GOP Senate leader proposes changes for election board

Incoming Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the nonpartisan board that oversees elections in Wisconsin favors Democrats and ought to be reconstituted to include more appointees from the Legislature.

Fitzgerald said Monday that the Legislature may look at reconstituting the makeup of the Government Accountability Board, which consists of six retired judges. He said that would create a more balanced board.

Currently, all seven judges on the board are appointed by the governor.

Fitzgerald said he believes the board has become a "rubber stamp" for staff recommendations that he said favor Democrats. He said that was particularly evident during last year's recall elections.

The board was created in 2008 under a bipartisan proposal. Republicans currently control the Legislature.