After a vicious and negative campaign leading up to the mid-term election, a non-partisan group is pushing for the reintroduction of an ethics reform bill to curb corruption within the government.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is advocating for this legislation, citing the voting patterns of the public as clear indication of the desire for change.
The results of the November election led to the biggest unseating of Republican incumbents in the Wisconsin Assembly in 16 years.
Mike McCabe, executive director of WDC, said that reform should be the state's largest concern.
""Currently, we're not getting rigorous enforcement out of the state Elections Board and the state Ethics Board and I think that's a big reason why we're in the midst of the biggest political corruption scandal in the state's history,"" McCabe said.
The bill was originally introduced in the last legislative session and had garnered bi-partisan support from a majority of legislators. However, after the bill had passed the Senate with a 28-5 vote, it was blocked from appearing before the Assembly. State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he believes the switched stance of a few key Republicans caused the block.
""The reason the bill didn't pass last session is because Republican leaders refused to let it come to a vote ... people like Mike Huebsch and John Gard refused to allow it.""
However, Bob Delaporte, communications director for state Rep. and Speaker of the House Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said the Republican is ready to support a bill now if there is room for flexibility.
""There was a big concern that no one could make changes to the bill without it becoming political ... the bill is important but McCabe is overselling it,"" Delaporte said.
McCabe said overwhelming support from voters shows otherwise and is likely the reason that lawmakers will feel pressure to support the ethics initiative. Black said he is more optimistic that the bill will pass now because many Republicans were defeated during re-election, in part because they opposed voting on the bill.
The recent gubernatorial scandal is also a reason some Republicans may be more willing to pass the bill. Delaporte said ethics issues that have come to light as a result of the governor's race will play a part in the bill.
Whether it is the election scandal or voter support, McCabe said politicians worrying about future re-election would undoubtedly support the bill.
""If Republicans mess around with this bill again they're going to get spanked in the next election too,"" he said.
