{"id":652746,"date":"2018-12-08T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2018-12-08T15:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=652746"},"modified":"2018-12-10T03:44:40","modified_gmt":"2018-12-10T10:44:40","slug":"lame-duck-power-grabs-escalate-an-unsettling-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2018\/12\/lame-duck-power-grabs-escalate-an-unsettling-trend\/","title":{"rendered":"Lame-duck power grabs escalate an unsettling trend"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_652798\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 771px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/donkeyhotey\/6261666821\/in\/photolist-axjFoM-7TXaQY-7TXbis-7G8EAD-5h97oG-aWmxVV-7GsGSZ-aBTPuR-b16TpM-8ZuHj3-81ev4L-g1XFJp-fCUMCg-ax5V32-oFzAuc-d2PQDW-cF6FrN-bwJxPa-7uaW4y-i1qZnX-89kf1L-ax91EJ-ax8QAf-ax6eW2-pX1BLb-d17gmG-81bkWM-7GsXwR-oFPXRv-owmBEP-7GsZkg-aBTPvT-9R4rby-bCAn5X-owmjSm-fK8BBV-5ZD6x-ax8Wow-ax6f5M-ax67xX-9mczxR-7S1dTy-aBWujC-5ixWJf-ax8Mem-7yDM2S-8b8sEd-UPcKXS-cWXF2Y-dhfTxr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-652798 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/GOP-771x650.jpg\" alt=\"GOP\" width=\"771\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/GOP-771x650.jpg 771w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/GOP-336x283.jpg 336w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/GOP-768x647.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">DonkeyHotey \/ Flickr\/CC<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Recent moves by Republicans in two states set an unsettling, even anti-democratic trend across state legislatures, experts say.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The move by Republican legislators in Wisconsin and Michigan to strip power from incoming executive branch Democrats \u2014 akin to steps taken by the North Carolina GOP to undermine the incoming governor two years ago \u2014 sets an unsettling, even anti-democratic trend across state legislatures, experts say.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe idea that, if our party loses the election, we\u2019ll rearrange the powers of government, is one step short of cancelling elections altogether,\u201d said Howard Schweber, professor of American politics and political theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.<\/p>\n<p>When political parties are about to lose power, they often make a last-ditch effort to advance their policy priorities. But the rush to curtail the powers of the governor\u2019s office ahead of an executive from the opposing party being sworn in takes partisan machinations to a new level, he said.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s likely to further inflame tensions between Republicans and Democrats in two Midwestern legislatures once known for moderation and civility. \u201cIt sets a horrible precedent for the next session,\u201d said Wisconsin state Rep. Chris Taylor, a Democrat who represents Madison.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"module align-left half type-aside\">\n<h3>About this article<\/h3>\n<p>This article comes from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\/research-and-analysis\/blogs\/stateline\/2018\/12\/07\/lame-duck-power-grabs-escalate-unsettling-trend\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stateline<\/a>, an initiative of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Pew Charitable Trusts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>And if the moves hold up to legal scrutiny \u2014 and Republican voters continue to support such tactics \u2014 it\u2019s likely that other states facing divided government will follow suit, said Paul Nolette, associate professor of political science at Marquette University. In our partisan era, \u201cif there\u2019s no political repercussion, there\u2019s really no incentive not to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>State lawmakers from across the country, gathered at an annual meeting in Washington, D.C., of the National Conference of State Legislatures, are watching carefully.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the surface it sounds like politics, not policy,\u201d said Oregon state Sen. Bill Hansell, a Republican. \u201cIf they are changing the rules because a person is in a different party, that would be a situation where I would question the validity of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maryland state Sen. Cheryl Kagan, a Democrat, said the moves undermine public confidence in government. \u201cIt\u2019s just crazy,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is a valid legislative conversation that should be had during a regular session \u2014 not a lame-duck one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Arizona Senate President Pro Tem John Kavanagh, a Republican, agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s a poor way to govern,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The package of legislation Wisconsin lawmakers plowed through in an overnight session this week would make it easier for the legislature to block rule changes proposed by the governor. It also would allow lawmakers to temporarily control the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, an agency incoming Gov. Tony Evers \u2014 who bested GOP Gov. Scott Walker by a percentage point in November \u2014 has said he wants to dismantle, according to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2018\/12\/04\/republicans-vote-tuesday-curbing-powers-tony-evers-limiting-early-voting\/2198624002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The measures also would limit early voting to just two weeks and make it harder for the incoming attorney general, Democrat Josh Kaul, to pull the state out of lawsuits such as Wisconsin\u2019s joint case with other states against the federal Affordable Care Act, among many other changes. The proposed early voting restrictions are likely to spur litigation, the\u00a0<em>Journal-Sentinel<\/em>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n<p>Republican leaders\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/27a08a42972b484fa0590264bee43b57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">told the Associated Press<\/a>\u00a0they were not doing anything \u201coutrageous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cState lawmakers have taken an important step in restoring the balance of power in government,\u201d Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement. \u201cOur proposals guarantee that the legislature always has a seat at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a tweet Wednesday, Vos accused Democrats of \u201cexaggerating and resorting to hyperbole throughout the debate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Republicans also have made it clear that they\u2019re taking action because they don\u2019t trust Evers. In an interview with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2018\/12\/03\/gop-senate-leader-scott-fitzgerald-we-dont-trust-tony-evers-right-now\/2191923002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">conservative radio station Monday<\/a>, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald warned that Evers will have \u201cabsolutely the most liberal administration that we have ever seen in the state of Wisconsin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Walker hasn\u2019t said whether he\u2019ll sign the wide-ranging bills.