Wis. judge overturns gov's education powers
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| Ooh No! |
MADISON, Wis. — A portion of state law that gives the governor the power to approve or block new education rules and policies is unconstitutional, a Madison judge ruled Tuesday.
Dane County Circuit Judge Amy Smith said the statutes give the governor more power over schools than the superintendent of public instruction, a violation of the Wisconsin Constitution. The ruling restores Superintendent Tony Evers' ability to design policies affecting everything from teacher licensing requirements to voucher schools without going through Republican Gov. Scott Walker's office.
It also marks another legal setback for Walker and Republican legislators. Two other Madison judges already have blocked a GOP-authored law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls and a third has overturned a major chunk of Walker's signature legislation stripping most public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.
The governor's office is appealing all those decisions and Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie promised the administration would appeal Smith's ruling, too.
"We're confident we'll win on appeal," Werwie said.
Evers, meanwhile, issued a terse statement saying he was pleased with Smith's finding.
"I have been consistent in my opposition to this legislation
Dane County Circuit Judge Amy Smith said the statutes give the governor more power over schools than the superintendent of public instruction, a violation of the Wisconsin Constitution. The ruling restores Superintendent Tony Evers' ability to design policies affecting everything from teacher licensing requirements to voucher schools without going through Republican Gov. Scott Walker's office.
It also marks another legal setback for Walker and Republican legislators. Two other Madison judges already have blocked a GOP-authored law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls and a third has overturned a major chunk of Walker's signature legislation stripping most public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.
The governor's office is appealing all those decisions and Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie promised the administration would appeal Smith's ruling, too.
"We're confident we'll win on appeal," Werwie said.
Evers, meanwhile, issued a terse statement saying he was pleased with Smith's finding.
"I have been consistent in my opposition to this legislation