MADISON – In response to the record-breaking money in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Nick Ramos released the following statement:
“Today should be a breaking point for our state. Even if your preferred candidate wins – no matter if you’re liberal, conservative, or independent – every single Wisconsinite should be alarmed at this grotesque billionaire arms race.
“I am encouraged by reports of strong turnout, and it’s clear voters took advantage of early and absentee voting options. But the past two months have shown us a terrifying preview of what’s coming – an America where billionaires run the show, and the rest of us are just spectators.
“When the final spending reports are filed, sometime in early July, we expect this single Supreme Court race to top $100 million. While working Wisconsinites stretch to pay rent, feed their families, and make ends meet, billionaires treat our elections like a game – pouring millions into a state they don’t even live in, hoping to tip the scales in favor of their special interests.
“With no rules, accountability, or limits, what is stopping the wealthiest people in the world from dumping money and disinformation into our state again and again and again?
“Part of the problem stems from the federal level – thanks to devastating U.S. Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United. But Wisconsin isn’t powerless. We can act now to restore transparency and fairness by reinstating the strong campaign finance laws gutted in 2015 under Scott Walker.
“It’s not enough to get off the hamster wheel. We need to destroy it entirely.
“Until one major party or the other puts getting money out of politics at the top of the agenda, both will remain at the mercy of mega-billionaire donors.
“That is how we will lose our democracy.”
