Time is right for campaign finance reform

As we face difficult times, I can't seem to help but think about the influence that special interest groups had to get us to this point. Fair elections are much-needed in our state as special interest groups continue to throw more and more money at our representatives.

This spring we will have a race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court and both candidates will raise a great deal of money from a variety of sources. It is unacceptable to allow our judges, the ones who are supposed to make the ultimate unbiased decisions, to be corrupted and influenced by money. Most times, trial lawyers account for a huge majority of the money raised for judicial races. Does that strike anyone as a conflict of interest?

Money in politics is simply the most important issue out there today. Since 1990, the insurance and financial sectors have contributed over $2 billion to candidates and parties. During that same time, we saw a great deal of deregulation of those industries, leading to where we stand today.

When congressmen are forced to raise millions of dollars to get re-elected, they end up owing a lot of favors. It's time for Wisconsin – and the United States – to embrace public financing. These systems are already widely popular in Maine, Connecticut and Arizona, with more states on the way. With widespread campaign finance reform at all levels, we can look forward to having elections based on issues, not cash.