Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, two Republican legislative leaders, did not respond to messages requesting comment, nor did Evers.
In the complaint, Evers contended that the Legislature is abusing committees run by a small number of Republicans to "reach far beyond its proper zone of constitutional lawmaking authority."
According to Evers, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources chose hundreds of conservation projects under the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, but the budget-writing committee of the state legislature rejected them. This scheme has long been opposed by Republicans because it prevents the development of protected property.
In a statement, LeMahieu said that Evers was "working to diminish the voice of Wisconsinites by limiting the authority of the legislature and unduly strengthening his own administration," and he dismissed the case as frivolous when it was filed.
Evers has been at war with the GOP-controlled legislature since his election in November 2018. More vetoes have been issued by him than any previous Wisconsin governor, and he has blocked many proposals that would have altered the conduct of elections in this crucial state for the next presidential campaign.
In an effort to limit Evers's authority, lawmakers called a "lame duck" session a few weeks before he began office. They have fired most of the Natural Resources Board members in October and have consistently rejected Evers's appointments to other boards and commissions.
The fact that Evers has met with Republican legislative leaders so infrequently is another evidence of how bad their relationship is. The second year of Evers' second tenure is underway.
In August, the Wisconsin Supreme Court was ruled by a majority of liberals. It ruled 4-3 in December that legislative maps created by Republicans were invalid. Several high-profile lawsuits have been launched by Democrats after the court's majority shifted, including the Evers litigation.
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