SB12: Bill Text

Under current law, committees other than political party committees and legislative campaign committees are subject to limitations on the amount of contributions made cumulatively to a particular candidate. A committee may contribute up to $43,238 to a candidate for statewide office. Current law also limits the cumulative amount of contributions that a committee may make annually to a particular political party, limits the cumulative amount of contributions that a political party may accept annually from a particular committee, and limits the aggregate total of contributions that a political party may accept during any biennium from all committees. Currently, a committee may annually contribute up to $6,000 to a particular political party, a political party may annually accept up to $6,000 from a particular committee, and a political party may accept up to $150,000 in contributions from all committees during any biennium.

This bill establishes specified limitations on committee contributions to candidates for statewide office as follows: a) candidates for governor, $45,000; b) candidates for lieutenant governor, $15,000; c) candidates for attorney general, $25,000; and d) candidates for secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, or justice of the supreme court, $10,000. Under the bill, the limitation on committee contributions to a particular political party, and on the annual amount that a political party may accept from a particular committee, is increased to $18,000, and the aggregate limitation on contributions that a political party may accept during a biennium from all committees is increased to $600,000.

Under current law, the aggregate contributions accepted by a candidate for state or local office from all committees, when combined with any grant received from the Wisconsin election campaign fund, may not exceed 65 percent of the disbursement level or limitation for the office that the candidate seeks. In addition, the contributions received by a candidate for state or local office from all committees other than political party or legislative campaign committees, when combined with any grant received from the Wisconsin election campaign fund, may not exceed 45 percent of the disbursement level or limitation for the office that the candidate seeks. This bill provides that the contributions received by a candidate for state or local office from all committees other than political party committees, when combined with any nonsupplemental grant received from the Wisconsin election campaign fund, may not exceed 35 percent of the disbursement level or limitation for the office that the candidate seeks. Under the bill, a candidate who qualifies to receive a supplemental grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund (see below) may exceed aggregate committee contribution limitations by an amount equal to the amount of the supplemental grant.

Under current law, a candidate who accepts a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund may not make contributions to his or her own campaign in an amount or value greater than 200 percent of the contribution limitation that applies to individuals making contributions to his or her campaign. Under the bill, if a candidate's disbursement limitation is increased as a result of disbursements made by an opposing candidate or independent disbursements or obligations made or incurred by others, this self-contribution limitation is increased by an amount equal to the ratio that the contribution limitation otherwise applicable to the candidate bears to the disbursement limitation otherwise applicable to the candidate, multiplied by the amount of the increased disbursement limitation authorized under the bill for that candidate.

Treatment of legislative campaign committees

Currently, the adherents of any political party in either house of the legislature may organize a "legislative campaign committee" to support the candidacy of members of their party for legislative office. Committees other than legislative campaign committees and political party committees are generally subject to a limitation upon the contributions that they may make to candidates for legislative office or to political parties. Legislative campaign committees are subject only to overall limitations on the aggregate contributions that may be accepted by a candidate from entities other than individuals.

This bill eliminates the special status of legislative campaign committees, thus causing them to be treated in the same manner as other special interest committees for the purpose of contribution limitations.

Other contribution restrictions

This bill creates the following new prohibitions on contributions:

1. It prohibits contributions to incumbent partisan state officials for the purpose of promoting their nomination or reelection to their offices during the period from the date of introduction of the executive budget bill through the date of enactment of the biennial budget act. The prohibition does not apply to contributions made to an incumbent who is subject to a recall election beginning on the date on which a petitioner registers an intent to circulate a petition for a recall election against the incumbent and ending on the date of the recall election, except that if the circulation period expires without offering of the recall petition for filing, the filing officer determines not to file the petition, or the incumbent resigns, the period ends on the date of that event.

2. It prohibits any committee from making a contribution to any special interest committee. The prohibition does not apply to any contribution made by a committee to another committee if the contribution is made between statewide committees of labor organizations or trade associations and their affiliated local committees.

