Wisconsin GOP: Rewrite constitution to limit governor's veto

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans want to rewrite the state constitution to prohibit the governor from using his veto pen to increase spending without legislative approval, marking another skirmish in the GOP’s battle to diminish Gov. Tony Evers’ powers.

The Wisconsin Constitution gives the governor one of the strongest veto powers in the country. The governor can strike words, numbers and punctuation in spending bills, bending the Legislature’s will to his own by pumping money toward projects he supports while starving opponents’ initiatives. Evers used those powers last week on the state budget to give public schools $65 million more than Republican lawmakers set out.

Sen. Dave Craig and Rep. Mike Kuglitsch began seeking sponsors on Monday for a constitutional amendment that would forbid the governor from increasing funding in bills that appropriate money.

They wrote in a memo to their colleagues that Evers’ move to bolster school funding is an abuse of power that could damage the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

Read more: https://dailyreporter.com/2019/07/09/wisconsin-gop-rewrite-constitution-to-limit-governors-veto/
(Milwaukee Daily Reporter)

The irony that this suggestion comes forward now surprises nobody.