Wis. panel to hear bill limiting local recalls

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- It would be harder to recall a local Wisconsin elected official from office under a proposal up for a hearing before a legislative committee.

The Republican-sponsored bill is up for a hearing Tuesday before the Assembly's Committee on Campaigns and Elections. It would require anyone who petitions to recall a city, village, town, town sanitary district, or school district official to prove that official has been charged with committing a crime or committing an ethics violation.

Current law allows people to circulate a recall petition as long as they claim the recall is related to the official's responsibilities.

Robert Kraig from the Milwaukee-based advocacy group Citizen Action opposes the measure, saying it will reduce elected officials' accountability to the public.