GOP legislatures in two states to curb incoming Democratic governors' powers
0 replies, posted
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gop-legislatures-try-to-curb-democratic-governors-power/2018/11/17/32b06a3c-eaec-11e8-aff1-eec29b6f92ca_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.60a9000bd430
LANSING, Mich. — With their grip on power set to loosen come January, Republicans in several states are considering last-ditch laws that would weaken existing or incoming
Democratic governors and advance their own conservative agendas.
In Michigan, where the GOP has held the levers of power for nearly eight years, Republican legislators want to water down a minimum wage law they approved before the election so
that it would not go to voters and would now be easier to amend. Republicans in neighboring Wisconsin are discussing ways to dilute Democrat Tony Evers’ power before he takes over
for GOP Gov. Scott Walker. And in North Carolina, Republicans may try to hash out the requirements of a new voter ID constitutional amendment before they lose their legislative
supermajorities and their ability to unilaterally override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Republicans downplay the tactics and point out that Democrats have also run lame-duck sessions, including in Wisconsin in 2010 before Walker took office and the GOP took control
of the Legislature. But some of the steps Republicans are expected to take will almost surely be challenged in court, and critics say such maneuvers undermine the political system
and the will of the people, who voted for change.
The moves would follow midterm elections in which Democrats swept statewide offices in Michigan and Wisconsin for the first time in decades but fell short of taking over their
gerrymandered legislatures. That gives Republicans a final shot to lock in new policies, with Democrats unable to undo them anytime soon.
Republicans seem unfazed by criticism that scaling back the measures would thwart the will of voters who resoundingly elected Democrat Gretchen Whitmer to replace GOP Gov. Rick
Snyder, who reached his term limit. The Michigan Senate’s majority leader, Arlan Meekhof, said changes to the laws are needed to “continue to keep our economy on track and not put a
roadblock or hindrance” in the way of businesses.
Wisconsin Republicans plan to consider a variety of ways to protect laws enacted by Walker . Those include limiting Evers’ ability to make appointments, restricting his authority over
the rule-making process and making it more difficult for him to block a work requirement for Medicaid recipients. They might also change the date of the 2020 presidential primary so
that a Walker-appointed state Supreme Court justice has better odds to win election.
In North Carolina, GOP legislators may use the session for more than approving additional bipartisan Hurricane Florence relief. They are expected to implement a voter photo ID
requirement passed this month by the electorate and to consider other legislation that the Democratic governor would be powerless to stop until Republicans can no longer easily
override his vetoes come 2019.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.