Fifty Three to Fifty Six: Democratic Party Press release against Leschke

Friday, December 15, 2006

Democratic Party Press release against Leschke

HERE COME THE SPECIAL INTEREST ADS

Hold your nose and your wallets as Lobbyists buy Julie Pung Leschke


Two of the biggest lobbyists in Madison, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) have pumped in thousands of dollars on radio and cable TV to buy Oshkosh Assembly candidate Julie Pung Leschke.

The political ads, known as “issue advocacy” are a way for wealthy individuals and corporations to skirt Wisconsin campaign finance laws and buy political candidates.


“Issue advocacy ads as are a way for lobby groups to get around the law and buy elections. WMC and the Realtors have been consistent in opposing campaign reform because they have spent millions of dollars on these phony baloney issue ads,” said Jim Smith, Director of the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee (ADCC). “They view Wisconsin campaign laws as an inconvenience that should not apply to the wealthy and powerful.”


As a member of the Winnebago County Board in 2000, Julie Pung Leschke voted against a campaign reform referendum that was supported by 92% of the voters. This fall, Pung Leschke has refused to reply to the ethics reform questionnaire from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, the League of Women Voters and Common Cause even though the groups extended the deadline for candidates to respond.


“Julie Pung Leschke’s documented opposition to ethics and campaign reform makes her an ideal pawn for these powerful lobbyists,” Smith said. “She won’t tell people what she stands for; she won’t even tell people she’s a Republican. Her plan is to sit back and let the lobbyists do their dirty work. Then they’ll own her.”

An estimated $40,000 in advertising is being spent by the two lobbying group to prop up Leschke’s camp.


“These lobbyists spend more in a month than a lot of families in Oshkosh make in a year, just to buy off Julie Pung Leschke,” added Smith. “They don’t care about the people of Oshkosh; their job is to protect some of the wealthiest interests in the state. They do their job well; the lobby effort to cut shared revenue to Oshkosh forced the city to institute an unfair garbage fee.”

From the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee, PO Box 814, Madison, WI 53701, (608) 258-9225, For Release: October 10, 2006, Contact: Jim Smith (608) 258-9225
www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/Oct06/Oct11/1011adccpungleschke.pdf

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home