Judge rejects Walker's ask to delay deadline to call Wisconsin special elections
Source: The Hill
By Jacqueline Thomsen - 03/27/18 07:35 PM EDT
A judge rejected Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) request to push back a deadline to hold special elections for two vacant seats in the state legislature, Wisconsin Public Radio reported Tuesday.
Walker had asked that the Thursday deadline to call the special elections be moved, as the state legislature plans to take up a bill that would limit special elections in the state.
However, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Richard Niess turned down the request, saying there was no basis to delay the deadline.
"I am not ruling on what the law might be in the future," Niess said, according to WPR. "I am enforcing the law as it is now."
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Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/380570-judge-rejects-walkers-ask-to-delay-deadline-to-call-wisconsin-special
Good news for voters in these districts in WI. Walker is a weasel!!
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First, they tried to gerrymander our districts. When that didn't work, Scott Walker tried to avoid having elections all together. When that failed, he and his fellow Republicans tried to change the laws. We have a right to elections not auctions.
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Judge denies delay to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in calling two special elections
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/27/gov-scott-walker-goes-court-get-more-time-cancel-two-special-elections/461545002/
Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 8:58 a.m. CT March 27, 2018 | Updated 5:37 p.m. CT March 27, 2018
MADISON -..................................
Under the orders, Walker has until Thursday to call the special elections, which would likely be held in June.
The governor and his fellow Republicans who control the Legislature are seeking to approve legislation next week that could cancel the need for special elections and give Walker broader powers to determine when to allow voters to fill vacancies in the Legislature.
Circuit Judge Richard Niess noted the legislation to avoid the elections is slated to be taken up without voters from those districts having representation in the Senate and Assembly.
"They have no say in that bill at all," Niess said.
In a late-night filing Monday, Walker asked the court to put off for a week the requirement that he call the special elections so the bill could get through the Legislature. Niess turned down the request.
"It is certainly the Legislature’s prerogative to change the law, but until they do, it is the obligation of this court to enforce the law, and the law right now in this state under that statute and by order of this court is that this election shall be held as promptly as possible and that it should be ordered no later than Thursday at noon," Niess said from the bench.
Spokespeople for Walker and GOP Attorney General Brad Schimel did not say if they would appeal the ruling............................