MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – It’s been an exhausting three-day process in Madison, which finally saw a package of bills voted through during a continued lame-duck session on Wednesday.
Those bills are aimed at limiting the powers of governor-elect Tony Evers and attorney general-elect Josh Kaul, in the minds of state Democratic representatives.
One bill passed on Wednesday was for a work requirement for single, able-bodied adults on BadgerCare. Also, any request for federal waivers for welfare programs would have legislative oversight.
The governor would be prevented from withdrawing from a multi-state lawsuit that challenges Obamacare, according to a separate bill.
An effort to pass a bill that would have protected those with pre-existing medical conditions failed to pass the state senate by one vote. David Craig and Chris Kapenga, two GOP senators, both voted against it, thus defeating the bill.
Early voting is being limited to two weeks before an election after being voted on by the legislature.
Democratic Representative Jon Erpenbach describes this process as not only desperate but also unprecedented.
“There’s only been a lame duck session here, going back to the ’20s, about seven or eight times,” says Representative Erpenbach. “But never, ever, ever, ever has there been a lame duck session used to go after newly elected officials.”
Even with Democratic contempt for their Republican partners at a seemingly all-time high, some on the “right” remain confident that bi-partisan work can still be achieved.
“I’ve had some great conversations with some of my Democratic colleagues,” says Republican Representative John Macco. “We have some big plans for next year.”
He thinks this is hardly an attack by Republicans, but rather healthy government at work.
“This is a good example of not dysfunction,” says Representative Macco. “This is a great example of how a quality functioning government works.”
Representative Erpenbach would disagree with his Republican counterparts claiming that they’ve ushered in positive changes.
“You didn’t,” he says. “You actually made some stuff worse.”
