Wisconsin's public financing system was deemed ""unused and useless"" by a report released Tuesday evaluating the state's campaign finance laws.
The report was complied by Brennan Center for Justice, a public policy institute leading campaign finance reform efforts at New York University.
The public funding system, which hasn't been revised in 30 years, was a major concern in the report. It has caused candidates to resort to private contributions, with limits so high they prevent any enforceable regulations.
""I think they hit the mark here, I really do,"" said Mike McCabe, executive director for the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a government watchdog group.
The Brennan report was complied before the recent ethics reform bill passed but did not go to press until Tuesday. The report calls the new bill a good ""first step,"" though there are still some weaknesses.
The bill created a new politically independent agency under the enforcement of a nonpartisan board, with unlimited budget for investigations. McCabe said these are useful tools to control corruption but methods of enforcing them are a concern.
The Brennan report called for reduced contributions from private donors to both campaigns and parties, as well as limiting the amount of money the candidates can accept.
The second part of the report suggested raising voluntary spending limits for candidates, implementing a ""matching funds provision"" which would allow candidates to respond to high-spending competitors and to educate the public about a tax check-off.
Wisconsin has the highest private funding cap in the Midwest, among the highest in the nation, because McCabe said current campaign finance laws have gaping holes.
McCabe said the most important thing to note are the issue ads from the interest groups who donate to candidates to push their own agendas. In 2006, 15 million dollars was received while the public was left completely in the dark. McCabe calls this a huge problem.
""Wisconsin was at one time known as the model for the nation in terms of honesty, clean elections, integrity in our state government,"" recalled Jay Heck, executive director for Common Cause Wisconsin.
Minnesota is a model for Wisconsin to emulate according to Heck. In the 2006 election their total spending was under $8 million, while Wisconsin spent over $30 million.
