During the first half of 2011, four unions representing public employees collectively reported spending a total of $6.3 million on 25,558 hours of lobbying. But in latter half of 2011, according to recently filed reports, these four unions collectively spent $353,193 on 3,153 hours of lobbying. In terms of dollars, that’s a 94 percent decline.

Earlier today, a television reporter stopped by to talk with me about Anthony Shadid, one of my former interns at Isthmus. The reporter, camera running, asked me if I had any idea back then just how far Anthony would go – the national Associated press, Boston Globe, Washington Post, New York Times, two Pulitzer prizes, three books (one set to be published next month), international recognition and acclaim.

By now, the notion that outside special interests drive the political process is so widely accepted as to be almost a cliche. Yet when it comes to the hot-button state political issue of redistricting, the process appears driven not by outside special interests but an inside one: the Legislature itself.

A couple of years ago, Dr. Erik Severson transferred a heart patient to a different hospital. When the man died under Severson’s care, the physician took a risk as he broke the news to the man’s son. He apologized — although he knew his words could be used against him in court. Now a Republican lawmaker, Severson has introduced a bill to let doctors do just that without fearing malpractice.

Two Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are calling for the state to consider ending direct elections of court members, citing the negative role of money in judicial campaigns.

In all, Walker has gotten 57 individual contributions in excess of the usual limit, totaling about $3.1 million; about $2.5 million of this amount, or 80 percent, is from people in other states.

A Columbia County Board committee met secretly last month to discuss changes in work rules that would affect hundreds of county employees. But as a consequence of Gov. Scott Walker’s law stripping collective bargaining rights from most public employees, such meetings must now be held in open session.

Compared to Texas, New York and California, where super PACs raised upwards of $10 million, the few Wisconsin donors contributed a whole lot less in 2011. Search our database of $93 million worth of itemized contributions from across the nation.