Assembly Republicans Take Next Step in

Agenda to Usher in a New Era of Corruption

Republicans Pass Legislation Dismantling 100 Year Old Civil Service System,

Opening the Door to Cronyism and Corruption

October 27, 2015

MADISON –Today, the State Assembly passed AB 373, which would make crippling changes to Wisconsin’s civil service system, opening the door to cronyism and corruption. The bill would remove workplace protections for our state’s civil servants and concentrate power over employment decision in the Governor’s Department of Administration.

“Wisconsin citizens expect that our civil servants are the best and the brightest employees available, and our civil service system was built to ensure the state is hiring the most qualified person for the job,” said Representative Lisa Subeck. “Today’s action by Assembly Republicans will have the opposite effect, chasing the best and the brightest away from employment with the state.”

Wisconsin’s civil service system has been in place for more than 100 years, and it protects both taxpayers and state employees. AB 373 would eliminate the state exams used in the hiring process, and all hires would be made by the Governor’s Department of Administration instead of each position’s respective department. The bill also includes arbitrary standards for layoffs and termination of employment, creating a system in serious jeopardy of political influence and retribution on the parts of those with a political axe to grind. 

“Just last week, Republicans opened the door to corruption by passing a trifecta of bills to protect corrupt politicians from certain investigations, dismantle our ethics and elections watchdog, and deregulate most election spending by special interests, corporations, and billionaires,” said Rep. Subeck. “And today, Assembly Republicans pushed the door that much further open to a new era of corruption and cronyism.”