Voters Reject Amendments to Restrict Governor’s Power to Spend Federal Funds
Opponents argued changes would have slowed down emergency funding during crises.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. (Amena Saleh / Wisconsin Watch)
Wisconsin voters have rejected two Republican-backed amendments to the state constitution, which would have restricted the governor’s ability to spend federal funds.
The failed proposals would have required a governor to get legislative approval before spending federal money that’s been earmarked for the state.
The outcome is a major victory for Gov. Tony Evers and other Democrats who campaigned against the measures.
It’s unusual for Wisconsin voters to reject proposed constitutional amendments. Over the state’s entire history, nearly three-quarters of such amendments have passed. Since 2020, Wisconsin voters have considered seven constitutional amendments, and all but the latest two proposals have passed.
Republicans who run the Legislature brought the proposals to the ballot. To do so, lawmakers had to approve resolutions in two separate, consecutive legislative sessions.
The proposals would have worked in tandem. One would have required legislative approval before Wisconsin’s governor could expend federal money earmarked for the state. The other would have barred future Legislatures from giving that power away.
Question 1
Question 2
As they made their push for the amendments, Republicans pointed to billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 aid, which was distributed by the Evers administration. That process, they argued, lacked transparency and accountability.
The conservative Badger Institute and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce joined Republicans in urging people to vote “yes,” arguing that the changes will add necessary checks and balances.
Democrats accused Republicans of trying to usurp the governor’s authority, and Wisconsin’s Democratic Party actively campaigned against the amendments.
On Tuesday, some voters told WPR the language of the proposed amendments was confusing and that the campaigns waged for and against the amendments were aggressive. Some voters in Madison received text messages urging them to vote “yes” on the amendments to keep “right wing governors like Scott Walker” from spending federal aid without oversight.
If the amendments had succeeded, they would have been added to Wisconsin’s Constitution without the governor’s approval, sidestepping Evers’ veto pen altogether.
In an analysis of the measures, the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum noted that the proposals’ “broad” language could have had far-reaching consequences.
“The full impact of the amendments will be highly dependent on how they are interpreted by the Legislature and the courts,” the analysis said. “It likely will impact far more than just cases of emergency influxes of federal funds that are similar to the pandemic.”
Voters reject amendments to restrict governor’s power to spend federal funds was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
These amendments were just one more attempt by republicans to circumvent elections that produce democratic victories. From threats to impeach an elected Supreme Court justice, to limiting the power of a democratic governor, to trying to hinder voting rights… republicans simply don’t support ,nor trust, democracy.
Glad these failed. My decision to vote no on these unnecessary constitutional amendments was decided by the “do nothing” republican assembly and senate that simply gaveled in and then out everytime Evers asked them to address something in a special session.
Democratic voters will never forget the 2018 lame duck power grab. Some choice quotes from then:
“Power-hungry politicians rushed through sweeping changes to our laws to expand their own power and override the will of the people of Wisconsin who asked for change on November 6th,” Evers said in the statement.
“The seeds you’re planting may grow into something you will regret,” said Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison. “Be fair. Give the voters the right to choose their governor and attorney general.”
Seems the republicans are experiencing consequences of their bad-faith actions. Great to see happen.
What this state needs less of is legislative oversight of how every nickel and dime are spent. During COVID the Republican controlled legislature refused to even come into session to decide how to allocate funds from the CARES act that Evers did not control. Their childish stubbornness resulted in $25 million lost to help pay unemployment benefits. Not only do we not need these obvious power-grab amendments, but we also need to elect candidates to our state legislature that have some integrity, and a willingness to govern rather than just being a bunch of do-nothing road blocks that perform like dancing monkeys at the whim of Robin Vos.