The GOP is seething over the GAB’s handling of John Doe investigations into whether Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign illegally coordinated with special-interest groups. “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.
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State Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, pressed Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy about his relationship with disgraced former IRS official Lois Lerner.
“It just shows the shallow quality of what they want to look at”, Kennedy said after his testimony.
“Seriously?” Kennedy said. “Have you no decency?” The elections agency has been under fire for allowing staff to be involved with what Republicans contend was a “partisan witch hunt”. “I owe you no explanation”.
Kennedy then explained that he had known Lerner for years and they have a “professional friendship”. She says the Government Accountability Board’s role in a John Doe investigation into Governor Walker is not the main reason for the bill. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa.
Another bill being heard Tuesday would rewrite campaign finance laws and double how much can be given to candidates. Every current legislator – Republicans or Democrat – who was in office at the time voted in favor. She reminded the audience that the GAB was created in 2008, in the aftermath of the caucus scandal at the state capitol.
Critics of the proposed changes like Milwaukee Democratic Rep. Jocasta Zamaripa said partisan boards are unlikely to aggressively enforce laws.
But Republican sponsors ticked off a list of problems with the current oversight agency, and said the partisan makeup they envision would be a better and more honest approach.
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.
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“The only thing the GAB has been consistent about is being inconsistent”, Vukmir said.
