Evers calls lame-duck ruling ‘important victory’, Republicans vow to appeal decision

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Copyright 2019 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A second Dane County judge has blocked a portion of Republican-backed laws limiting Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul’s powers.

Judge Frank Remington on Tuesday blocked language that requires Kaul to get legislative approval before settling cases. His order stems from a lawsuit by unions that argued the laws steal power from the executive branch.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Second judge blocks portions of Wisconsin Republicans’ laws limiting governor and attorney general’s powers #news3now

— News 3 Now / Channel 3000 (@WISCTV_News3) March 26, 2019

Remington let stand portions of the laws that give the Legislature the right to intervene in cases.

Republicans passed the measures in a December lame-duck session after Evers and Kaul — both Democrats — defeated Republican incumbents.

Evers called the ruling “an important victory for the people of Wisconsin and our constitution.”

The governor released a statement Tuesday reacting to the ruling. In it, he said the rulings make clear that the lame-duck session “was nothing more than an illegal power grab intended to override the will of the people.”

It is now abundantly clear that the lame duck session was nothing more than an illegal power grab intended to override the will of the people. It is time to move beyond this chapter and work together to build a Wisconsin that puts the people first.

— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) March 26, 2019

Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos say they will appeal the ruling. They say in a joint statement that all of the Legislature’s actions were consistent with the separation of powers that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld for decades.

The union lawsuit is one of four. Last week Dane County Judge Richard Niess blocked all the laws in a lawsuit by liberal-leaning groups alleging the December session was illegal.

Republicans have asked a state appeals court to stay Niess’ ruling.

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