Our focus from helping an allied group get voters to the polls before they close in a few hours in this odd-year election day, to Governing and a BREAKTHROUGH legislative win 10 years in the making back home in Wisconsin – one of just a few states doing legislative work this November (along with Louisiana, Ohio, Massachusetts and Arkansas).

Today marked a historic win for election integrity and transparency as the Wisconsin Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee passed AB385 on a 5-2 vote, a bill designed to forbid the practice ActBlue has used for more than 20 years to process billions of dollars in unverified gift card contributions to liberal candidates and causes.

For over a decade, Wisconsin Faith and Freedom Coalition leadership has highlighted the risks and irregularities associated with ActBlue’s fundraising model, briefing legislators and providing data-driven testimony on its impact. Our 501(c)(4) organization, Freedom and Family Action, made this issue their top legislative priority this year, providing lead testimony and coordinating with sponsors to ensure AB385 advanced successfully. This legislation represents the culmination of years of work to provide model legislation that other states can replicate in the months ahead.

The committee’s discussion today also included broader election integrity issues, featuring testimony from figures such as Dan Eastman, who drew compelling parallels between the legal challenges to the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections to advocate for another piece of legislation (you can view the whole committee hearing here https://wiseye.org/?p=32160). The passage of AB385 demonstrates that, even while many focus on Election Day in other states, Wisconsin is leading the way in reforming campaign finance practices and improving transparency for voters.

Here are our list of thank yous:

AB385 Sponsors and Committee Votes:

Voted YES & Sponsor:

• Paul Tittl (R–Manitowoc, District 25)
  
  
• Dave Murphy (R–Greenville, District 56)
  
  
• Dave Maxey (R–New Berlin, District 83, Chair who calls meetings)
  
  

Voted YES:

• Scott Krug (R–Rome, District 72)
  
  
• Patrick Snyder (R–Weston, District 85)
  
  

Sponsored AB385:

• Joy Goeben (R–Hobart, District 5)
  
  
• Elijah Behnke (R–Chase, District 6)
  
  
• Dan Knodl (R–Germantown, District 24)
  
  
• Lindee Brill (R–Sheboygan Falls, District 27)
  
  
• Robin Kreibich (R–New Richmond, District 28)
  
  
• William Penterman (R–Hutisford, District 38)
  
  
• Rick Gundrum (R–Slinger, District 58)
  
  
• Jerry L. O’Connor (R–Fond du Lac, District 60)
  
  
• David Armstrong (R–Rice Lake, District 67)
  
  
• Chuck Wichgers (R–Muskego, District 84)
  
  
• Barbara Dittrich (R–Oconomowoc, District 99)
  
  

Senate Co-Sponsors:

• Rachael Cabral-Guevera (R–Appleton, District 19)
  
  
• Dan Feyen (R–Fond du Lac, District 20)
  
  
• Van H. Wanggaard (R–Racine, District 21)
  
  
• Romaine Quinn (R–Birchwood, District 25)
  
  
• Cory Tomczyk (R–Mosinee, District 29)
  
  

We extend our gratitude to the sponsors and committee members who voted YES, and we remain optimistic that the two NO votes can be persuaded as AB385 moves forward. Today’s passage is not only a legislative milestone for Wisconsin but also a model for reform-minded states across the country – as many legislators in other states have told us to just get them the language from a bill that has one through the committee process in order to answer any questions or fix anything so they can draft in their state from clean language.