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CAMPAIGN FUND CHECKOFF REMOVED FROM TAX FORM
WPR News - Campaign fund checkoff removed from tax form
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Tuesday April 17, 2012
by Chuck Quirmbach
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(STATEWIDE) If you have filled out your state form this year, you may notice that your opportunity to help fund political campaigns has disappeared.
For more than 30 years, state income tax filers had the chance to direct a small amount of their tax money go toward public financing of elections. The choice never affected the filer's tax obligation. But last year, Gov. Walker proposed the check off be changed to a donation plan that would have affected the taxpayer's bottom line. State election officials said that would dramatically cut donations, so the check off was cancelled. Jay Heck of Common Cause in Wisconsin blames Walker.
Heck says the public financing system had its flaws, but allowed some candidates a way to get their message out without having to beg for donations from special interest groups. Heck notes the tax form check-off started as a post-Watergate reform. He says the public may want more modern reforms after the bushels of cash being raised for this year's recall races and fall general elections.
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