Panel backs spending on the caucuses
2:06 PM 6/02/01
Phil Brinkman State government reporter
On the eve of a possible state Ethics Board investigation into campaign activities by the four legislative caucuses, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted in favor of continued spending for the partisan offices.
With no comment, and in less than three minutes, all 16 members of the Legislature's budget-writing committee Thursday voted in favor of leaving in the budget new leases for certain legislative offices, including the caucuses.
Reform advocates had hoped the committee would consider proposals to reform or abolish the caucuses, which cost an estimated $3.9 million a year.
The agencies, one each for the Democrats and Republicans in both the state Assembly and Senate, are intended to serve as adjuncts to legislators' office staffs. But a Wisconsin State Journal series last month found they often engage in campaign activity on state time or using state resources, in apparent violation of the law.
"Given the response of the legislative leadership (to the series) that the status quo is acceptable, I'm not surprised" the committee didn't act, said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, which advocates for campaign finance reform. "But I'm shocked there wasn't any mention or discussion of the issue."
Although the Legislature's budget was the second item on the committee's agenda, the item was moved to the end of the session. It came up shortly after 9 p.m. - more than 11 hours after the meeting began.
Joint Finance Committee co-chairman Rep. John Gard, R-Peshtigo, said he delayed the vote to avoid igniting a partisan fight amid an already contentious meeting.
"This is certainly a very controversial issue, with people trying to point fingers," Gard said. "Right now, I've just got bigger problems."
Gard and other committee members predicted the issue would surface in separate legislation over the coming weeks.
"The consensus is, Yes, let's do something,' " said committee member Sen. Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, who plans to propose a caucus reform package. "We just weren't ready to do it yesterday."
State Rep. Marty Reynolds, D-Ladysmith, and Sen. James Baumgart, D-Sheboygan, are also proposing legislation.
Meanwhile Friday, the state Ethics Board met in a closed session. Although board members are barred from discussing ongoing investigations, it's believed they discussed possible violations of the state Ethics Code by caucus employees.