Explainer: What to know about the August ballot referendums

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Early voting is now underway for the Aug.13 election and voters across the state will be asked to weigh in on two constitutional amendments related to spending federal funds.

Here's what you need to know about the two referendums and who's backing them.

What does the ballot question say?

The first question asks voters about prohibiting the Legislature from giving up its power to spend money.

Question #1 “Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”

The second ballot question asks whether there should be legislative approval on how to spend federal aid.

Question #2 "Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

Both referendums were approved by Republican lawmakers after they both passed two consecutive legislative sessions. Gov. Tony Evers cannot veto constitutional amendments.

What does voting "Yes" or "No" mean?

There's a campaign media blitz underway by both political parties seeking to educate voters on the referendums.

Republicans are urging their supporters to vote "yes," while Democrats' message is to vote "no."

If approved, the changes would take away the governor's ability to unilaterally spend federal aid and require input from lawmakers.

What's at stake?

The constitutional amendments were proposed after Wisconsin received billions from the federal government to help recover from the pandemic.

Gov. Evers had sole authority on how to spend that. It's a power Wisconsin governors have had since the 1930s, according to the nonpartisan Legislature Reference Bureau.

GOP lawmakers, who control the Legislature, want more oversight on how that money is spent in the future.

Democrats argue giving the Legislature more say on how to spend federal funds could delay getting resources out during emergencies, including natural disasters and public health outbreaks.

"If these amendments pass, me and any other future governor will be left without the tools to make decisions, especially during times of crisis," Evers said.

Republicans don't believe one person in the executive branch should make these decisions without lawmakers' input.

"One individual should not have the power of their own private slush fund, and the Legislature should have the power of the purse," State Rep. John Macco (R-Ledgeview) said.

Voters will decide the fate of these referendums on Aug. 13.