Assembly passes bipartisan elections bill that would raise contribution limits

MADISON, Wis. — The Assembly passed a bill Wednesday that would double the amount people could donate to political campaigns and also allow for online registration, but it was unclear if the Senate would act on it before adjourning for the summer.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he hoped the Senate would vote before it leaves at the end of June until September. But the Senate is focused on passing the state budget and has not taken a position on the bill, said Alyssa Moyer, spokeswoman for Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

The bill must pass both chambers in identical form and be signed by Gov. Scott Walker before it can become law.

The proposal represents a compromise between Assembly Republicans and Democrats in which more controversial elements were removed. Vos said he hoped to take up that issue in the fall, depending on pending court cases.

Given the bipartisan backing of the bill in its current form, the Senate should be ready to act on it quickly, Vos said.

The bill originally had language designed to reinstate the requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls. Also removed were provisions banning in-person absentee voting on weekends and limiting local recall elections.

Vos said Republicans received conflicting legal advice about whether to pass a new photo identification law now while court cases are pending.

Despite the most recent court victory, it wasn't clear whether changes in state law are necessary to put the photo ID requirement in place, Vos said.

"I certainly don't want to fix something that's not broken," he said.

Opponents of photo ID laws say they are designed to make it harder for certain people to vote, including immigrants, the poor and elderly. Supporters say they are needed to combat in-person election fraud, although there have been very few reported cases of that in Wisconsin or elsewhere in the U.S.

Republicans and Democrats did agree on the bulk of what remained in the elections bill. It passed on a voice vote.

Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, said the bill was far from perfect, but voters would appreciate the fact that a compromise was reached. She spoke out against the increase in contribution limits, but praised the removal of the photo identification provisions.

The limits, which haven't been raised since the 1970s, would increase every two years to account for inflation.

Other provisions would allow voters to register through a secure state Government Accountability website up to 20 days before an election, starting in January 2015. They would need a valid Wisconsin driver's license or identification card with their current address.

Online voter registration would begin in 2015.

The bill would also allow lobbyists to begin contributing to candidates for the Legislature and governor starting on April 15 in even-numbered years, up from June 1. Donations could not begin that early if the Legislature were in session.

Under the proposal, corporations would be able to give money to political parties for the purposes of buying or renting office space by the party. Also, local governments would have to hold votes on referendums at the same time as regularly scheduled elections.