Common Cause in Wisconsin, a lobbying organization, was established in December 1973 to operate on a nonprofit, nonpartisan basis “for the promotion of the social welfare of the United States.” Common Cause as a national corporation had been established April 8, 1968, and its national office in Washington, D.C. had opened September 1, 1970. Until 1973, a group of Wisconsin Common Cause members had met informally to discuss legislative activity. On December 16, 1973, the State Governance Plan was approved by the Wisconsin members through the Program Action Committee (later called the State Governing Board); on January 12, 1974, the plan was accepted by the national Common Cause organization, thus allowing Common Cause in Wisconsin to share in funding and to receive administrative support from the national office. The state Common Cause office began operation April 14, 1975, and was officially opened by Governor Patrick J. Lucey on June 25, 1975.
