In Evers v. Marklein (2025), what problem did the Wisconsin Supreme Court identify that legislative committee veto powers created for democratic accountability?

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In Evers I (2024) and Evers II (2025), the Wisconsin Supreme Court invalidated statutes (WIS. STAT. §§227.19(5)(c),(d),(dm) & 227.26(2)(d),(im)) granting the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules the power to pause, object to, or indefinitely suspend administrative rules without bicameral passage or presentment. Chief Justice Jill Karofsky held that “the veto provisions undermine democratic governance by circumventing the lawmaking process — which requires the participation of the entire legislature — and punting to a committee the controversial and therefore politically costly positions legislators would otherwise need to take” (). Because as few as four committee members could block a rule from taking effect, legislators sidestepped public votes on contentious issues, hiding their positions from constituents and eroding accountability (, ).

In Evers v. Marklein (2025), what problem did the Wisconsin Supreme Court identify that legislative committee veto powers created for democratic accountability?

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