Wisconsin Democrats lash out at John Doe, elections board changes

MADISON— Wisconsin Democrats are lashing out at a trio of bills the Republican-controlled Legislature plans to pass this week.

Democrats said Monday that the measures up for votes in the Senate and Assembly starting Tuesday will usher in a new era of corruption.

One bill up for votes Tuesday in both the Senate and Assembly would do away with secret John Doe investigations into political activity. The John Doe procedure was used to investigate campaign activity by Gov. Scott Walker and conservative groups, but the state Supreme Court this summer said the probe was unconstitutional.

The Assembly on Wednesday plans to vote on a proposal to eliminate the state's unique nonpartisan elections board and another measure to double political donations to campaigns and permit coordination between candidates and issue advocacy groups.