August 31, 2020 04:00 PM UTC

Wisconsin Republicans Blow Off Police Reform

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• by: Colorado Pols

Last week, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called a special legislative session so that state lawmakers could get together and discuss potential law enforcement reforms in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, WI.

As The Cap Times of Madison reports, lawmakers did indeed convene today…for less than a minute:

As Democrats urged action on legislation to tweak policing practices in Wisconsin, the special session seeking to do just that was gaveled in and adjourned within seconds in both chambers Monday afternoon.

While the session was recessed until Thursday, there’s no indication the Republican-led Legislature is planning to take up the package of nine bills Gov. Tony Evers and fellow Democrats are seeking anytime soon.

One top Assembly Republican charged with heading up a task force to tackle those issues indicated action likely wouldn’t come until next session, while he looks to use the next few weeks and months to shore up a slate of bills for consideration.

Republicans in control of the Wisconsin legislature gaveled in a “special session,” as required by law, and then immediately adjourned said legislative session. In other words, they aren’t going to even DISCUSS potential reforms until at least 2021.

Wisconsin Republicans did the same thing last November after Evers called for a special session on gun safety.