Wisconsin Assembly passes campaign finance overhaul bill

MADISON — The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill allowing candidates to coordinate with outside issue advocacy groups, activity that was at the center of an investigation into Gov. Scott Walker.


The Wisconsin Supreme Court in July ruled that candidates can coordinate with groups that do not expressly call for a person's election or defeat. The bill passed by the Assembly on Wednesday would put that into state law.

The bill would also double how much candidates can accept from individuals and allow unlimited corporate donations to political parties and legislative campaign committees.

Democrats say the bill will open the state to a flood of undisclosed donations.

The bill passed with all Republicans supporting, but all Democrats abstained saying they couldn't vote for it because their campaign committees had a financial interest.