The legislation, which Democrats vehemently opposed and protesters chanted their anger over, passed through the Republican-held State Legislature on Wednesday.<\/b>
\nMADISON, Wis. \u2014 After a rancorous, sleepless night of debate, Republican lawmakers early Wednesday pushed through a sweeping set of bills that will limit the power of Wisconsin\u2019s incoming governor, a Democrat.
The legislation, which Democrats vehemently opposed and protesters chanted their anger over, passed through the Republican-held State Legislature after hours of closed-door meetings and some amendments. The votes fell largely along party lines; no Democrats supported the measures.
\u201cThat\u2019s what this is about: power-hungry politicians using their grubby hands in their last-ditch effort to desperately cling to power,\u201d said State Representative Katrina Shankland, a Democrat, before the vote Wednesday morning. \u201cAll we\u2019ve seen demonstrated today and over the past few days is a contempt for the public.\u201d
The fight over power in Madison came after Republicans, who have controlled the state for the last eight years, lost the offices of governor and attorney general during the midterm elections. Tony Evers, a Democrat, defeated Scott Walker, a two-term governor who drew national attention with a brief run for president.
Republicans explained the moves to limit to the authority of the governor as part of a long-needed change in the balance of power, which they said had become tilted in favor of the executive branch. Robin Vos, the speaker of the Assembly, accused Democrats of fanning hysteria and exaggerating the effects of the bills.
\u201cYou are so grossly exaggerating the words of this bill it makes me sick,\u201d Mr. Vos said.
Democrats scoffed at that explanation, noting that Republicans had seemed perfectly satisfied with the balance of power when Mr. Walker held the role.
The measures limit early voting, require lawmaker approval for the attorney general to settle certain lawsuits, and give lawmakers, not the governor, the majority of appointments on an economic development board. They also prevent Mr. Evers from banning guns in the Wisconsin Capitol without permission from legislators.
The package of bills now awaits Mr. Walker\u2019s signature.
On Tuesday, senators confirmed dozens of Mr. Walker\u2019s political appointees despite protests by Mr. Evers, who called the last-minute installations an \u201cexample of putting politics before people.\u201d<\/p>\n