The Wisconsin state Senate was in session all night long so Republicans could force through their bills undermining the will of the voters by limiting the powers of the governor and attorney general now that they’re going to be Democrats. A new version of the plan was unveiled around 4 AM and passed at 5:22, because attacking democracy is worth that kind of effort to these people. The state Assembly is expected to pass the bills, which outgoing Gov. Scott Walker has said he’d sign.
Republicans did slightly back off some of their initial proposals—Gov.-elect Tony Evers won’t permanently lose control of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., for instance, and:
Lawmakers also removed a measure that allowed the Legislature to replace incoming Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul with private attorneys picked by lawmakers at taxpayer expense. But other provisions remained that would allow lawmakers to more easily hire private attorneys when they are sued for violating the open records law or other statutes.
The updated version of the legislation would allow the Legislature to intervene in litigation when state laws are challenged in court. The attorney general would have to get the approval of lawmakers before signing off on any settlements.
Republicans backed off on some of their changes limiting Evers' control of state rules, but kept in place a provision that would expand lawmakers' power to block those rules.
A provision to limit early voting went through, but is expected to be challenged in court. A similar law was struck down by the courts in 2016.
It remains to be seen what other provisions will face legal challenges.