Wisconsin taxpayer-funded lobbying

From Sunshine Review

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is the practice of engaging in lobbying activities as a public entity. This is done by counties, cities, school districts, public facilities, and many other entities that receive taxpayer money through public funds.

This is controversial because the agenda being lobbied for are not decided by taxpayers, whose money is used for the practice. This means the outcomes of lobbying are sometimes opposed to the constituents' benefit.

[edit] 2005-2006 Legislative Session

For the 2005-2006 session taxpayer-funded lobbying was estimated to be at least $4 million:^[1]

• Madison: Spent roughly $30,000 lobbying the Legislature arguing against concealed carry legislation, against the marriage amendment and in favor of embryonic stem cell research, among other things. ^[1]
• Dane County: Spent nearly $175,000 the session for issues such as more state money for county nursing home patients and arguing against the taxpayer bill of rights. ^[1]
• Rock County: Spent about $6,400. ^[1]
• Madison Metropolitan School District: Spent $133,000 on lobbying trying to get more tax money into the classrooms, fighting against revenue limits and against limits to local control. ^[1]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

The following is a list of Wisconsin taxpayer-funded lobbying associations by type:

[edit] Cities and municipalities

• Wisconsin Towns Association

[edit] County

• Wisconsin Counties Association

[edit] School

• Wisconsin Association of School Boards

[edit] Other

• Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} WISC TV, "Reality Check: Taxpayers Pay For Lobbying", February 21, 2007

v • d • e Wisconsin taxpayer-funded lobbying associations Wisconsin Counties Association • Wisconsin Association of School Boards • Wisconsin Towns Association • Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association

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