Currently, if a registrant receives a contribution, the registrant must deposit the contribution in its campaign depository account no later than the end of the fifth business day commencing after receipt, unless the registrant returns the contribution before that time. A registrant must report the occupation and principal place of employment of any individual who makes any contribution or contributions to a registrant exceeding $100 in amount or value cumulatively within a calendar year. This bill provides that whenever a registrant receives a contribution in the form of money the registrant must obtain this information from a contributor, if required, before depositing the contributor's contribution in its campaign depository account. Under the bill, if the registrant does not obtain the required information within the period prescribed for making deposits, the registrant must return the contribution.

Disposition of residual or excess funds

Under current law, residual funds remaining when a person who is required to register under the campaign financing law disbands or ceases incurring obligations, making disbursements, or accepting contributions or excess funds received by a registrant that may not be legally expended may generally be used for any lawful political purpose, returned to the original contributors, or donated to a charitable organization or the common school fund.

This bill allows residual or excess funds to be transferred to the Wisconsin election campaign fund.

Wisconsin election campaign fund

Sources and uses of funds

Under current law, the Wisconsin election campaign fund is financed through an individual income tax "checkoff." Every individual filing a state income tax return who has a tax liability or is entitled to a tax refund may direct that $1 of general purpose revenue be transferred to the fund. Individuals filing a joint return may separately choose whether to direct that the $1 transfer be made. All moneys transferred to the fund are placed in accounts for specified state offices, and candidates for those offices may qualify for grants from the fund to be used for specified campaign expenses. No moneys in the fund may be used for any other purpose. The amounts of grants may be reduced if insufficient moneys are available in the fund to finance full payment of all grants for which candidates qualify.

This bill does the following:

1. It increases the amount of the individual income tax checkoff for the Wisconsin election campaign fund from $1 to $5, effective for tax returns filed for taxable years beginning on or after January 1 following the day on which the bill becomes law. Under the bill, individuals filing a joint return may separately choose whether to make the $5 checkoff. The bill also permits individuals to determine whether to designate their checkoffs for a "general account," which is distributed to all candidates who qualify for a grant, or for the account of an eligible political party, which is distributed to all candidates representing that party who qualify for a grant. In addition, if there are insufficient moneys in these accounts to permit any candidate who qualifies for a grant from receiving the full amount for which the candidate qualifies, the bill provides for the deficiency to be drawn from state general purpose revenue.

2. It directs the executive director of the Elections Board to take steps to incorporate a nonstock, nonprofit corporation to be known as the "Public Integrity Endowment." The bill directs the executive director to ensure that the corporation is structured so that contributions made to the foundation will be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Under the bill, the sole purpose of the endowment is to solicit contributions for the purpose of supplementing the assets of the Wisconsin election campaign fund and transferring those contributions, after deduction of solicitation costs, to the general account of the fund. Currently, any person may make an unrestricted donation to the Wisconsin election campaign fund. The donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. However, the fund does not solicit contributions.

Grant eligibility requirements and amounts

Under current law, grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund are available to finance specified campaign expenses of eligible candidates for the offices of state senator, representative to the assembly, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state, justice of the supreme court, and superintendent of public instruction. To receive a grant, a candidate must file an application with the state Elections Board no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers. Following the primary election or the date on which a primary would be held, if required, the board determines whether a candidate who applies for a grant meets the following eligibility requirements:

1. If the candidate seeks a partisan state office at a general election, the candidate must have received at least six percent of the total votes cast in the primary and have won the primary. If the candidate seeks a partisan state office at a special election, the candidate must either: a) appear on the ballot or in the column of a political party whose candidate for the same office at the preceding general election received at least six percent of the vote; or b) receive at least six percent of the votes cast at the special election.

2. The candidate must have an opponent in the election.

3. The candidate must receive, during a specified time period, a specified amount through contributions from individuals of $100 or less. For a candidate for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, justice of the supreme court, or superintendent of public instruction, the amount is five percent of the authorized disbursement level for the office which the candidate seeks. For a candidate for the office of state senator or representative to the assembly, the amount is ten percent of the authorized disbursement level for the office which the candidate seeks.

