Civil service change criticized within Walker administration

MADISON — A memo within Gov. Scott Walker's administration criticized the overhaul of Wisconsin's civil service system that Walker and Republican lawmakers approved.


The Wisconsin State Journal (http://bit.ly/1rqqHjj) obtained the document under the state's open records law. The unsigned memo is dated last October after the bill was introduced.

The memo came from the state Division of Personnel Management, a new human resources agency created by Walker and the Legislature last year. The memo says the overhaul would slow hiring, turn away qualified job applicants and prompt more lawsuits against the state.

Backers argued the measure would streamline the hiring of state workers. Democrats said the changes would open the door to political cronyism in state agencies.

The law takes effect July 1st. It replaces civil service exams with a resume-based system.