Sen. Alberta Darling’s Corrupt Lame Duck Law Puts Settlement Funds At Risk
Attorney General Kaul blocked by Joint Finance Republicans from settling lawsuit
MADISON – Yesterday, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met in unprecedented fashion to approve a settlement agreement recommended by Attorney General Josh Kaul on an undisclosed case. Prior to the lame duck Extraordinary Session held last December, the Attorney General had the power to enter settlement agreements without legislative interference. The Extraordinary Session and 2017 Wisconsin Act 369, championed by Senator Alberta Darling and legislative Republicans, changed state law to require the Attorney General to have settlement agreements approved by the JFC.
JFC Democrats vehemently opposed Republican insistence on meeting in an unlawful closed session as well as meddling in the business of the Department of Justice. In an open session, Democrats offered a motion to approve Attorney General Kaul’s settlement plans only to have the motion voted down by Sen. Darling and JFC Republicans.
“Sen. Darling’s decision to limit the powers of the Attorney General and block him from doing the job he was elected to do is a complete disservice to her constituents and every single Wisconsinite,” said Katie Iliff, SSDC Executive Director. “We continue to see how Sen. Darling’s lame duck power grab has created more secrecy, chaos and confusion. Because of yesterday’s inaction, the state is at risk of losing out on settlement funds. It is clear that Sen. Alberta Darling is more concerned with political power and partisan gamesmanship than doing what is best for Wisconsin.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Lame Duck Laws
- Four Years Later, State’s Lame Duck Law Still Faces Court Challenge - Shawn Johnson - Jan 17th, 2023
- Judge Rules Against Law Giving Legislators Power Over Attorney General Settlements - Shawn Johnson - May 11th, 2022
- State Supreme Court Dismisses AG’s Lame-Duck Lawsuit - Ruth Conniff - Mar 25th, 2021
- Kaul Sues Legislature Over Lame Duck Laws - Melanie Conklin - Nov 24th, 2020
- AG Kaul Announces Legal Action to Allow DOJ to Again Enforce Wisconsin Laws Without Unconstitutional Legislative Interference - Josh Kaul - Nov 23rd, 2020
- Vos Thinks Lame-Duck Session Didn’t Go Far Enough - Melanie Conklin - Jul 31st, 2020
- The State of Politics: Court Rulings Against Evers Sow Confusion - Steven Walters - Jul 20th, 2020
- Court Tosses Dems’ Lame-Duck Suit - Laurel White - Jul 16th, 2020
- Op Ed: State High Court Nullifies 2018 Election - James Rowen - Jul 12th, 2020
- WI Supreme Court Upholds GOP Lame-Duck Laws - Laurel White - Jul 9th, 2020
Read more about Lame Duck Laws here
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