Disclosure & transparency are crucial to a healthy democracy.
Everyone has a right to know who is trying to influence our views and our representatives. A 21st century democracy requires strong transparency and disclosure laws so everyone knows who is funding political campaigns.
Secret money in elections is unacceptable and undemocratic.
The need for heightened transparency has never been more urgent, as millions of dollars from anonymous sources flood into elections around the country. In Wisconsin, we see out-of-state special interests investing unprecedented amounts of money into every election – from statewide races to local ballot initiatives.
The Citizens United Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates of money in politics. However, the U.S. Supreme Court, in that decision and others, has upheld the need for disclosure.
Transparency in government is key to a healthy and strong democracy. Voters like you and me must be able to trust elected leaders; that means government must be transparent and honest with its citizens.
We also deserve to know who is trying to influence our votes and to see the funders of a campaign in TV ads.
Recent polls show that the vast majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents support strong transparency laws that allow voters to know who is funding secret money political groups and campaigns. Disclosure is a common sense, bipartisan solution that stops backroom deals and ensures everyone knows when money is changing hands.
Common Cause Wisconsin has led the effort to get bipartisan electioneering disclosure measures introduced in the Legislature in the past – and will continue pushing to shed light on who is trying to influence our views and our representatives.