Gavel Grab

If Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signs into law legislation for public financing of statewide judicial elections, could a lawsuit be on the horizon?

That’s a possibility raised by a letter to Doyle from a group that opposes campaign finance restrictions, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in its All Politics Blog. The letter came from the Center for Competitive Politics in Alexandria, Va., and the group’s president Sean Parnell wrote:

“Past experience with similar programs in other states has shown them to be ineffective, and in all likelihood (the bill) would be struck down as unconstitutional.”

Responding quickly was Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a partner of Justice at Stake. McCabe wrote that the plan is constitutional and “easily represents  the most significant campaign reform in Wisconsin since 1977.”

To learn more about Wisconsin’s legislation, click here for earlier Gavel Grab posts, and to read about public financing of judicial elections in general, click on this issues page from the Justice at Stake Web site. Doyle has said he plans to sign the legislation.