(File photo: WRN)
Legislative leaders say they have finalized the details of a bill that will overhaul the agency in charge of Wisconsin’s elections and ethics laws. The proposal, sparked by claims of partisanship at the current Government Accountability Board, will not be introduced until next week though.
Spokeswomen for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senate GOP Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) both said Wednesday that leadership met this morning to “iron out” the final details of the proposal. They currently plan to introduce the measure sometime next week.
Details of the plan have not been made available, although Vos has previously said he wants major changes in the way the agency operates. The Rochester Republican and others have also indicated they want to get rid of current GAB executive director Kevin Kennedy.
Kennedy has continued to defend the agency, noting after an audit was released in August that the GAB should be left intact. “When you’re talking about dealing with highly charged and politically sensitive, you want someone who’s removed from politics and the influence. Someone who’s not looking over their shoulder wondering who’s going be second guessing your decisions,” Kennedy said at the time.