MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is positioning himself to be the state's most powerful Republican after the defeat of Gov. Scott Walker in the key Midwestern swing state.
It's a natural transition for Vos, a key player in Walker's 2011 battle against public unions and a partner during nearly a decade of Republican dominance in Wisconsin. He was the driving force behind lame-duck legislation that strips some of incoming Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' power, requesting that bills be drafted and outlining GOP goals to reporters the day after Walker's defeat.
Republicans love Vos for his skill at wielding a huge Assembly majority for maximum gain. Critics point to the lame-duck maneuver and deride him as "Boss Vos," a power-hungry leader eager to grasp any advantage.
