MADISON, Wis. – Just before the sun rose Wednesday, Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate by a one-vote margin approved legislation to limit early voting…
MADISON, Wis. – Just before the sun rose Wednesday, Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate by a one-vote margin approved legislation to limit early voting and diminish the powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general.
The measures cleared the Assembly later in the morning. The bills now go to outgoing Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who has signaled his support.
Faced with a Democratic governor for the first time in eight years, legislative Republicans came up with a package of lame-duck bills to protect their priorities and make it harder for the incoming governor, Democrat Tony Evers, to enact his.
Republicans – who spent most of their overnight lame-duck session behind closed doors negotiating among themselves – also hoped to pass a bill to protect coverage of pre-existing conditions after Democrats won every statewide office last month after campaigning on the issue.
GOP lawmakers at 4 a.m. CT unveiled changes to the legislation that kept intact the heart of their lame-duck plan to give them a greater say in running state government as Evers prepares to take office Jan. 7.
Senators passed the legislation 17-16, with Republican Sen. Rob Cowles of Green Bay joining Democrats in opposing the legislation.
