MADISON, WI (WSAU) A slate of bills that would weaken the powers of Governor-Elect Tony Evers and Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul have been approved in a lame-duck session of the state legislature.
Evers has called the session by the Republican controlled legislature “a power grab” and “anti-democratic”. Kaul has warned that some of the bills will face legal challenges, and will make it difficult for the legislature and the new administration to work together.
Among the changes:
A bill that passed Wednesday morning for a work requirement for single, able-bodied adults who are on BadgerCare. The legislature would also get oversight over any request for federal waivers for welfare programs.
A separate bill would prevent the governor from withdrawing from a multi-state lawsuit that challenges Obamacare.
The Legislature would also have new powers to intervene in lawsuits involving the state, an area usually handled by the Attorney General. Financial settlements that the AG negotiates would be subject to legislative oversight.
The legislature would get to make additional appointments to the board that controls the Wisconsin Economic Development agency.
The state senate failed by one vote to pass a bill that would have protected those with pre-existing medical conditions. Two GOP senators, David Craig and Chris Kapenga, defeated the bill by voting against it. They wanted the state to create a high risk insurance pool. That item was not included in the bill.
All of the bills need to be signed by Scott Walker before he leaves office in January.
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