Senate leader hoping to vote on elections board next week

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican leader of the state Senate is optimistic that bills dissolving Wisconsin’s unique nonpartisan elections board and rewriting the state’s campaign finance law will be passed next week.

A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Wednesday that talks are ongoing with senators to reach consensus on the measures. Both bills passed the Assembly last week and they must clear the Senate in identical form before going to Gov. Scott Walker.

Senate Republicans met in private on Tuesday to discuss the bills. Some Republican senators want to make changes to the bill doing away with the Government Accountability Board, which is comprised of former judges.

The bill would create new elections and ethics boards made up of an equal number of Democratic and Republican appointees.