ATTORNEY GENERAL J.B. VAN HOLLEN ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT ETHICS REFORM LEGISLATION

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen presented testimony at the State Capitol today on major government ethics reform legislation now before the legislature.  The Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Ethics, chaired by Representative Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), held a public hearing on the bill today at 10 a.m. in Room 328 Northwest of the State Capitol. 

"I applaud the efforts of the legislative leadership, the governor, and all those engaged in advancing a measure to meet the hopes and expectations of our citizens for a government that adheres to the highest standards for public service and effective enforcement of our public integrity laws," Van Hollen said today.

Van Hollen added, "I support the primary purpose of the bill: to merge the Ethics and Elections Board into a non-partisan Government Accountability Board capable of administering the elections, ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws in a uniform and impartial manner.  And I am assured by the legislators working on this proposal that its intent is not to diminish the oversight or powers of the attorney general or the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  I look forward to working with legislative leaders as this process moves forward."