GOP proposes scaling back governor's veto powers

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Republican lawmakers want to scale back the governor's broad veto powers by proposing changes to the state constitution.

The proposal would prohibit governors from using their partial veto to increase any tax or fee.

Currently, Wisconsin governors have some of the most expansive partial veto powers in the county by being able to strike out numbers, words, or punctuation.

One of the most recent examples was when Gov. Tony Evers used his veto pen last year to increase school funding for the next 400 years. It caused an uproar among conservatives who argue the move was irresponsible by guaranteeing funding increases for the next four centuries.

It why Republican Reps. Shae Sortwell, Joel Kitchens, and Rep. Amanda Nedweski, and Sen. Dan Knodl say they proposed amending the constitution to limit the governor's partial veto authority.

"That was a complete abuse of his authority," said Knodl. "And this proposal would take it directly to the people."

Republican and Democratic governors have both used their partial veto authority to drastically change state budgets since the 1930's, but those powers have been scaled back quite a bit over the last few years.

"Unfortunately, what we've seen over dozens of years now, governors are finding new and creative ways to modify legislation in ways that I don't think was ever intended," said Sortwell.

The soonest the proposal could go into effect is 2025. That's because constitutional amendments must pass the GOP-controlled Legislature two consecutive years in a row. Then, the issue would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.