• 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 / News / Watchdog group wary of calls to replace Wisconsin elections agency

Watchdog group wary of calls to replace Wisconsin elections agency

July 21, 2015 By Andrew Beckett

File photo: WRN

File photo: WRN

Governor Scott Walker this week said he thinks it’s time to replace the Government Accountability Board with an elections agency that is “truly accountable to the people of the state of Wisconsin.”

The call follows a state Supreme Court decision last week that blocked a controversial probe into possibly illegal coordination between Walker’s campaign and conservative groups during the 2012 recall elections. The GAB had worked with prosecutors tied to the case, and several Republicans have argued the agency’s role requires a closer look.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild says Walker’s request is “outrageous,” considering the agency was “just doing its job” by discussing the case with prosecutors. “They had uncovered what appeared to be potentially illegal activities…that was their job. They are in charge of ethics investigations and oversight.”

Rothschild notes the GAB is already accountable to the public in a way, since the governor appoints the retired judges who oversee the agency.

While no official legislative proposal for reforming the GAB has been introduced, Rothschild worries it would set up a more partisan system similar to what was in place before the agency was created in 2007. Under the old State Elections Board, he notes partisan appointees helped clear the stage for the Legislative Caucus Scandal, which saw several top state lawmakers convicted of ethics violations. He argues the board GOP leaders want is one that’s “hand-picked by the party in power.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Packers season comes to an end in NFC Championship

Legendary Hank Aaron passes away

Ted Thompson passed away at age 68 (AUDIO)

Big Ten suspends Wisconsin’s Ahcan

Bucks lose tight battle with Nets

TwitterFacebook

Listen Now | More from Titletown ยป

Sports Headlines

Packers season comes to an end in NFC Championship

Legendary Hank Aaron passes away

Bucks drop second straight, fall at home to Lakers

Hockey Badgers grab series opener at Penn State

Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson named WCHA 1970’s Player of the Decade

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC