Pay to play alive and well in Wisconsin politics

We have talked at length about the problem of big money in politics. Some may wonder, what difference does it make who gives how much money to those running for political office? Here is the perfect example. Newly released documents reveal that during the 2012 recall election of Governor Scott Walker, our governor solicited campaign donations for a group called the Wisconsin Club for Growth. Because this is a third party group, those giving donations could give unlimited amounts of money without any public disclosure. These newly released documents say among the donors, to the tune of $750,000, was the owner of NL Industries, a company which was the county’s biggest producer of lead paint before it was banned. The donation sure seemed to have some impact on those lawmakers who shared in the windfall. The legislature passed a law exempting this company from compensation claims for lead paint poisoning, as the families of 171 children have filed. The language of the bill even ensured that it would be retroactive, getting help with the language of the bill from NL Industries attorneys. The courts later ruled Wisconsin’s law illegal, and those lawsuits have been allowed to proceed. But it is clear that when big money is involved, our politicians are willing to place their fingers on the scales of justice to tip it in favor of those willing to pay to play.