MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Assembly Republicans have unveiled a bill that would dramatically reform the state elections board. The GOP has been talking for months about overhauling the Government Accountability Board, which oversees state elections and administers ethics laws. Republicans are upset with the board over how it handled recall elections in 2011 and 2012 and ballot designs. They’re especially angry over the board’s role in helping Milwaukee prosecutors investigate Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign. Republicans introduced the bill on Wednesday. Under the proposal, the GAB would be split into two commissions. One would handle elections, the other ethics. The commissions would be led by boards comprised of partisans appointed by the Legislature and the governor. Any investigations the commissions launch costing more than $25,000 would be subject to legislative review.
