The Assembly today voted 68-31 on a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state treasurer’s office, putting the question before voters in an April 2018 referendum.
In addition to eliminating the office, the proposal would change the state constitution to replace the treasurer with the lieutenant governor on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.
A Dem amendment that would have swapped out the state treasurer’s position on BCPL from the lieutenant governor to the state superintendent of public instruction was shot down.
Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, said the amendment would allow the state to be more “effective and efficient,” and responded to critics that have voiced concerns the amendment would eliminate potential checks and balances on the state government.
“There are 132 of us in this building” to be the check and balance, he said.
The Senate this week voted to pass the amendment 18-15. Both chambers passed the amendment last session, so it now needs to get voter approval next year to get adopted.
