Deceptive television ads in campaigns illegal in WI

[undeterred]

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=42882&nt...

Conservative group pulls anti-gay TV ad

Amid pressure from the state Democratic Party, a conservative group has pulled its TV ads accusing Gov. Jim Doyle of raising hunting and fishing fees "to give partners of gay state employees free health insurance."

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The Democrats invoked a seldom-used state law that allows for criminal prosecution of anyone who makes false, misleading and deceptive statements in order to affect the outcome of an election.

In a letter to TV stations, Milwaukee attorney Michael Maistelman said the party believes the ads falsely implied that "domestic partnership benefits are being paid for by higher fishing license fees, as well as other revenue sources mentioned in the ad such as nursing bed and HMO fees." The party also said the ad's claim of "free health insurance" was "absolutely false."

Doyle had proposed spending $1 million in his budget to provide health insurance coverage for partners of gay and lesbian University of Wisconsin employees, but the plan was rejected by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee earlier this month.