THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

EXECUTIVE ORDER #300

Relating to the Creation of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on

Campaign Finance Reform

WHEREAS, Wisconsin's original campaign finance law was enacted in 1911 and comprehensively revised in 1974 to address campaign finance and related election practices in use at that time; and

WHEREAS, campaign finance and related election practices have evolved to the point where a fundamental reexamination of the laws governing these practices is both timely and necessary; and

WHEREAS, Wisconsin must always strive to ensure that the State's legitimate interest in regulating campaign finance and related election practices is precisely balanced against the rights guaranteed to the people of this great state by both the Constitution of the United States and the Wisconsin Constitution; and

WHEREAS, the laws of this State governing campaign finance and related election practices are rooted in a nationally recognized tradition of effective government based on a strong citizen voice in political decision making;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TOMMY G. THOMPSON, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of this State, and specifically by Section 14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby:

  1. Create the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Campaign Finance Reform (hereinafter "the Commission") to evaluate and study the laws of this state governing campaign finance and related election practices and recommend such changes to these laws that the Commission deems prudent;
  2. Provide that the Commission shall be composed of five (5) members to serve at the pleasure of the Governor: two (2) Republicans, two (2) Democrats and one (1) person not affiliated with a political party;
  3. Provide that the Governor shall designate one (1) member of the Commission as its chair to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor;
  4. Instruct the Commission to solicit comments from the public on campaign finance reform;
  5. Require the Commission to consult with experts in the field of campaign finance reform;
  6. Direct the Commission to submit a report to the Governor on its findings and recommendations by May 1, 1997;
  7. Provide that the Commission shall disband once the Governor has accepted its report;
  8. Provide that the Commission shall receive, at no cost, staff assistance from the Robert M. La Follette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin - Madison;
  9. Direct the Secretary of the Department of Administration, pursuant to Section 20.505 (3)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes, to provide the sums of money that are necessary and proper to pay the expenses, if any, of the Commission.


IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this nineteenth day of November in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six.

TOMMY G. THOMPSON

Governor