State lawmakers are getting started on passing ethics reform legislation. The Senate and Assembly convened briefly on Thursday for the introduction of legislation merging the state ethics and elections boards. Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) wants the bill passed quickly. Leaders hope to have the bill passed and to the governor before the State of the State Address at the end of this month.
Legislative leaders have been negotiating on the bill for over a month. Robson says they'll be on the 11th version of the legislation, as it goes before committees in the next few weeks. She says that shows the compromise that's gone in to creating the Government Accountability Board and should reduce objections that will come up when the bill hits the floor.
Republican leaders in the Assembly held up previous versions of the bill. Robson says there should be full cooperation this time because of bi-partisan efforts from lawmakers.