MADISON, WI -- Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have approved sweeping reforms in an overnight lame-duck session. The bills are aimed at limiting early voting, removing powers from the incoming Democratic Governor and Attorney General, while keeping Republican-fashioned policies in place.

Supporters of the bills say that the GOP moved to preserve a balance of power between the incoming Democratic governor and the State Legislature. Critics of the move say that the GOP went too far in grabbing power while the party still had control over the Governor's office, Assembly and Senate. "The legislature is the most representative branch of government and the closest to the people of Wisconsin," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in an early-morning statement. "Our proposals guarantee that the legislature always has a seat the table. With divided government, these bills allow for more discussions and opportunities to find common ground."

Incoming Democratic governor Tony Evers was incensed. "Wisconsin has never seen anything like this. Power-hungry politicians rushed through sweeping changes to our laws to expand their own power and override the will of the people in Wisconsin who asked for change on November 6th," Evers wrote.



Pre-existing Conditions Voted Down Arguably the most striking decision overnight was the rejection of a bill that would have guaranteed people with pre-existing conditions access to health insurance.

The pre-existing conditions bill failed after all 15 Democrats in the Senate and two Republicans voted against it. Gov. Scott Walker supported the measure, and made it one of his campaign promises earlier this year.

"As long as I am your governor, everyone living in Wisconsin with a preexisting condition will be covered," Walker said in a speech in Waukesha in the days leading up to the fall election. "We can protect people with preexisting conditions without protecting the failure that is Obamacare. That's what at stake here."



Critics of the bill said the Republican's proposal failed to go far enough, and would allow a lifetime cap. Republican Sens. David Craig of Big Bend and Chris Kapenga of Delafield, who voted against the bill, wanted to create a high risk-sharing insurance pool - a move fellow Republicans did not support.

Medicaid Work Requirement Added