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Ethics reform to pass today

After weeks of debate over the proposed ethics-reform package, legislative leaders said Monday that state senators and representatives reached a compromise on the reform bill so that it could pass through the Legislature today.

The increased support comes after a week of negotiation between Senate Democrats and Assembly Republicans, and the removal of a controversial provision that would scrap the entire bill if any part were ever ruled unconstitutional.

"We were confused how that ever got introduced," said Josh Wescott, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit. "Everything was kind of in flow and this is how the process works."

Robson and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, called for bipartisan negotiations last week after the Senate Committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations unanimously removed the nonseverability provision that had passed through an Assembly committee.

"Our fear has always been that certain parties would target provisions … and tip the nonpartisan balance," Huebsch spokesperson Bob Delaporte said. "The ending goal was always a tougher system … and we got that."

As a result of concerns raised during committee public hearings, Wescott said legislative leaders also clarified technical language that some thought could impede the board's ability to investigate and prosecute offenders.

Jay Heck, executive director of the nonpartisan political watchdog group Common Cause in Wisconsin, applauded the changes in a statement Tuesday but reserved judgment until he was able to review the bill's new draft.

He may not have very long to wait.

The Joint Finance Committee is expected to send the bill this morning to the Legislature and could be approved before the governor's State of the State Address at 7 p.m. tonight.

The bill merges the state Ethics and Elections Boards into a Government Accountability Board of six former judges. It aims to improve enforcement of ethics, lobbying and campaign-finance violations.

It does not create any new restrictions.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle intends to sign the bill, according to spokesperson Carla Vigue, adding that the governor wants to sign it as quickly as possible.

All in all, Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board could be approved by Friday.

"The people of Wisconsin spoke in November," Vigue said. "People want a strong ethics-reform package to go forward."

At this point, Senate President Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he would like to see the bill approved and then reviewed by a court because he is concerned some provisions may be unconstitutional.

"As a whole, it's better than it's bad," Risser said. "If I could wave a magic wand and remove some things I would … but it's acceptable."

Legislative leaders have called the ethics bill an example of compromise and said it was good practice for future negotiations.

"It's great exercise in having a split House," Delaporte said. "One of the best things coming out of it was showing people that we want to get things done."

According to Delaporte if compromise continues throughout the session, the future looks to be productive.

"We have a lot harder decisions than this," Delaporte said. "I think this sets the stage so we know how to work together."