The general presumption is that the big Republican majority in both houses of the legislature means Scott Walker will get whatever he wants.
But just two days into the new term, there are signs of life among the leggies, who seem less than enthusiastic about Walker's moves to centralize power in the governor's office.
WisPolitics reports that State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, "was cautious in talking about the potential shift of power" under Walker's proposal to give the governor final approval on administrative rules changes.
"We should be always concerned with that. There's got to be a separation of powers there. ... We'll see what members have to say about that," he said.
Not exactly rolling over and playing dead. There may be trouble brewing in the Assembly, too.
State Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, co-chair of Joint Finance, "said he was personally concerned with the Commerce changes because the original proposal called for the new entity to map out its new direction without input from lawmakers," WisPolitics said. Fitzgerald also had mentioned the Commerce changes as something the legislature wants to weigh in on.
WisPolitics reports:
"In general, I agree with the idea of making the Commerce Department more nimble and more able to react to businesses that are either hoping to expand, leave or hoping to come," Vos said. "I do not support ceding our authority to help craft how it will operate."
Likewise, Vos said there were some concerns about the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches on the proposed overhaul of the administrative rules process. He said he'd like elected officials to have to be more involved in oversight of the rules process, but he doesn't want to cede all of that authority to the executive branch.
Vos said he shares the same goals with Walker on the proposed changes, but they may not be finished within the first few weeks of the new session.
Even when one party controls everything, there's a jealous guarding of separation of powers between the branches of government. Walker, a former legislator, should know that, but in his exuberance at being elected he's grabbing for everything in sight. Minority Dems can do little do stop him, but it may be his own party that send him the message that he's over-reaching. Big time.