Wisconsin Governor Sues Republican Legislature for Blocking Government Functions and Pay Raises

Governor Evers Appeals Directly to State Supreme Court, Alleging GOP-Controlled Legislature has Unconstitutionally Obstructed Initiatives Including Previously Approved Pay Raises for 35,000 University Employees and State Conservation Program Updates.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers sued the Republican-led Legislature, accusing it of blocking previously approved pay raises for 35,000 University of Wisconsin employees, as well as updates to state conservation programs and commercial building standards.
Governor Evers has directly petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court to assess the case. The lawsuit takes issue with committees controlled by a few GOP lawmakers, arguing that they are reaching beyond their constitutionally permitted lawmaking authority.
The pay raises along with state conservation programs and updates to commercial building standards were initially included and approved in the state budget. However, for the pay raises to take effect, they need approval from a GOP-controlled committee of legislative leaders, which has been denied.
Aside from raises, the Legislature's Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules has blocked rules crafted by a state board to update Wisconsin’s commercial building and ethics standards for social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors.
The lawsuit is the latest development in the ongoing feud between Governor Evers and the Republican legislature, which began immediately after Evers' election in 2018 and includes a record-number of vetoes from Evers and attempts from the Legislature to diminish his powers.