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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on Wisconsin lame-duck legislative session rulings (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says a second court ruling in a week against laws passed by Republicans during a lame-duck legislative session is "an important victory for the people of Wisconsin and our constitution."
Evers issued a statement Tuesday reacting to the ruling. Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington blocked portions of the laws from being in effect. Another judge last week stopped all of the laws that weaken powers of Evers and Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul from being enforced.
Republicans are appealing both.
But Evers says the rulings make clear that the lame-duck session "was nothing more than an illegal power grab intended to override the will of the people."
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3:15 p.m.
Republican legislative leaders are vowing to appeal a judge's ruling striking down portions of laws passed during a lame-duck legislative session that limited the powers of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul.
Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington on Tuesday blocked some of the laws, including one that required Kaul to get legislative approval before settling cases.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos say they will appeal the ruling. They say in a joint statement that all of the Legislature's actions were consistent with the separation of powers that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld for decades.
Five unions sued , arguing the laws unconstitutionally steal power from the executive branch.
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2:50 p.m.
A second Dane County judge has blocked a portion of Republican-backed laws limiting Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul's powers.
Judge Frank Remington on Tuesday blocked language that requires Kaul to get legislative approval before settling cases. His order stems from a lawsuit by unions that argued the laws steal power from the executive branch.
Remington let stand portions of the laws that give the Legislature the right to intervene in cases.
Republicans passed the measures in a December lame-duck session after Evers and Kaul — both Democrats — defeated Republican incumbents.
The union lawsuit is one of four. Last week Dane County Judge Richard Niess blocked all the laws in a lawsuit by liberal-leaning groups alleging the December session was illegal.
Republicans have asked a state appeals court to stay Niess' ruling.
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9:20 a.m.
Wisconsin officials are waiting for a pair of courts to decide whether laws that Republicans passed last year limiting the powers of the new Democratic governor and attorney general can stand.
Lawmakers passed the measures in a lame-duck session in December, before Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul took office.
A Dane County judge blocked the laws Thursday, ruling that lawmakers convened illegally when they passed them. Attorneys for Republicans are asking the 3rd District Court of Appeals to put that ruling on hold pending appeal. That decision could come any moment.
Another Dane County judge is expected to decide Tuesday whether to block the laws in response to union arguments that they violate the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
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