Hearing underway on Wisconsin elections agency overhaul

The all-day hearing grew tense at times, with Kennedy accusing one Republican senator of “McCarthy-era” questioning when asked about his relationship with former IRS director Lois Lerner, whom Kennedy has known for more than 20 years.

“Seriously?” Kennedy said. “Have you no decency?”

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Under the Republican plan, the Government Accountability Board would be replaced with a pair of commissions headed by partisan appointees.

Vukmir says her bill would scrap the current board and form two panels; an Elections Board and an Ethics Board.

“That’s right. Mickey Mouse from Disney World in the eyes of the GAB is a valid voter in Wisconsin”, said Sen.

Democrats argued Thursday they were being bullied by Republicans but were unable to stop a fast-tracked bill doing away with Wisconsin’s unique nonpartisan elections board from moving one step closer to passage. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa. Opponents said the Republicans were seeking revenge against the GAB.

“There’s an arrogance on the part of the majority party”, Kessler said.

Lawmakers in near unanimity created the accountability board in 2007, five years after the infamous “caucus scandal” rocked the state Capitol. It led to convictions of several state lawmakers from both parties, for massive campaigning on state time.

It is no surprise that the board members were more concerned with representing the interests of the partisan leaders who appointed them than in working together for the good of the citizens of Wisconsin.

“The impetus for the GAB was that caucus scandal – and you want to go back to that”, Zamarippa told Vukmir and Knudson.

Critics of the proposed changes like Milwaukee Democratic Rep. Jocasta Zamaripa said partisan boards are unlikely to aggressively enforce laws.

Another bill being heard Tuesday would rewrite campaign finance laws and double how much can be given to candidates. The probe, which was blocked by the state Supreme Court earlier this summer, was investigating what prosecutors believes was illegal coordination between Governor Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative outside groups.