Wisconsin lawmakers raised $6.8 million in 6 months

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Fueled by nine recall elections, Wisconsin state lawmakers raised a record $6.8 million in the first half of 2011.

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reported the totals on Tuesday. The government watchdog group says the spending is the most ever raised by lawmakers in the first six months of a year.

The previous record high was $3.5 million in 2010, an election year.

Nearly two-thirds of the money raised this year was brought in by the 12 office holders who were involved in the August recalls. Ultimately, two Republican state senators were defeated. One of the Democrats who won, Jen Shilling of La Crosse, had been serving in the Assembly.

Fundraising by the four legislative campaign committees was $1.4 million, breaking last year's record of $1.1 million.

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