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Walker says he has no problems with GAB

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Photo by Associated Press

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker answers a question during an Associated Press interview in his office Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, in Madison, Wis. Walker told The Associated Press on Monday that he's focused on putting together the next state budget and his job as governor, not a presidential run in 2016.

MADISON — Republican Gov. Scott Walker says he has no problem with the board that oversees Wisconsin elections.

Senate Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Monday the GOP is frustrated with how the Government Accountability Board handled recall elections involving a host of GOP officeholders over the last two years. He said the board should be reformed, perhaps by making its members political appointees.

The governor told reporters Wednesday he'd have to look at any legislation that comes to his desk but he's not focused on changing the board. He says he hasn't had any problems with it.

His campaign sued the board a year ago alleging it didn't do enough to detect questionable signatures on recall petitions against him, but Walker says that was a unique situation.

Walker also said the debate over ending same-day voter registration is a ridiculous issue even as GOP lawmakers announced they're working on a bill.

Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch announced Wednesday he's drafting legislation to end same-day registration. The announcement came shortly after Walker told reporters during a question-and-answer period the issue is ridiculous and it's not one of his legislative priorities. He says lawmakers should be focused on jobs.

The governor said last week, though, that he would sign legislation doing away with the practice. He told reporters on Wednesday same-day registration has been fraught with problems for years but didn't go into specifics.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat, says Republicans are trying to change the rules because they didn't do well on Election Day.