Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

Composition

The Board consisted of six members who served staggered, six-year terms. Board members were appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin, but the Governor had to select from a pool of retired state court judges chosen by a selection committee composed of a randomized set of Wisconsin Appeals Court judges, and the Governor's appointees had to then be approved by the Wisconsin Senate. The board members served part-time, and received a per diem for each meeting they attended.

History and controversies

The G.A.B. was created as a reform measure after the Wisconsin "legislative caucus scandal" in 2001 which led to criminal convictions of the state Assembly's highest-ranking Republican (Speaker Scott Jensen), the state Senate's highest-ranking Democrat (Majority Leader Chuck Chvala), and other officials. The G.A.B. was tasked with overseeing elections, ethics and lobbying in the state.

The G.A.B. had a nonpartisan structure unique among election boards in the United States, with G.A.B. led by six former judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. In contrast to the G.A.B.'s nonpartisan model, state election boards in other U.S. states were either partisan (ie., run by elected or appointed partisan officials) or bipartisan. G.A.B. members could not "hold another state or local public office (except as reserve judge), engage in partisan political activities, become a candidate for state or local elected office, make political contributions, or be a lobbyist or employed by a person who employs a lobbyist. They also have limitations on political activities and certain types of contributions both during and 12 months prior to a member's term." The G.A.B.'s structure was praised by some experts.

Law professor Daniel P. Tokaji, who studied the G.A.B., praised the agency's model, concluding in 2013 that "GAB has been successful in administering elections evenhandledly and... serves as a worthy model for other states considering alternatives to partisan election administration at the state level." The Board has the power to investigate independently, without the approval of the legislature. The G.A.B. oversaw a series of recall elections for the state senate in 2011 and for state senate and governor in 2012.

The G.A.B. was consistently criticized by Wisconsin Republicans, such as Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott L. Fitzgerald, and the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity; these critics accused the G.A.B. of unfairly targeting Republicans. Republicans were particularly angry over a G.A.B. investigation into whether Republican Governor Scott Walker's campaign had unlawfully coordinated with the Club for Growth and other "outside" groups during the 2012 recall election.

By contrast, Democrats and groups such as the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause defended the G.A.B. In December 2015, Walker signed a bill that dissolved the G.A.B., effective on June 30, 2016, and replaced it with a separate Wisconsin Elections Board and Wisconsin Ethics Commission.

The legislation dismantling the G.A.B. passed along party lines, with Republicans voting yes and Democrats voting no.

References

References

1. (2015). "Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-2016". Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
2. Shawn Johnson, [https://www.wpr.org/once-symbol-bipartisanship-government-accountability-board-targeted-overhaul GAB background: "Once A Symbol Of Bipartisanship, Government Accountability Board Targeted For Overhaul – Republicans Back Bill To Split GAB Into Two Commissions], Wisconsin Public Radio (October 13, 2015).
3. Katelyn Ferral, [https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/as-the-government-accountability-board-ends-whats-the-future-for-wisconsin-campaign-finance-regulation/article_0f92ba73-528c-5250-a689-942ab1a7afe6.html As the Government Accountability Board ends, what's the future for Wisconsin campaign finance regulation?], ''The Capital Times'' (June 20, 2016).
4. Vanessa Swales, [https://www.propublica.org/article/with-all-eyes-on-wisconsin-partisan-gridlock-at-state-elections-commission-frustrates-voters-and-local-officials With All Eyes on Wisconsin, Partisan Gridlock at State Elections Commission Frustrates Voters and Local Officials], Wisconsin Watch/''ProPublica'' (October 26, 2020).
5. Alan Greenblatt, [https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-wisconsin-government-accountability-board.html Government Accountability? GOP Says No Thanks, Wisconsin], ''Governing'' (May 2015).
6. The 2007 Wisconsin Act 1, which passed the [[Wisconsin Legislature]] on a bipartisan vote in January 2007, merged the State Elections Board and State Ethics Board into the new G.A.B.''[https://doa.wi.gov/budget/SBO/2013-15%20511%20GAB%20Biennial%20Report.pdf Performance Report: 2013-2015 Biennial Report of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board]'', Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
7. (2007). "An Act ... relating to: creation of a Government Accountability Board, enforcement of elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws, venue for prosecution of certain offenses, granting rule-making authority, making appropriations, and providing penalties".
8. Daniel P. Tokaji, [https://repository.law.wisc.edu/s/uwlaw/item/303682 America's Top Model: The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board], 3 UC Irvine L. Rev. 575 (2013).
9. Jessie Opoien. (December 12, 2014). "Wisconsin Republicans critical of G.A.B. in light of nonpartisan audit". The Capital Times.
10. Mark Sommerhauser, [https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-signs-bills-dismantling-gab-overhauling-campaign-finance-law/article_1b7a6063-8e98-514b-bceb-269f21f44574.html Scott Walker signs bills dismantling GAB, overhauling campaign finance law], ''Wisconsin State Journal'' (December 16, 2015).
11. Lehr, Sarah. (December 5, 2023). "Republican bill would abolish Wisconsin Elections Commission". [[Wisconsin Public Radio]].