Historic bipartisan ethics reform measure signed into law
Yesterday Governor Jim Doyle culminated the bipartisan work of the Legislature and signed historic, far reaching ethics reform into law. Special Session Senate Bill 1 creates an independent, non-partisan Government Accountability Board with funding, and independent authority to investigate and seek prosecution.
"In 2007, the opportunities for Wisconsin are endless," Governor Doyle said. "But to keep Wisconsin growing and moving forward, we have to continue working to find common ground. That's why we can't stop here. Let's use this moment as a model for what can happen when people in both parties set aside differences and get to work."
In December, Governor Doyle joined with Democratic and Republican leaders in both houses of the Legislature to announce an agreement to pass major, bipartisan ethics reform. In January, Governor Doyle called a special session of the Legislature to take swift action on this agreement. And in the hours leading up to the Governor's State of the State Address, the Legislature passed SS-SB 1, marking an agreement for Governor Doyle to sign into law and reaffirm public trust in government.
In his State of the State Address, Governor Doyle praised the Legislature for working together, listening to the public, and building consensus needed to pass this sweeping reform - the first in 30 years - creating a strong Government Accountability Board that will give real teeth behind Wisconsin's laws.
Under SS-SB 1:
Ø The State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board will be merged to create an independent non-partisan Government Accountability Board, free from political appointees. Instead of the members being selected by politicians and political parties, a panel of Court of Appeals judges will select a pool of retired judges. The Governor will make appointments from that list and be confirmed by the Legislature.
Ø The Board will be given the necessary resources to conduct any investigations it authorizes. The board will not need approval from the Legislature or the Governor to proceed with any investigation it authorizes.
Ø The Board will have the authority to investigate criminal and civil matters. The board will be able to prosecute a civil matter itself while criminal matters it investigates can be referred for prosecution.
Ø The Board will be empowered to review existing Ethics and Election Board rulings and opinions in order to provide clear, consistent guidelines. The Board's mandate will be to ensure the effectiveness and independence of our ethics rules and election practices.
Ø The Board will oversee both a Division of Ethics and Integrity and a Division of Elections, with campaign finance matters now being handled by the Division of Ethics and Integrity. The staff of the Division of Elections will now be able to focus exclusively on managing, monitoring and administering elections, while campaign finance and ethics matters will be handled together. Right now, campaign finance issues are handled by the State Elections Board while ethics matters are handled by the Ethics Board.
"In 2007, the opportunities for Wisconsin are endless," Governor Doyle said. "But to keep Wisconsin growing and moving forward, we have to continue working to find common ground. That's why we can't stop here. Let's use this moment as a model for what can happen when people in both parties set aside differences and get to work."
In December, Governor Doyle joined with Democratic and Republican leaders in both houses of the Legislature to announce an agreement to pass major, bipartisan ethics reform. In January, Governor Doyle called a special session of the Legislature to take swift action on this agreement. And in the hours leading up to the Governor's State of the State Address, the Legislature passed SS-SB 1, marking an agreement for Governor Doyle to sign into law and reaffirm public trust in government.
In his State of the State Address, Governor Doyle praised the Legislature for working together, listening to the public, and building consensus needed to pass this sweeping reform - the first in 30 years - creating a strong Government Accountability Board that will give real teeth behind Wisconsin's laws.
Under SS-SB 1:
Ø The State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board will be merged to create an independent non-partisan Government Accountability Board, free from political appointees. Instead of the members being selected by politicians and political parties, a panel of Court of Appeals judges will select a pool of retired judges. The Governor will make appointments from that list and be confirmed by the Legislature.
Ø The Board will be given the necessary resources to conduct any investigations it authorizes. The board will not need approval from the Legislature or the Governor to proceed with any investigation it authorizes.
Ø The Board will have the authority to investigate criminal and civil matters. The board will be able to prosecute a civil matter itself while criminal matters it investigates can be referred for prosecution.
Ø The Board will be empowered to review existing Ethics and Election Board rulings and opinions in order to provide clear, consistent guidelines. The Board's mandate will be to ensure the effectiveness and independence of our ethics rules and election practices.
Ø The Board will oversee both a Division of Ethics and Integrity and a Division of Elections, with campaign finance matters now being handled by the Division of Ethics and Integrity. The staff of the Division of Elections will now be able to focus exclusively on managing, monitoring and administering elections, while campaign finance and ethics matters will be handled together. Right now, campaign finance issues are handled by the State Elections Board while ethics matters are handled by the Ethics Board.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 1:06 PM
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