Bill dissolving elections board bill advances

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican-backed bill dissolving Wisconsin’s unique nonpartisan elections board has cleared a legislative committee, making it available for a vote by the full Assembly on Tuesday.

The Assembly’s elections and campaign committee passed the measure Thursday with Republicans in support and Democrats against.

The committee approved half a dozen changes to the bill, including clarifying that the new elections and ethics commissions would be led by three Democrats and three Republicans each.

Democrats renewed their objections to moving forward with eliminating the retired judges-staffed Government Accountability Board, which they argue will open the door to corruption and gridlock.

Board chairman Kevin Kennedy testified earlier Thursday in a different committee, saying criticism of the GAB is “outsized, unreasonable and uncivil.”