The lawmakers sent Attorney General Brad Schimel a letter Wednesday alleging that testimony by Government Accountability Board Chairman Gerald Nichol “raised serious questions” about whether the law was violated. At the time, she said it sounded good to have nonpartisan judges oversee the state’s ethics and elections decisions. “Rather than be a national model, Wisconsin’s failed experiment has become a national embarrassment”. “Fortunately we as elected officials have the ability to rectify the situation and put in place a system we can have confidence in”.
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Republicans pushing for change argue the GAB is nonpartisan in name only, saying it exceeded its authority by being involved in the now-closed John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walker and conservative groups during the recall elections in 2011 and 2012.
Democrats argue that the measure is a return to days where partisanship ruled elections administration. You want to go back to a toothless agency.
“The bill’s authors say they want to bring transparency and accountability to the new commissions but this bill will not do that”, Kennedy said.
The GAB says it really has practised justly, along with its associates think of it as a countrywide version for performing non-partisan elections and honesty studies.
“Despite repeated accusations that this bill is a partisan takeover or power grab, there is absolutely no evidence to back up that claim”, said bill sponsor Rep. Dean Knudson, a Republican from Hudson.
Kevin Kennedy was asked during a public hearing on Tuesday about his relationship with former IRS director Lois Lerner. “Wisconsinites deserve to have an effective agency overseeing one of their most important constitutional rights, and it is our job to ensure that this occurs”, Vukmir said.
“Seriously?” Kennedy said. “Have you no decency? I owe you no explanation about my personal relationships”.
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After Kapenga persisted, Kennedy responded that Lerner was a professional friend. In order for an investigation to even commence against a political partisan, someone on the ethics committee would have to “break ranks” and vote to investigate a political colleague.
