Current Events > Wisconsin Lawmakers Vote To Limit Powers Of New Democratic Governor

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https://www.npr.org/2018/12/05/673683966/wisconsin-lawmakers-vote-to-limit-powers-of-new-democratic-governor

The Republican-controlled state Legislature in Wisconsin has approved new limits on the power of Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers in a lame-duck session.

Following overnight debate, lawmakers voted Wednesday to restrict Evers from following through on a campaign promise to remove Wisconsin from a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act. The bill would also limit early voting in Wisconsin and give state lawmakers more power over the state's economic development agency, which Evers has said he would like to eliminate.

In the wee hours of the morning, the plan narrowly passed the state Senate, later the Assembly and now the bill moves to Gov. Scott Walker's desk for his signature.

During debate, Democrats decried the plan as an abuse of power.

"The seeds you're planting may grow into something you will regret," said Sen. Fred Risser, a Democrat from Madison. "Be fair. Give the voters the right to choose their governor and attorney general."

Gov. Walker lost his election to Tony Evers by fewer than 30,000 votes out of more than two million cast. When Evers takes office in January, it will be the first time in eight years that Wisconsin has been run by a divided government.

"We're going to work with the governor-elect, but we're going to do it in a way that's balanced between the legislative and administrative level," said Republican Rep. John Nygren, Marinette during the debate.

Another element of the bill would make it more difficult for Evers to alter some GOP-backed laws, including Wisconsin's voter ID law.

Republicans, like state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, say Evers' liberal politics worry the party, and that's why they're passing these bills.

"I'm concerned. I think that Gov.-elect Evers is going to bring a liberal agenda to Wisconsin," he said.

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The expression "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" keeps coming to mind.

The GOP can keep the shit up all they want. People are starting to take notice of this kinda stuff and getting pissed. If you don't let em vent constructively, they'll find other ways to do it.
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takin one from NCs playbook, I see
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Doom_Art posted...

The GOP can keep the s*** up all they want. People are starting to take notice of this kinda stuff and getting pissed. If you don't let em vent constructively, they'll find other ways to do it.

future womp womp
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The legislation would:

Limit early voting to two weeks. A similar limit was found unconstitutional in 2016 and Democrats have threatened to take legal action again.

Give Republicans more say over the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., including over its enterprise zone program that gives tax breaks to individual businesses. WEDC's board, rather than the governor, would appoint WEDC's leader.

Put lawmakers in charge of litigation, allowing them to keep alive a lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare.

Give lawmakers instead of the attorney general control over how court settlements are spent.

Make it easier for lawmakers to hire private attorneys at taxpayer expense when they are accused of violating the open records law or other statutes.

Eliminate the solicitor general's office, which oversees high-profile litigation.

Modestly lower the states income tax rates next year to offset about $60 million in online sales taxes from out-of-state retailers that Wisconsin recently began collecting.

Require Evers to get permission from lawmakers to ban guns in the state Capitol.

Bar judges from giving deference to state agencies interpretations of laws when they are challenged in court. That could make it easier to win lawsuits challenging how environmental regulations and other laws are being enforced.

Broaden lawmakers' powers to block rules written by the Evers administration to implement state laws.

Require the Evers administration to report if the governor pardons anyone or his aides release anyone from prison early.

Force Evers to get permission from the Legislature before asking the federal government to make any changes to programs that are run jointly by the state and federal governments. That would limit the governor's flexibility in how he runs public benefits programs.

If the Legislatures budget committee determined the administration was not implementing recent changes to those programs, it could reduce funding and staffing for state agencies.

Require Evers to go along with a plan aimed at reducing premiums for insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Acts marketplaces for individuals.

Channel federal money into a smaller number of state road projects, so that other projects could avoid having to comply with federal environmental and wage laws

Jesus H Fucking Christ
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I believe the North Carolina GOP tried this recently and it was thrown out in court
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What an embarrassment
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CableZL posted...

I believe the North Carolina GOP tried this recently and it was thrown out in court

Wisconsin's Supreme Court has a conservative majority unfortunately.
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Nice! Limit the destruction of those liberal hacks >:)
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Strong case to be made for not letting people linger in power for two months after being voted out. I could be wrong about this, but I think other countries are much quicker with electoral transitions.
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Why do Republicans hate democracy so much?
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Antifar posted...

Strong case to be made for not letting people linger in power for two months after being voted out.

yeah, lame duck sessions in which party control is changing hands should definitely not be used in this way

one would think the opposition should have sufficient tools at their disposal to completely halt the government

but they do not (when they are democrats)
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ballot initiatives will be required to change it

and then they'll probably just repeal the ballot initiative
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Party of fucking scum
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Heh.
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Darkman124 posted...

ballot initiatives will be required to change it

and then they'll probably just repeal the ballot initiative

The good ol' Michigan special!
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Doom_Art posted...

The expression "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" keeps coming to mind.

The GOP can keep the shit up all they want. People are starting to take notice of this kinda stuff and getting pissed. If you don't let em vent constructively, they'll find other ways to do it.

All I'm saying is, look at how France caved under the threat of violence. Government officials SHOULD fear the people they serve.
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Let's see how the New York Times is choosing to frame this story

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DttD3ajUcAIBKn4.jpg
The New York Times
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the fuck is the NYT doing
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Darkman124 posted...

the fuck is the NYT doing

https://twitter.com/nyt_diff/status/1070495260948815872
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Require the Evers administration to report if the governor pardons anyone or his aides release anyone from prison early.

A lot of that is pretty YIKES but this actually seems pretty common sense.
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Doom_Art posted...

The expression "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" keeps coming to mind.

You want liberals to love the Second Amendment?

Because this is how you get liberals to love the Second Amendment.
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AmericaTheBrave posted...

Doom_Art posted...

The expression "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" keeps coming to mind.

You want liberals to love the Second Amendment?

Because this is how you get liberals to love the Second Amendment.

NRA: All according to Keikaku(Keikaku means plan)
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Based
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