Committee votes to extend time for donations to candidates

MADISON (AP) — A Senate committee has voted to expand the amount of time lobbyists can give personal donations to candidates running for office in Wisconsin.

The Senate Elections Committee voted 3-2 on Thursday to pass a bill that allows lobbyists to begin giving donations to candidates on April 15. Current law doesn't allow donations to begin until June.

Republicans who support the change say it's needed to correspond with new election deadlines tied to the earlier August primary date. April 15 is the day candidates can begin circulating petitions to get on the ballot.

The committee removed a portion of the bill that would have allowed lobbyists to pass along donations from others at any time of the year, rather than after June 1.

The bill now goes to the full Senate.