Assembly Majority Leader Steineke says no changes coming to civil service bill

MADISON — The Republican sponsor of a bill overhauling Wisconsin's civil service system affecting about 29,000 state workers says he's optimistic a deal can be reached to pass the measure.

The proposal is stalled in the Senate because Republican Sen. Steve Nass objects to no longer requiring all applicants for state jobs to say whether they've been convicted of a crime.

An Assembly Committee held a hearing on the measure Thursday. Bill sponsor Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke says he expects a deal to be reached to appease Nass soon.

Steineke says he expects the Assembly to vote on it later this month. Gov. Scott Walker has said he expects the Senate to vote on it early next year.

Democratic opponents say the changes will gut the system and lead to cronyism.