Under current law, a candidate for any office who accepts a grant must comply with statutorily prescribed contribution and disbursement limitations, unless at least one of the candidate's opponents who received at least six percent of the votes cast for all candidates for that office at a partisan primary, if a primary was held, does not accept a grant and does not voluntarily agree to comply with the contribution and disbursement limitations for that office. The maximum grant that a candidate may receive is that amount which, when added to all other contributions accepted from sources other than individuals, political party committees, and legislative campaign committees, is equal to 45 percent of the authorized disbursement level for the office which the candidate seeks. No grants are available to finance campaign expenses in primary elections.

Currently, the Elections Board must notify the state treasurer that a candidate has qualified to receive a grant as soon as possible after the board is able to determine that the candidate has qualified to receive the grant. The state treasurer then has three business days to transmit the grant to the candidate.

This bill does the following:

1. It provides that a candidate for the office of state senator or representative to the assembly must receive contributions equal to only five percent of the authorized disbursement level for the office which the candidate seeks in order to qualify for a grant, but provides that the contributions of $100 or less from individuals used by a candidate for any state office to determine eligibility for a grant from the Wisconsin election campaign fund must be made by individuals who reside in this state and, in the case of a candidate for legislative office, at least 50 percent of those contributions must be made by individuals who reside in the district in which the candidate seeks office, except that a candidate may substitute contributions received from political party committees for not more than 50 percent of the contributions required to be received from residents of the district.

2. It provides that the maximum grant that a candidate for state office may receive is that amount which, when added to all other contributions accepted by the candidate from committees other than political party committees, is equal to 35 percent of the disbursement limitation for the office that the candidate seeks, unless the candidate qualifies to receive a supplemental grant (see below).

3. It provides that a candidate who accepts a grant shall receive a supplemental grant in a maximum amount equal to: a) the total amount of disbursements exceeding the amount of the disbursement limitation for that office made by an opposing candidate who does not accept a grant; and b) the total amount of any independent disbursements in close proximity to the election that are made by special interest committees to oppose that candidate, or to support that candidate's opponent, if that total amount exceeds ten percent of the disbursement limitation for the office that the candidate seeks, except that the total supplemental grant received by a candidate may not exceed an amount equal to three times the disbursement limitation for the office that the candidate seeks.

4. It requires the state treasurer to electronically transmit supplemental grants to qualifying candidates who so request as soon as possible after the candidates qualify to receive the supplemental grants, but in no case later than the end of the third business day after the Elections Board notifies the treasurer that a candidate has qualified to receive a grant.

Penalties for violations

Currently, violators of the campaign finance law are subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $500 for each violation, except that violators of contribution limitations are subject to a forfeiture of not more than treble the amount unlawfully contributed. In addition, currently, any person who is delinquent in filing a report is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $50 or one percent of the annual salary of the office for which a candidate is being supported or opposed, whichever is greater, for each day of delinquency.

Currently, whoever intentionally violates certain provisions of the campaign finance law, such as registration requirements, contribution limitations, the prohibition against making contributions in the name of another person, the prohibition against using contributions for most nonpolitical purposes, and the prohibition against filing false reports and statements, may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, if the violation does not exceed $100 in amount or value, and may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years and six months, or both, if the violation exceeds $100 in amount or value.

This bill provides that if any person, including a candidate or committee other than a conduit, makes a disbursement to support or oppose a candidate for a major state office (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, state superintendent of public instruction, or justice of the supreme court) without first reporting to the extent required under the bill, the offender is subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $500 for each day of violation. The bill also provides that if any person, including any of these candidates or committees, makes one or more disbursements or other expenditures for such a purpose in an amount that is more or less than the amount reported by that person:

l. By more than five percent but not more than ten percent, the person must forfeit four times the amount of the difference.

2. By more than ten percent but not more than 15 percent, the person must forfeit six times the amount of the difference.

