Tag: Wisconsin Legislature

The newest lawsuit, filed by the League of Women Voters, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and three Wisconsin voters, alleges the method by which the Legislature passed the bills — an extraordinary session — is unconstitutional, therefore rendering anything passed during the session invalid. The Legislature adopted a joint rule in 1977 allowing an extraordinary session to be called during a committee work period or after the expiration of the last scheduled floor period. Lawyers for the challengers argue there is no provision in the state constitution or in state law allowing the Legislature to convene in extraordinary session. "The text of the Wisconsin Constitution is unambiguous. The Legislature does not have the authority to convene itself in an ‘extraordinary session.’ Because the session was unconstitutional, all business conducted during the ‘extraordinary session’ is illegal and, therefore, void. Votes on the bills came after hours of delays that kept lawmakers in the Capitol overnight as Republicans worked behind closed doors to strike agreements on the proposals. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said Assembly leaders and staff have made accommodations for Anderson every time he's asked. Modifications were also made to Anderson's microphone and voting buttons so he can participate in debates and votes, Steineke said. Steineke said Anderson never made it clear what he needed during the extraordinary session. Asked about Steineke's response, Anderson said he sat down with Republican leadership at the start of his first session to let them know what he would need in order to fully participate as a legislator, including his wheelchair time constraints.