MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – A state Senate committee has endorsed controversial bills to change campaign finance laws, and bring back political appointees to run elections and ethics investigations.
The elections panel approved the Republican measures Thursday on 3-2 party-line votes.
However, committee chairman Devin LeMahieu says he’s not sure whether the full Senate would pass the bill to disband the non-partisan Government Accountability Board.
Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s office says the GOP still hopes to have both bills on the floor before the current floor period ends November 5th.
The question, though, is whether both houses can agree on the GAB disbanding. The Assembly has voted to create separate ethics and elections panels with equal numbers of Republican and Democratic appointees.
Senate Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon says it would result in too many tie votes, and little corruption would get investigated.
The bills would not pass the Senate if at least 3 majority Republicans oppose them. That’s spurring talk of possible changes.
The campaign finance bill puts Wisconsin in line with recent court decisions — and it doubles individual contribution limits to state candidates.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
