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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Advocates: WI Justice Needs to be More Blind

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009   

MADISON, Wis. - Supporters of wringing the money out of Wisconsin Supreme Court elections suffered a setback last week, but that could fuel a victory this week. The setback was a state Supreme Court ruling that allows judges to remain on cases involving people who had donated to their campaigns. But that has set the stage for a vote in the Legislature this week that could pass the Impartial Justice Bill, calling for the creation of a system of full public financing of state Supreme Court elections.

Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says the court's action last week really highlighted the need by the candidates themselves for this proposed change.

"They wouldn't have to go begging for private special interest money to be able to communicate with voters. They would have a public financing alternative."

McCabe says the bill up for a possible vote this week could be a huge step forward for campaign finance reform in Wisconsin.

"We're now on the brink of the biggest break-through in the area of campaign reform in more than 30 years."

He says with the court adopting rules last week that allow judges to sit on cases involving their own contributors, the legislative fix is even more important.

"Judges can rule on cases involving their biggest campaign contributors; that was really a slap in the face."

McCabe says the votes are there to pass the measure and the governor has indicated he will sign it if it does pass. Candidates for the high court would then have the option of a publicly-financed campaign.

Opponents of the change say the measure limits constitutionally-protected speech.


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