3. By more than 15 percent, the person must forfeit eight times the amount of the difference.

Public broadcasting television stations and public access channels

Current law requires that free time on public broadcasting television stations and public access channels be provided to candidates for state office. Under current law, the Federal Communications Commission grants licenses for the operation of public broadcasting television stations. Also under current law, a city, village, or town is authorized to grant a franchise to a person that allows that person to operate a cable television system in the city, village, or town. Under the franchise, the person may be required to provide cable television channels that the city, village, or town may use for public, educational, or governmental purposes. A channel that is used exclusively for public, rather than educational or governmental purposes, is commonly referred to as a public access channel. A city, village, or town may operate a public access channel, or a city, village, or town may allow another person to operate the channel. Current law requires the Elections Board to promulgate rules that require licensees of public broadcasting stations and operators of public access channels to provide a minimum amount of free time to candidates for state office at general, spring, and special elections. The rules must require the same amount of time for each candidate for a particular state office, but may require different amounts of time for different offices.

This bill repeals these provisions.

Individual income tax credit

This bill creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for contributions to the Public Integrity Endowment. Under the bill, an individual may claim as an income tax credit, up to the amount of the individual's income tax liability, any amount that he or she contributes to the Public Integrity Endowment. If a married couple files a joint return, each spouse may claim the credit.

Initial applicability

All campaign finance changes under the bill apply to elections held on or after January 1, 2008, except that the directive to incorporate a Public Integrity Endowment takes effect on the day on which the bill becomes law. Under the bill, changes to the income tax checkoff and the creation of an individual income tax credit for contributions to the endowment apply to taxable years beginning on January 1 of the year in which the bill becomes law, if the bill becomes law by July 31, in any year, or otherwise to taxable years beginning on January 1 of the following year.

Nonseverability

Currently, if any part of an act is found by a court to be invalid, those parts that are valid are severed from the invalid part and the severed parts continue in force. This bill provides that, if any of the following parts of the bill is unconstitutional, then all of the following parts are void: a) parts relating to the reporting of certain expenditures and obligations by candidates and special interest committees; b) parts relating to the provision of supplemental grants to candidates whose opponents exceed disbursement limitations or who are opposed or whose opponents are supported by any reportable disbursements by candidates or independent disbursements or obligations, including those that are reportable under current law; and c) parts relating to prohibiting contributions from being made by committees to special interest committees.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB12, s. 1 Section 1. 5.02 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB12,13,7 5.02 (13) "Political party" or "party" means a state committee registered under s. 11.05 and organized exclusively for political purposes under whose name candidates appear on a ballot at any election, and all county, congressional, legislative, local and other affiliated committees authorized to operate under the same name. For purposes of ch. 11, the term does not include a legislative campaign committee or a committee filing an oath under s. 11.06 (7).

SB12, s. 2 Section 2. 7.08 (2) (c) and (cm) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB12,14,11 7.08 (2) (c) As soon as possible after the canvass of the spring and September primary votes, but no later than the first Tuesday in March and the 4th Tuesday in September, transmit to the state treasurer a certified list of all eligible candidates for state office who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2) and whom the board determines to be are eligible to receive payments grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund. The board shall also electronically transmit a similar list containing the name of each candidate whom the board determines is eligible to receive a grant under s. 11.50 (9) (ba) or (bb) within 24 hours after the candidate qualifies to receive such a grant. Each list shall contain each candidate's name, the mailing address indicated upon the candidate's registration form, the office for which the individual is a candidate and the party or principle which he or she represents, if any.

SB12,14,25 (cm) As soon as possible after the canvass of a special primary, or the date that the primary would be held, if required, transmit to the state treasurer a certified list of all eligible candidates for state office who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2) and whom the board determines to be eligible to receive a grant grants from the Wisconsin election campaign fund prior to the election. The board shall also transmit a similar list of candidates, if any, who have filed applications under s. 11.50 (2) and whom the board determines to be eligible to receive a grant grants under s. 11.50 (1) (a) 2. 1. b. after the special election. The board shall electronically transmit a similar list containing the name of each candidate whom the board determines is eligible to receive a grant under s. 11.50 (9) (ba) or (bb) within 24 hours after the candidate qualifies to receive such a grant. Each list shall contain each candidate's name, the mailing address indicated upon the candidate's registration form, the office for which the individual is a candidate and the party or principle which he or she represents, if any.

