Wisconsin Senate passes requirements for shareholder notification of corporate campaign spending

The Wisconsin Senate passed legislation that would overturn a century-old ban on corporate spending in elections Tuesday, but puts in place requirements for shareholders to be notified of corporate campaign spending.

A ban that was put in place in 1905 was invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision to allow corporations to donate to campaigns, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Supported by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, the bill requires corporations to notify and receive permission from shareholders before donating to campaigns.

If the legislation passes the house, it would cement Wisconsin’s new law closing the “issue ad” loophole.

The WDC is urging residents to contact their representative in the assembly to pass Senate Bill 540. If you are not sure who your Assembly representative is, go here.