Lawmaker says campaign finance reform bill has no teeth

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A longtime supporter of campaign finance reform says a recent rule change in the Assembly does more harm than good.

Assembly leadership this week approved a rule that bans campaign fund raising during budget negotiations.

The move has been applauded by campaign finance reform groups, but state Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, says it has no teeth and it doesn't keep the special interest groups out long enough.

Ellis says it also has a huge loophole in that it allows legislative campaign committees to continue fund raising. He says that gives leadership more control over individual members.

Instead of a ban during the budget, Ellis hopes to introduce a bill soon that would ban fund raising until the end of the legislative session. It would also create new regulations for political issue ads.

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