SB12, s. 3 Section 3. 7.08 (2) (cs) of the statutes is created to read:

SB12,15,4 7.08 (2) (cs) In each even-numbered year, certify to the state treasurer for the period beginning with the month following certification and ending with the month in which the next certification is made by the board:

SB12,15,8 1. No later than July 1, the name of each political party that qualifies under s. 11.50 (1) (am) 1. as an eligible political party as of the preceding June 1 and whose state chairperson has filed a written request to establish an account for the party under s. 11.50 (2s) (a).

SB12,15,12 2. No later than December 15, the name of each political party that qualifies under s. 11.50 (1) (am) 2. as an eligible political party as of the date of the preceding general election and whose state chairperson has filed a written request to establish an account for the party under s. 11.50 (2s) (a).

SB12, s. 4 Section 4. 8.30 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB12,15,21 8.30 (2) If no registration statement has been filed by or on behalf of a candidate for state or local office in accordance with s. 11.05 (2g) or (2r) by the applicable deadline for filing nomination papers by such the candidate, or the deadline for filing a declaration of candidacy for an office for which nomination papers are not filed, the name of the candidate may not appear on the ballot. This subsection may not be construed to exempt a candidate an individual from applicable penalties if the individual is a candidate, as defined in s. 11.01 (1), and he or she files a registration statement later than the time prescribed in ss. 11.01 (1) and s. 11.05 (2g).

SB12, s. 5 Section 5. 8.35 (4) (a) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB12,16,5 8.35 (4) (a) 1. a. Donated to the former candidate's local or state political party if If the former candidate was a partisan candidate or, donated to the former candidate's local or state political party, donated to the a charitable organization of the former candidate's choice or the charitable organization chosen, or transferred to the board for deposit in the Wisconsin election campaign fund, as instructed by the former candidate or, if the candidate left no instruction, as instructed by the former candidate's next of kin if the former candidate is deceased, or if no choice is made returned to the donors on a proportional basis; or

SB12,16,11 b. If the former candidate was a nonpartisan candidate, donated to the a charitable organization of the former candidate's choice or the or the charitable organization chosen or transferred to the board for deposit in the Wisconsin election campaign fund, as instructed by the former candidate or, if the candidate left no instruction, as instructed by the former candidate's next of kin if the former candidate is deceased; or

SB12, s. 6 Section 6. 8.35 (4) (c) and (d) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB12,16,23 8.35 (4) (c) The transfer to the replacement candidate under par. (b) shall be made and reported to the appropriate filing officer in a special report submitted in a special report submitted by the former candidate's campaign treasurer. If the former candidate is deceased and was serving as his or her own campaign treasurer, the former candidate's petitioner or personal representative shall file the report and make the transfer required by par. (b), if any and file the report. The report shall be made at the appropriate interval under s. 11.20 (2) or (4) or in the manner required under s. 11.21 (16), if applicable, and shall include a complete statement of all contributions, disbursements and incurred obligations pursuant to s. 11.06 (1) covering the period from the day after the last date covered on the former candidate's most recent report to the date of disposition.

SB12,17,2 (d) The newly appointed candidate shall file his or her report at the next appropriate interval under s. 11.20 (2) or (4) after his or her appointment or in the manner required under s. 11.21 (16), if applicable. The appointed candidate shall include any transferred funds moneys in his or her first report.

SB12, s. 7 Section 7. 11.001 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB12,17,11 11.001 (2m) The legislature finds a compelling justification for minimal disclosure of all communications made near the time of an election that include a reference to a clearly identified candidate at that election, an office to be filled at that election, or a political party in order to permit increased funding for candidates who are affected by those communications. The legislature finds that this minimal disclosure burden is outweighed by the need to establish an effective funding mechanism for affected candidates to effectively respond to communications that may impact an election.

SB12, s. 8 Section 8. 11.01 (12s) of the statutes is repealed.

