The Government Accountability Board, the agency in charge of overseeing elections in Wisconsin, decided Monday it will regulate campaign television ads funded by outside groups.
According to Mike McCabe, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, $12 million were spent in the last two state Supreme Court races, and $8 million of that was spent by outside interest groups on television ads.
Right now these groups can get money from anyone, from anywhere, in any amount and they don't have to disclose a thing,"" McCabe said, adding the lack of disclosure violates citizens' right to know who is funding the ads.
McCabe said though the GAB's regulations would not prevent any groups from running ads, they would require them to disclose financial sources and follow campaign contribution limits to reduce the practice of outside groups financing campaign ads.
He said the Board has the chance to ""make sure these groups are playing by the same rules as the candidates and all the other participants in the elections.""
