6-1-13 walker signs bill to weaken powers of milwaukee county board

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Governor Scott Walker has signed a new law weakening the powers of the Milwaukee County Board. The bill increases the power of the Milwaukee County executive, reduces terms of county supervisors from four to two years and requires a binding referendum next year on cutting supervisor salaries from about $51,000 to $24,000. Democrats criticize the measure as a power grab that could result in similar changes being forced on other units of local government across Wisconsin.