Gov. Walker says he will sign elections board bill next week

MAPLE BLUFF, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker says he will sign bills that eliminate the state elections board and rewrite campaign finance law next week.

Walker told reporters Monday he has a "bunch of bill signings" planned for next week.

Walker is taking his time on the Republican-backed bills, both of which cleared the Legislature three weeks ago on Nov. 16.

One eliminates the Government Accountability Board, the nonpartisan agency that oversees campaign finance, elections and ethics laws.

The board will be replaced with two commissions with partisan appointees.

The second bill Walker plans to sign doubles the limit for individual campaign contributions, allows candidates and issue advocacy groups to coordinate activities and does away with a requirement that donors giving more than $100 identify their employer.

Democrats and government watchdog groups opposed both measures.