The topic of the protests in Wisconsin and the bill that Gov. Scott Walker has proposed âÄî which would ask state workers to contribute more to their pensions and health insurance while stripping them of most of their collective bargaining rights âÄî is a real hot-button issue.

Whether you stand on the side of the governor or the side of the protesters, I think we can all agree that we are on the side of democracy.

But we wonâÄôt have a government of, by and for the people if elections are bought and paid for by special interest money.

Koch Industries Inc., run by two billionaire brothers, Charles and David Koch, was one of the biggest contributors to WalkerâÄôs campaign. Koch IndustriesâÄô public action committee gave him close to $43,000. David also gave a million dollars to the Republican Governors Association.

These public action committees are a much-used maneuver that basically allows donors to find the loophole in campaign finance limits.

The brothers, through Koch Industries, gave $60,000 to the Republican State Leadership Committee in addition to other contributions.

Now that Walker is in office, his policies that might affect Koch Industries are favorable, showing that campaign donors will affect a politicianâÄôs policies. And although it sometimes may seem like money does not directly affect the outcome of a race, it is important to note that 95 percent of the time, the candidate who spends the most money wins.

So no matter where on the political spectrum a person falls, I think we can all agree that we would like our representatives working for their constituents and not for special interests.