MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a bill that takes away the power of the secretary of state office to delay publishing bills passed by the Legislature.
Democrats opposed the measure Tuesday, which they say is about political payback against actions Secretary of State Doug La Follette took in 2011.
La Follette angered Republicans in 2011 by delaying publication of a bill that effectively ended collective bargaining for public workers and required them to pay more for health insurance and pensions.
The bill gives duties of publishing bills exclusively to the Legislative Reference Bureau.
It passed on a party line 17-14 vote. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos also supports the measure, which should clear its passage there. It is not yet scheduled for a vote in the Assembly.
