Unhappy with Rhoades vote

Dear Editor,

Campaign finance reform is absolutely necessary for fairness and honesty in our elections. Unfortunately, State Rep. Kitty Rhoades voted against the “Impartial Justice” State Supreme Court campaign finance reform measure last week. This legislation is the most significant and sweeping campaign finance reform measure since the late 1970s in Wisconsin.

It now goes to Governor Jim Doyle who has said he will sign it into law. It allows Wisconsin to join North Carolina and New Mexico in putting into effect a “clean” money system of full public financing for candidates for the State Supreme Court who agree to abide by sensible spending limits which in Wisconsin will be $100,000 for the primary election and $300,000 for the general election.

High court candidates who abide by the limits will be eligible to receive additional publicly-financed grants if their opponent exceeds the spending limits and if outside special interest groups spend above a certain threshold against them or in favor of their opponent.

After the last three high spending, expensive and nasty elections for the State Supreme Court in Wisconsin in 2007, 2008, and to a lesser degree - 2009, this measure was much needed to begin to restore public confidence in the once revered Wisconsin Supreme Court. Ask Rep. Rhoades why she voted against this meaningful legislation? It is time for a change in our assembly representation in Madison!

Tags: campaign finance reform, kitty rhoades, opinion, letters