Special session may be needed, but not for power grab

The Wisconsin legislature is not scheduled to meet again this year. But in the wake of the election, republicans in control of the legislature may try to schedule a lame duck session before the new Governor takes office. But such an effort would not be done to improve the lives of Wisconsinites, but rather a last-ditch effort to cling to power. Possibly on the agenda for this special legislative session is limiting the power of the next Governor to offer administrative rules, reducing the number of appointments the executive office can make to state boards and commissions. They also could decide whether to vote on an incentive package for Kimberly Clark by providing more corporate welfare. It isn’t necessarily a bad idea for lawmakers to gather in a special session. After all, they haven’t been in session since this past summer. They could use a special legislative session to try to work together to help improve the lives of those living in Wisconsin. Like finally figuring out a way to properly fund road work. Or to improve education funding. Or fighting the opioid epidemic. Or providing criminal justice reform. Or finally adopting a fair system of determining legislative boundaries. Or getting updates on that small investment that is Foxconn. These are the issues on which we need bipartisan solutions. Addressing these issues would be a better use of our lawmaker’s time than figuring out a way to limit the power of the person Wisconsin voters chose to serve as our next Governor.