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U.S. NEWS Saturday 15 december 2018

Wisconsin, Michigan Republicans enact lame-duck limits

By SCOTT BAUER, DAVID EG- ignored or overlooked.”
GERT and TODD RICHMOND Walker, speaking after he
Associated Press signed the bills, brushed
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Re- aside what he called “high-
publicans in Wisconsin pitched hysteria” from crit-
and Michigan enacted ics of the legislation. He
last-minute limits on Demo- said his legacy will be the
cratic power Friday, with record he left behind that
outgoing GOP governors in includes all-but eliminat-
both Upper Midwest states ing collective bargaining
signing measures protect- for public workers, not the
ing their priorities before lame-duck measures.
leaving office in less than a Walker’s signing of the bills
month. came a day after he an-
Democrats derided the nounced a $28 million in-
moves as desperate power centive package to keep
grabs, while Wisconsin Gov. open a Kimberly-Clark
Scott Walker and Michigan Corp. plant in northeast
Gov. Rick Snyder down- Wisconsin.
played the scope of their One of the lame-duck bills
actions while defending would prevent Evers from
their rights to do it. making such a deal, in-
“There’s a lot of hype and stead requiring the Legis-
hysteria, particularly in the lature’s budget committee
national media, implying to sign off.
this is a power shift. It’s not,” In Michigan, Democratic
Walker said before signing state Rep. Christine Greig
bills that weaken powers of blasted Snyder.
the incoming Democratic “With a flick of his lame-
governor and attorney Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker talks about legislation he signed into law during a news conference duck pen, Gov. Snyder
general and limit early vot- Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. chose to rob the people of
ing to two weeks before an Associated Press Michigan of the strong pay-
election. sures with simple majority and what legislators draft- eral Eric Holder announced check and good benefits
The push in both states mir- votes rather than the three- ed initially. it planned legal action to they deserve,” she said in a
rors tactics employed by fourths support that would “They address a number block the limitation on early statement.
North Carolina Republicans have been needed if vot- of difficulties for job provid- voting. “It is shameful that this gov-
in 2016. ers had passed the propos- ers while still ensuring paid Members of both parties, in- ernor, who is just counting
Snyder signed measures to als. medical leave benefits and cluding Democratic Gov.- down the days to the end
significantly scale back cit- The tactic — never done increased minimum-wage elect Tony Evers and former of his tenure, would use
izen-initiated measures to before — was pushed by incomes for many Michi- Republican Gov. Scott Mc- this opportunity to hurt the
raise Michigan’s minimum the business community as ganders,” he said. Callum, urged Walker to people of Michigan one
wage and require paid sick necessary to avoid jeopar- Walker traveled 130 miles reject the legislation. Evers last time.”q
leave for workers, finalizing dizing the economy. But it from his Capitol office to accused Walker of ignoring
an unprecedented Repub- was criticized as an uncon- sign the bills in Green Bay, a and overriding the will of
lican-backed legislative stitutional attack on voters’ more conservative city far the people by signing the
maneuver that opponents will at a time Republicans from the liberal capital of bills into law.
blasted as shameful. in Michigan are trying to Madison where protesters “People will remember he
To prevent minimum wage dilute the powers of incom- converged on the Capitol took a stand that was not
and earned sick time initia- ing elected Democrats. to voice opposition to the reflective of this last elec-
tives from going to voters Snyder signed the bills in lame-duck legislative ses- tion,” Evers said.
last month, GOP lawmakers private and issued a state- sion two weeks ago. “I will be reviewing our op-
approved them in Septem- ment calling them a “good Just two hours later, a tions and do everything
ber. That allowed them to balance” between what group run by former Demo- we can to make sure the
more easily alter the mea- the ballot drives proposed cratic U.S. Attorney Gen- people of this state are not