State politics are in need of ethics reform and it is up to our state Legislators to make this happen. Senate Bill 1 would combine the state's ethics and elections boards into a non-partisan Government Accountability Board that would have the power to enforce laws relating to elections, corruption and lobbying.
In 2006, five former lawmakers, including former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala, were convicted of various crimes relating to illegal campaigning at the state Capitol. We must not forget the lesson of these disgraced legislators.
By all accounts, Republican and Democratic party leadership felt little fear of repercussions for their transgressions. A state agency with real power and a real budget just might strike some fear into the hearts of lawmakers tempted to go astray.
There have been signs of hope: the state Senate passed SB1 28-5 earlier this year, but Republican leadership in the state Assembly refused to bring it to a vote. State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, forced a public vote to bring the bill to the floor, but it failed 53 to 43. Unfortunately, lawmakers fearing for their own fates rejected a necessary measure that would clean up our state Capitol.
The case of Mark Green's campaign cash provides a clear example of the need for a strong bipartisan ethics board. When the state Elections Board ordered Green to return nearly $500,000 in donations, it had the earmarks of political maneuvering. Both Republicans and Democrats accused the Board of partisanship.
State Democrats, who won control of the state Senate and gained seats in the Assembly, must use their political capital to pass this legislation. If they do not, they will be abandoning the mantle under which many of them won seats. Passing SB1 is a concrete, legitimate step toward cleaning up state government and lawmakers must summon the courage and common sense to pass it.
