Assembly passes bill eliminating elections board

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By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill dissolving Wisconsin’s nonpartisan board overseeing elections, campaign finance and ethics laws.

The proposal now heads to Gov. Scott Walker, who is expected to sign it.

The bill passed Monday does away with the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board. The moves comes following Republican criticism of the board’s involvement in a secret investigation into Walker and conservative groups.

Two new commissions with partisan appointees would take its place.

Democrats objected to a provision allowing a Republican-controlled committee to select administrators to lead the commissions if there is a stalemate on who to hire.

The Assembly approved Senate changes to the bill on two separate votes. The vote on the first amendment was 58-37 and 56-37 on the second. All Democrats voted no.