Assembly Considers Banning Political Robocalls From Do-Not-Call List

The state Assembly is considering restricting political robocalls via Wisconsin’s Do-Not-Call list.

Republican state Rep. André Jacque sponsored the bill. He says the legislation does two things: first, it adds certain electronically pre-recorded messages, like political robocalls, to the state’s definition of ‘telephone solicitation,’ so residents on the Do-Not-Call list would no longer receive them. It also would make the Do-Not-Call list permanent, something that was already passed in a separate bill by both houses of the Legislature earlier this session.

Jacque called the bill ‘commonsense.’ He also thinks it could help improve civil discourse.

“We certainly want to encourage candidates and volunteers to make personal contact with voters,” Jacque said. “That’s something that this bill does, as opposed to having very negative attacks that somebody who isn’t in our communities and doesn’t have to respond directly to somebody can record and basically, again, bombard people’s phones with.”

Democratic state Rep. Gordon Hintz also sponsored the bill. He says that the robocall situation gets worse with every election cycle and that the bill would improve the quality of life for residents.

“Even though we’re towards the end of session, there’s still time to get this done,” Hintz said. “I think it’s something that Republicans and Democrats could come together on to really benefit the citizens of Wisconsin this fall.”

The bill has already been passed out of committee by the state Senate.