• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Lawmaker wants funds restored to oversight agency

Lawmaker wants funds restored to oversight agency

June 23, 2009 By WRN Contributor

Senators Jon Erpenbach & Mike Ellis authored legislation establishing Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board The author of government accountability legislation wants a potential funding cut restored. State Senator Jon Erpenbach is not thrilled that Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker's version of the state budget would require the Government Accountability Board to ask the legislature for money – to investigate legislators.

"You know, he's got a good point," says Erpenbach, referring to concerns that Decker voiced when the original legislation establishing the Government Accountability Board was debated in the state Senate two years ago. Erpenbach , a Dane County Democrat, and Neenah Republican Senator Mike Ellis wrote the GAB legislation to include so-called "sum sufficient" funding for investigations into potential wrongdoing by lawmakers. "But at the same time, I have a lot of faith in the folks who work at the Government Accountability Board. It's nothing they'd abuse. They have a job to do, it's pretty clear what they're job is. I don't expect any abuse because they're free to do what it is they need to do."

Accountability Board executive director Kevin Kennedy provided details on GAB investigations during the first eighteen months of the agency's existence. "We've opened fifty one investigations, forty of those we conducted in house," said Kennedy. Contracted costs for the remaining eleven investigations were "about $45,552," according to Kennedy.

"The concern is, if someone get's in there (GAB), and they have an agenda, what do we do then? But I think it will be pretty obvious if someone has an agenda," says Erpenbach. "Right now, I think they do a good job, and we need to restore the funding." That could happen in a Senate-Assembly budget conference committee, but if it doesn't Erpenbach says he'll urge Governor Jim Doyle to veto the funding cuts. 

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

UW System releases results of student survey on free speech and free expression

State Senate Natural Resources Committee gets PFAS update

Evers delivers State of the State address

Abortion rights rally highlights Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC