GOP asks court to let lame-duck appointees return to work

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican legislators want an appeals court to force Democratic Gov. Tony Evers into letting 15 GOP appointees return to work.

Republicans confirmed 82 appointees during a December lame-duck session. Evers rescinded the appointments after a Dane County judge ruled the session was illegal.

But the 3rd District Court of Appeals stayed the ruling Wednesday, creating confusion about whether the appointees could return to work. Evers re-hired all but 15 of the appointees Thursday.

Republican legislators filed a motion Monday with the 3rd District arguing the stay means all 82 appointees remain employed. They asked the court force Evers to comply with the stay.

University of Wisconsin System regents Scott Beightol and Torrey Tiedeman are among the appointees who weren’t re-hired. Regents President John Behling says he is encouraging them to join a regents meeting Thursday.

Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff says the governor’s actions were legal.