Multiple Madison lawmakers were ranked as staunch supporters of campaign reform bills Wednesday, according to a government watchdog group.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign recently ranked all members of the state Assembly and Senate on a scale of blocking or encouraging campaign finance reform laws in the state.
State Reps. Mark Pocan, Spencer Black and Terese Berceau, all Democratic Madison lawmakers, were ranked as top Democracy Defenders,"" according to the report.
State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, also received a high rank in the category.
The report was based on multiple campaign finance reform bill votes and how many times a lawmaker sponsored similar bills.
According to the report, state Sen. Michael Ellis, R-Neenah, consistently advocates campaign reform but the majority of Republican lawmakers were rated as ""Public Enemies"" on the issue.
Opponents of campaign finance reform have previously stated it infringes on constitutional free speech rights.
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, has stated he believes election reform is a laudable goal, but campaign finance bills often amount to stopping people from expressing their political views.
Opponents have also said public financing for campaigns forces taxpayers to fund negative advertising in campaigns, with the public consistently says they dislike.
