:
The U.S. Supreme Court said that while you can no longer bar corporate money from being used, you can require disclosure. Eight to one they voted to require that. So what that means is that in the 60 days prior to a general election or primary election, we can require these groups that previously were shadowing, we can require them to tell us who they are. And so that is actually a very good thing. It doesn't offset the damage done by allowing corporations and unions to use their vast resources, and I'm hopeful that one day that decision will be overturned. But the Government Accountability Board two weeks ago passed a rule, and we hope that the Legislature will pass legislation enacting that into law before they go home.

Art Hackett:
You mentioned Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. There are sort of analogous groups that tend to support Democrats; WMC is generally thought of as favoring Republicans.

Jay Heck:
Sure.

Art Hackett:
Are you getting push-back from both sides saying, ‘we don't want to go there’?

Jay Heck:
Attorneys for special interest groups oppose this. They want to be able to keep it secret. No. I think we'll have support from Republicans and Democrats. In fact, two days before the Citizens United decision, the state Senate 26-6 passed legislation, Republicans and Democrats, supporting disclosure and regulation. Again, we can't regulate the money anymore. The Supreme Court has opened the flood gates of the money to flow. But we can require disclosure. So, I anticipate we'll have bipartisan support in both houses of the Legislature and Gov. Doyle has said he will sign it into law.

Art Hackett:
The clock is running, where is this in the legislative process?

Jay Heck:
They're close to reaching agreement. The Senate and Assembly always have different views about what ought to be done. I'm confident they'll reach closure on this and that we'll have this within the last week when everything else comes before they go home for the year in April.

Art Hackett:
Jay Heck, Common Cause of Wisconsin, thanks for joining us.

Jay Heck:
Thanks, Art.