SB12, s. 9 Section 9. 11.01 (16) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

SB12,17,20 11.01 (16) (a) 3. A communication that is made by means of one or more communications media, other than a communication that is exempt from reporting under s. 11.29, that is made during the period beginning on the 60th day preceding an election and ending on the date of that election, and that includes a reference to a candidate whose name is certified under s. 7.08 (2) (a) or 8.50 (1) (d) to appear on the ballot at that election, a reference to an office to be filled at that election, or a reference to a political party.

SB12, s. 10 Section 10. 11.01 (17g) and (17r) of the statutes are repealed.

SB12, s. 11 Section 11. 11.05 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 11.05 (1) (a) and amended to read:

SB12,18,6 11.05 (1) (a) Except as provided in s. 9.10 (2) (d), every committee, other than a personal campaign committee, and every political group subject to a registration requirement under s. 11.23 which that makes or accepts contributions, incurs obligations, or makes disbursements in a calendar year in an aggregate amount in excess of $25 shall file a statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the information required by sub. (3). In the case of any committee other than a personal campaign committee, the The statement shall be filed by the treasurer. A personal campaign committee shall register under sub. (2g) or (2r).

SB12, s. 12 Section 12. 11.05 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB12,18,11 11.05 (1) (b) Every political group subject to registration under s. 11.23 that makes or accepts contributions, incurs obligations, or makes disbursements in a calendar year in an aggregate amount in excess of $100 shall file a statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the information required by sub. (3).

SB12, s. 13 Section 13. 11.05 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 11.05 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB12,18,21 11.05 (2) (a) Except as provided in s. 9.10 (2) (d), every individual, other than a candidate or agent of a candidate, who accepts contributions, incurs obligations, or makes disbursements with respect to one or more elections for state or local office in a calendar year in an aggregate amount in excess of $25 shall file a statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the information required by sub. (3). An individual who guarantees a loan on which an individual, committee or group subject to a registration requirement defaults is not subject to registration under this subsection paragraph solely as a result of such default.

SB12, s. 14 Section 14. 11.05 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB12,19,2 11.05 (2) (b) Every individual who accepts contributions, incurs obligations, or makes disbursements with respect to one or more referenda in a calendar year in an aggregate amount in excess of $100 shall file a statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the information required by sub. (3).

SB12, s. 15 Section 15. 11.05 (2r) of the statutes is renumbered 11.06 (2m) (a) and amended to read:

SB12,19,25 11.06 (2m) (a) Any person, committee or group, other than a committee or an individual or committee required to file an oath under s. 11.06 (7) sub. (7), who or which does not anticipate accepting contributions, making disbursements , or incurring obligations in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000 in a calendar year and does not anticipate accepting any contribution or contributions from a single source, other than contributions made by a candidate to his or her own campaign, exceeding $100 in that any calendar year may indicate on its registration statement that the person, committee, or group will not accept contributions, incur obligations, or make disbursements in the aggregate in excess of $1,000 in any calendar year and will not accept any contribution or contributions from a single source, other than contributions made by a candidate to his or her own campaign, exceeding $100 in such any calendar year. Any registrant making such an indication is not subject to any filing requirement if the statement is true. The registrant need not file a termination report. A registrant not making such an indication on a registration statement is subject to a filing requirement. The indication may be revoked and the registrant is then subject to a filing requirement as of the date of revocation, or the date that aggregate contributions, disbursements, or obligations for the calendar year exceed $1,000, or the date on which the registrant accepts any contribution or contributions exceeding $100 from a single source, other than contributions made by a candidate to his or her own campaign, during that any calendar year, whichever is earlier. If the revocation is not timely, the registrant violates s. 11.27 (1).

SB12, s. 16 Section 16. 11.05 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB12,20,5 11.05 (3) (c) In the case of a committee, a statement as to whether the committee is a personal campaign committee, a political party committee, a legislative campaign committee, a support committee, or a special interest committee.

SB12, s. 17 Section 17. 11.05 (3) (m) of the statutes is created to read: