Walker administration moves to consolidate power.

MADISON - Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) approved a Walker proposal Tuesday to transfer nearly 400 administrative jobs from most state agencies to the Department of Administration (but not physically move them).

On July 1, 2018, all human resource positions and related equipment and properties in the state agencies HR would belong to DOA, except the departments of Justice, Military Affairs and Public Instruction, UW and tech college systems, the Employee Trust Fund, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) and Public Defenders.

Human resources includes but is not limited to decisions regarding: recruitment, selection, employment relations, payroll, benefits, affirmative action and equal opportunity compliance, classification, compensation, employee services, training and business analysis.

Democrats voiced concerns that this would erode agency decision-making and legislative oversight, and expressed concern that the proposal could actually cost more over time. This represents a troubling overall trend of the Walker administration to consolidate power.