Politics

Wisconsin Republicans Trying To Strip Powers From Incoming Governor

Lawmakers are trying to get their measures passed before Gov.-elect Tony Evers takes office next month.

Wisconsin Republicans Trying To Strip Powers From Incoming Governor
Royal Broil / CC BY SA 2.0
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Wisconsin's Republican-controlled legislature is expected to vote Tuesday on a lame-duck plan that would weaken the authority of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general. 

Lawmakers only introduced their bills on Friday. But they're trying to get them passed before Gov.-elect Tony Evers takes office next month. Evers narrowly beat Republican Scott Walker back in November. 

Republicans' plan includes measures to limit early voting and to take away Evers' ability to approve major actions by the incoming Democratic Attorney General. That power would instead be given to lawmakers. 

One measure that did not advance out of the Joint Finance Committee around midnight Monday was a bill to move the date of the state's 2020 presidential primary from April to March. 

Over the weekend, Evers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I view this as a repudiation of the last election. I will take any steps possible to assure the people of Wisconsin that I will not invalidate those votes."

Walker's reportedly signaled that he'll sign the plan if it makes it to his desk. His last full day in office is Jan. 6th.