Inside the campaign finance report of Fair Wisconsin

Wisconsin Election Watch ^ | 9-8-14 | Kyle Maichle

[afraidfortherepublic]

MADISON – Last Thursday, the Chicago-based Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Wisconsin’s 2006 voter-approved ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. When looking back at the 2006 campaign, organized labor and other notable liberals donated their money to Fair Wisconsin which opposed the measure.

Wisconsin Election Watch obtained campaign finance records from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board for this story. However, the only version of Fair Wisconsin’s campaign finance reports were available was in paper format.

Organized labor donated significant amounts of money to Fair Wisconsin in 2006 in their effort to oppose the referendum. The Wisconsin Educational Association Council, the state’s teacher’s union, gave $25,000 to Fair Wisconsin in June of 2006. AFSCME Council 40, which represents the majority of county and municipal workers in Wisconsin, gave $10,000 in October of 2006. Other notable union contributions to Fair Wisconsin include $5,000 in September 2006 by MTI which is the main teachers union in Madison, along with $10,000 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers in August of 2006, and $5,000 by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO in May of 2006.

Other notable liberals have donated to Fair Wisconsin. Liberal investor George Soros gave $65,000 to the organization in October of 2006. Soros has been well known for donating to liberal organizations such as One Wisconsin Now. Former Democratic Party of Wisconsin State Chairman Joe Wienke donated $50 to Fair Wisconsin in 2006 and Bill Penzey of Penzey’s Spices gave $1,000 to the organization. Also, Chicago Cubs Co-Owner Laura Ricketts gave $10,000 to Fair Wisconsin in October of 2006.

One national organization provided considerable financial support to the organization. The Human Rights Campaign donated $147,533 to Fair Wisconsin. In total, Fair Wisconsin raised $4,225,713.50 while spending $4,286,095.98. The voters approved Question 1, better known as the gay marriage ban, by a 59 to 41 percent margin. The law is currently on hold as Western District of Wisconsin federal judge Barbara Crabb ruled the law unconstitutional in June.

[afraidfortherepublic]

A guide to the money behind gay marriage in Wisconsin.

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin iterest ping list.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

BUMP!

Always follow the money - especially where Dems and Unions are concerned. These power-hungry people will fight until the last dog is hung. It always amazes me, but shouldn’t, anymore.