Without creating any jobs in Wisconsin, Republicans Shred Constitution for a chance to Grab Political Power.

In what should be an outrageous violation of the state constitution, Republican “lawmakers” must be feeling above all that, knowing they have super majorities in the legislature and ownership of governor’s seat. They are ceding their legislative power to the governor and allowing agency’s to make rules independent of their impact on public health or the environment. Wow, have we given birth to a “Republican royal elite” in this state or what?  

Whether any of this can be challenged in court isn’t mentioned below, but I’m holding out hope.

Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee), ranking member of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, blasted Republicans for … violating the Separations of Powers doctrine, and repealing the public health and environmental impact reports for rule making.  

“Today Walker and the Republicans have made a complete mockery of the values that Wisconsin demands in lawmaking – constitutional integrity, ethics, and accountability – and that is not ok,” Taylor noted. “The Republicans seem to have lost their copy of the constitution and all the principles that define our government’s powers. In vote after vote, the majority party tore down the separation of powers between the branches of government in Wisconsin. Republicans have now let Governor Walker approve or deny the rules that will govern his own campaigns and ethical standards.” 

The press release from Sen. Taylor continues:

The administrative rules reconfiguration bill allows the Governor to veto or approve all administrative rules as they are developed. Democrats pointed out the violation of separation of powers consistently on the floor today, pointing to the separate branches of government that provide checks and balances to each other. In addition the bill breaks down the wall of independence around independent agencies such as the Government Accountability Board, Public Service Commission, and the Commissioner of Insurance. Finally, the bill will allow agency’s to disregard the proposed rules’ impact on public health and the environment. 

Where are all the “pocket Constitutionalists?” I guess they’re only fightin’ mad when the Democrats try to provide every American with health care.