<\/p>\n<p>Wisconsin Republicans passed some laws to heighten the governor\u2019s power back in 2011, after Walker was elected, Marquette\u2019s Nolette said. \u201cWhen a Republican comes in, it\u2019s like \u2014 we\u2019ve got to boost his power, and when a Democrat comes in, take it away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The fights over how power is distributed in the Michigan and Wisconsin governments have roots in North Carolina. The Republican legislature there moved in 2016 to limit the power of incoming Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to hire and fire state employees, and to appoint Cabinet members and trustees to the University of North Carolina system, among other moves.<\/p>\n<p>And they\u2019re part of a larger pattern of \u201cnorm-busting\u201d by Republicans willing to do whatever it takes to win, Wisconsin\u2019s Schweber said. Take Kentucky Republican and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell\u2019s 2016 decision to block then-President Barack Obama\u2019s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, a departure from congressional tradition. The seat stayed open until President Donald Trump could make his own appointment.<\/p>\n<p>The moves at the state level indicate that Republican lawmakers see their party\u2019s hold on power as more important than the structure of government, Schweber said.<\/p>\n<p>Some Republican lawmakers say that Democrats are hypocritical for getting so up in arms now, given their own legislative shenanigans in the past.<\/p>\n<p>Republican South Dakota state Sen. Jim Bolin, speaking at the state legislatures conference in Washington, recalled an example from Wisconsin. After Republicans there took control of the Assembly, Senate and governorship in 2011, Democratic legislators hid out in Illinois to try to prevent Republicans from taking action on Walker\u2019s plan to cut union benefits as a way to repair the state budget.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m reluctant to support what they\u2019re doing now,\u201d Bolin said, referring to Wisconsin Republicans. \u201cBut you had Democrats deserting the legislature and going out of state where they couldn\u2019t be tracked down. The Democrats are absolutely hypocritical to criticize what the Republicans are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in Michigan this week, Republican lawmakers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/local\/michigan\/2018\/11\/29\/bill-would-allow-legislators-intercede-any-court-case-involving-state\/2150818002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">proposed two bills<\/a>\u00a0to weaken the executive branch. They would allow the legislature to intervene in lawsuits and give oversight of campaign finance law to a commission, thus taking power away from the incoming Democratic attorney general and secretary of state.<\/p>\n<p>Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer also is a Democrat, making it the first time the party has held all three positions since 1990.<\/p>\n<p>Michigan lawmakers also are trying to weaken marijuana legalization and voter registration ballot initiatives that voters approved this year. And they have scaled back minimum wage and paid leave laws that began as ballot initiative petitions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re either circumventing the will of the voters, or they\u2019re trying to take power away from the new administration,\u201d said Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich, who represents Flint. He said he\u2019s not sure where Republicans are getting their ideas for shifting the balance of power, but he doubts it\u2019s from an American history textbook.<\/p>\n<p>Michigan\u2019s Ananich said the lame-duck legislation \u2014 which drew angry protesters to the state capitol \u2014 will only encourage Democrats to fight harder and, he hopes, inspire voters to kick Republican lawmakers out of office.<\/p>\n<p>Although Democrats will continue to try to work with Republicans, Wisconsin\u2019s Taylor said, \u201cWe will not forget this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Stateline\u00a0staff writers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\/research-and-analysis\/blogs\/stateline\/about\/rebecca-beitsch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rebecca Beitsch<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\/research-and-analysis\/blogs\/stateline\/about\/jenni-bergal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jenni Bergal<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\/research-and-analysis\/blogs\/stateline\/about\/elaine-s-povich\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elaine S. Povich\u00a0<\/a>contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recent moves by Republicans in two states set an unsettling, even anti-democratic trend across state legislatures, experts say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":652798,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[2238,194],"class_list":["post-652746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-2018-election","tag-republican-party"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=652746"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":653080,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652746\/revisions\/653080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/652798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=652746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=652746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=652746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}