Wisconsin Republicans approve legislation to strip powers from their Democratic governor-elect

Wisconsin Republicans aren't giving up their executive power without a fight — even if the elections that ended that power are long over.

Just before the state's Republican Gov. Scott Walker is replaced by incoming Democrat Tony Evers, the GOP-held state legislature is working overtime to limit its executive branch's powers. Both the state Assembly and Senate passed two bills limiting the governor's control over funding, and the Senate passed another as of Wednesday morning, CNN reports.

In the midterms, Evers narrowly edged out Walker, who gained a bite of national prominence during his 2016 run for president. Democrat Josh Kaul also prevailed over the GOP incumbent for state attorney general, but Republicans still preserved a nearly 2 to 1 majority over Democrats in both legislative houses. So as Republicans' executive privileges run out, they're aiming to pass a series of bills that strengthen their own governmental influence, and effectively prevent Walker and Kaul from keeping campaign promises, says the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Senators were up early on Wednesday morning, adding an amendment to one of three bills by 5 a.m. and sent it to the Assembly by 6 a.m. CST. That bill lets Republicans "maintain control" of an economic development board, which Evers wanted to "dissolve," until next September, the State Journal writes. Two other bills — one that requires a governor seek legislative permission before changing public assistance programs, and one that limits executive authority over highway funding — passed both houses and were sent to Walker for approval Tuesday night, per CNN.

Walker on Monday claimed he would never sign a bill "taking powers away" from the governor's office. Every Democrat and even some Republicans voted against the three bills, with Evers telling CNN the Republicans' move "override[s] and ignore[s] what the people of Wisconsin asked for this November."