Wisconsin: Restore the independence of the Government Accountability Board

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/restore-independence-131827533.html



The Milwaukee Urinal/Sentinel, which endorsed Scott Walker for Governor, is not calling for approval of a Democratic proposal to restore the independence of that Agency.


..snip..

Back in May, the state Legislature gave Gov. Scott Walker veto power over administrative rules written by state agencies, giving the governor more control over how state laws are implemented. Last week, two state representatives started circulating a bill that would curb the governor's new power over the Government Accountability Board, the body that oversees state elections, ethics laws and campaign finance regulations.

The good government measure - proposed by Reps. Peter Barca and Gary Hebl, both Democrats - would help ensure the independence of an agency that needs to be nonpartisan and independent if it is to maintain its credibility. The full Legislature should look beyond partisan politics and vote to approve the bill. In fact, the governor, too, should throw his support behind the measure.

Before May, state agencies worked out administrative rules to implement state laws. Those rules were then reviewed by the Legislature before going into effect. Walker pushed for the change that gives him review of the rules before they go to the Legislature, saying the bill would help him cut through red tape that hinders business. That may be true in some cases, but how that logic applies to the Government Accountability Board escapes us. We also question the change that gives the governor authority over rules proposed by departments headed up by independently elected officials, such as the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Instruction.

But the power grab seems especially egregious when it comes to the GAB. The board, created in 2007, is made up of six former judges, nominated by a panel of four Wisconsin Appeals Court judges, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. "Both the board and its staff must be nonpartisan," according to the board's website.


..end..



Currenty, our GAB is, at best, tainted. Their Director, Kevin Kennedy lobbied for the use of Diebold systems, then outsourced the running of our elections to Accenture!!!

[LiberalFighter]

1. To what extent are elections run by Accenture?

From what I understand each community is responsible for voter registration and conducting elections. I don't care for that process either. I would rather have voting records kept at the county seat and a county office be responsible for conducting the elections throughout the county.

[Scuba]

2. None today (see link). The fact that they would outsource any part....

...of our elections to any company is treasonous, in my opinion.


http://gab.wi.gov/node/732


Wisconsin and Pennsylvania (perhaps others) had disastrous results with Accenture.