Wisconsin GOP Shuts Down Governor's Special Session In 18 Seconds

KENOSHA, WI — Republican leaders convened, and then quickly recessed Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' special session on police reform Monday amid ongoing tensions in Kenosha over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. By sending the special session into recess, GOP lawmakers have the option of reconvening the session later — but have not indicated what will happen next.

Jacob Malinowski, a Democratic candidate running for election on Wisconsin's 82nd State Assembly district, said he followed the special session online and took note of the brief events.

In a message sent to Wisconsin Patch, Malinowski chronicled the proceedings: the total duration of the special session was 18 seconds. No bills were debated, and no votes were taken.

In a statement, Malinowski expressed his frustrations: "Legislators get paid $52,999 a year. Do your damn job."

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos earlier Monday indicated the Assembly would open the special session at noon — yet declined to say it was going to be an open-and-shut case on Monday.

In a statement about 90 minutes before the session, Vos touted his own "Speaker's Task Force" on police reforms.

"I have asked Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke to head up the task force and lead the important statewide discussion on racial disparities, educational opportunities, public safety, and police policies and standards. I will ask the task force to make legislative recommendations that provide a foundation for Wisconsin’s future," Vos said.

Local Leaders Upset

State Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Somers) and State Reps. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) and Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha) issued a joint statement Monday after Republican leadership gaveled in the Governor’s Special Session on Police Reform and immediately recessed.

“In a time of crisis, with the Kenosha community just beginning the long process of recovery and healing, this is more than just a failure of leadership by Sen. Fitzgerald and Speaker Vos. These are reasonable, commonsense reforms, and their refusal to even let us debate the issues is indefensible,” Wirch said. “We also need the Legislature to come back and discuss aid funding so that Kenosha can begin to rebuild.” Following the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake, Governor Tony Evers renewed his push for a package of police reform legislation, this time calling a special session.

Among the reforms included in the package are:

• A requirement that law enforcement agencies develop policies to ban the use of choke holds.
• New statewide use-of-force standards making deadly force a last resort.
• A required eight hours of training per year on use-of-force and de-escalation techniques.
• A prohibition on no-knock search warrants.

“With a bang of the gavel, the current majority again chose not to lead today,” Ohnstad said. “It is particularly troubling that the legislative majority continues to ignore responsibility to instead throw stones and hurl partisan tweets at others who are trying to make change and are taking constructive action on the issues important to our community and state.”

McGuire said in a statement, “Our community is hurting and wants action. The Legislature had the opportunity to set aside political gamesmanship to do right by our constituents and address criminal justice reform. Regrettably, the GOP majority ignored the calls for change and continued their inaction."