Sheridan abides by spirit of ban
Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said maintaining the public's faith in a fundraising ban is much more important than playing in a $1,000-a-head golf outing scheduled during state budget negotiations.
Sheridan, D-Janesville, and other Assembly Democratic leaders said Monday that they won't attend the campaign fundraiser in Wisconsin Dells next week.
The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee had organized the outing, and Sheridan and Majority Leader Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, both said last week they planned to attend.
Sheridan and Nelson helped pass an Assembly rule in February that prohibits members from raising cash for their personal campaigns while the state budget is in play. The rule was meant to keep special interests from persuading lawmakers to insert perks in the spending plan in exchange for donations.
Legislators are still locked in debate over the 2009-11 budget. Both the Assembly and the state Senate must pass an identical version before Gov. Jim Doyle can sign it into law. The process could take days yet, if not weeks, making it likely the outing would fall while negotiations continue.
The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee isn't a personal campaign committee, but it does raise cash to divide among Democratic candidates.
"The fundraising ban the Assembly approved earlier this year represents the most meaningful campaign finance reform enacted in Wisconsin in a generation," Sheridan said. "As anticipated, the ban has shut down 99 individual campaign accounts throughout this budget process, ensuring that members of the Assembly are focused on solving this crisis and getting our economy back on track."
Sheridan said that while Monday's event complied with the Assembly rule, public perception should not be allowed to taint the effectiveness of the ban.
The lawmakers asked that the event be rescheduled outside of the budget process. Sheridan said the committee erred in scheduling the outing too near the budget process.
"We just don't want there to be any doubt about whether we're doing the right thing here," he said.
"...Just as it is critical that we have a strong ban in place, it is also critical that people have full faith and confidence in the ban," Sheridan said.
Mike McCabe, executive director of government watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, and Assembly Republicans said Sheridan and Nelson's presence at the golf outing would have violated the spirit of the no-fundraising rule.
McCabe said Monday that Sheridan and Nelson did the right thing.
"Going ahead with the fundraiser would've been a mistake," McCabe said. "They would have opened themselves to charges of hypocrisy if they'd gone forward."
Jun 11, 2009 at 2:43 p.m.
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I find it hard to believe he has time to golf. Isn't he working at the capital and on the side working "put a hurt" on Woodman's business?
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/may...
Not sure about his campaign against Woodman's, but this new budget will put a hurt on every business in the state.
Jun 11, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.
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If not for major state papers carrying this story Sheridan would of been at this "event".He is not going now ONLY because of news coverage,not because of his "honesty",and intent to do right.Other politico talking out of the side of his mouth.
Jun 11, 2009 at 11:57 a.m.
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Here's what us "regular" people can do, pay attention! We find out who our representatives are meeting with and we withhold all commerce from the companies that hired them. As much as it might inconvenience us, quit or drastically reduce any transactions with these companies. A perfect example of this uneven influence at present is the Health care debate going on now at the federal level. 60%-70% of the people polled want a single-payer system that gets rid of the insurance companies. There isn't ONE bill in Congress that addresses that issue. It goes right down the line with every bill proposed and law passed. Instead of talking about the weather, kids,etc. with your relatives, neighbors and friends, talk about the power we could actually use to change these SOB's.
Jun 11, 2009 at 10:59 a.m.
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Wow. What a guy. Sheesh.
Jun 11, 2009 at 12:14 a.m.
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From the June 5, 2009 Milwaukee Journal:
Sheridan was in meetings and unavailable for comment Friday, said his spokeswoman, Rebekah Sweeney. She said his plans to attend the fund-raiser were appropriate.
"He's not personally fund raising for himself," she said. "He is attending an event, which is fully within the rule we set up."
When the ban was passed, Sheridan issued a statement saying those who violated it could face censure and lose committee assignments.
And this comment was made before the golf outing comitment:
"This change is a victory for voters, who expect us to deliver a new way of doing business," his February statement said.
Now he has changed his mind? Back lash maybe?Nice to see the Gazette left this bit of information out. And this was not even reported on a few days a go. I guess this doesn't fit with the butt kissing the Gazette does to Sheridan. Just more one sided news from the Socialist agenda of Mr. Angus and company.
Jun 10, 2009 at 9:35 p.m.
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GUILT ? NOT! $ YEP.
Jun 10, 2009 at 6:57 p.m.
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Perhaps guilt was the motifying reason for his stance. Bravo anyways...
Jun 10, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.
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Lobbyists are really an everyday occurrence. You can't eliminate all contact with people who could potentially contribute to a campaign; legislators would be unable to meet with a single constituent.
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As was stated this event did not actually violate the letter of the rule but it did seem to violate its spirit, so I'm glad they changed course. Wisconsin really has incredibly clean and transparent government compared to Illinois -- the LaFollette Progressive tradition lives on -- and it's because we have lawmakers who listen to the public.
Jun 10, 2009 at 4:27 p.m.
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Interesting that trial attorney lobbyists are in the state capitol this afternoon meeting with Assembly Democrats. I wonder if there are any campaign contribution promises being made?
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