Wisconsin Republicans Pursuing 11th-Hour Power Grab

MADISON, WI — Wisconsin Republican lawmakers are rushing through a raft of bills during a hastily assembled lame-duck session this week. Critics of the GOP's efforts call it a breathtaking power grab. Supporters say that the GOP is fighting to hold on to their legislative accomplishments after they lost every statewide race this November.

Wisconsin lawmakers released the package of bills to the public on Friday. They plan to hold a single hearing on the proposals on Monday, then rush a vote on Tuesday.

"Wisconsin law, written by the legislature and signed into law by a governor, should not be erased by the potential political maneuvering of the executive branch," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement. "The legislature is the most representative branch in government, and we will not stop being a strong voice for our constituents."

Critics say that the timing of the GOP's effort hardly leaves any time for people to respond, comment or offer any input on the proposed legislation.

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, is among the chorus of state residents appalled at the bills' timing:

The BPDD has performed a cursory review, however there is no way people with disabilities and others have time to understand the full implications and consequences of these bills or get to the capitol to testify on such short notice. Any bill that makes big changes like this to programs people rely on needs more discussion, public input and more than one hearing.

Democrats are absolutely howling over the nature of the Republicans' proposals. Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling said Republicans are throwing a “temper tantrum."

“This lame duck session has been a bait and switch to rush through more partisan bills, rig elections and consolidate more power in the hands of Republican politicians,” Shilling said.

State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) said Republican lawmakers could have enacted any of their proposed changes at any point during Gov. Walker's tenure, however chose not to.

“Over the last 8 years of the Walker Administration, Wisconsin Republicans could have enacted any of the bills they are so aggressively pushing for now, but didn’t. Instead, they are doing so in reaction to being voted out. After almost a decade of devastating Republican reign, Democrats will again take a seat at the governor’s table. Tomorrow, the Republicans who vote in favor of this package will prove that they care more about their rabid lust for power than democracy.”State Representative Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee)

“The authors of this bill seem to think that they know better than the voters of Wisconsin. They’re wrong. And that’s not how democracy works. I am calling on the members of the legislature to reject this horrible bill," Kaul said in the release.

“I’ve said all along I’m committed to working across the aisle, but I will not tolerate attempts to violate our constitutional checks and balances and separation of powers by people who are desperate to cling to control. Enough is enough. Republicans have to stop putting politics before people. Wisconsinites demanded a change on November 6th. I stand with the people of Wisconsin, and we will be taking any steps necessary to prevent power-hungry politicians from overriding the will of the people," Evers said in a statement.

Here are 5 things Wisconsin GOP lawmakers hope to accomplish this week:

1) Move the 2020 primary from April to March.

Republican lawmakers are considering moving Wisconsin's 2020 presidential primary from April to March. The move would require voters to go to the polls three times for statewide elections in Spring 2020, one time each in February, March and April. The move has county clerks across the state howling: at least 60 of the state's 72 county clerks oppose the move, calling it "impossible to do."

Critics of the bill say that GOP lawmakers are considering the election change to improve conservative Justice Daniel Kelly's chances of winning his bid to remain on the state Supreme Court. The plan would cost taxpayers $6.8 million, according to reports.

2) Shorten the early voting window.

Republican lawmakers will likely vote Tuesday to prevent early voting from starting no more than two weeks before an election. Current law allows each local municipality to set its own dates and times for early voting, starting as early as 47 days before an election.

The proposed voting changes come after Democrats won every statewide office in the November election. The Wisconsin Elections Commission received 547,000 absentee ballots during the Fall midterm election. That's well over the 2014 total of 374,294, and set a new record for a midterm election.

In 2016, state Republican lawmakers attempted to pass similar limits on early voting. A federal lawsuit, One Wisconsin Institute, et. al. v. Thomsen, resulted in their efforts being struck down. Judge James Peterson wrote that GOP’s early voting restriction, “ … intentionally discriminates on the basis of race…”

3) Limit the power of the Attorney General.

When Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel lost the Nov. election to Democratic candidate Josh Kaul, Walker appointed Schimel to the Waukesha County Circuit Court. Now Republican lawmakers are seeking to restrain Schimel's Democratic successor.

Critics of this bill say that if this bill were to pass, it would give Republican lawmakers the ability to block any changes to the state's legislative districts — which currently face a legal challenge in court.

Under the new bill, Republican legislators would gain the power to intervene in any litigation when a state law is challenged, and they would be able to appoint their own attorneys, instead of having the case handled by the attorney general.

Under a bill to be considered Tuesday, Republican lawmakers want to make sure the GOP-controlled legislator would have control of how to spend money from court settlements.

4) Block Healthcare changes

One of the first things Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers said he wants to do is order Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul to withdraw the state from a multi-state legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

Under a new bill to be considered Tuesday, Republican lawmakers want to change who can approve withdrawing from lawsuits. They would shift that power from the governor to the Legislature's GOP-controlled budget committee, effectively preventing Evers from ordering Kaul to fulfill one of his primary campaign promises.

5) Block the Governor from WEDC control.

Under current law, Gov. Walker's Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has primary oversight over the state's $3.3 billion contract with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn. Under a new bill to be considered Tuesday, GOP lawmakers would prevent Evers from making changes to the WEDC.

The governor also would no longer be able to choose who leads the WEDC, which oversees Foxconn, in addition to other taxpayer-funded incentive packages provided to businesses in exchange for job creation. Evers had promised to disband the WEDC and replace with a state Commerce Department.

Patch File Graphic, Campaign Handout Photos