Wisconsin Supreme Court sides with Republican Legislature in fight with governor
Share this @internewscast.com

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court delivered a unanimous decision favoring the Republican-dominated Legislature on Wednesday, curtailing the sweeping veto authority of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

In this case, the court, with all four liberal justices joining the three conservatives, invalidated Evers’ partial veto on a Republican bill, exploring the boundaries of his veto capabilities as well as the Legislature’s power to influence through financial control.

The court further asserted that the Legislature is permitted to allocate funds for specific state programs into an emergency reserve managed by its budget committee. Gov. Evers contended that such actions were unconstitutional.

The ruling will likely result in the Legislature crafting the budget and other spending bills in similar ways to get around Evers’ partial vetoes and to have even greater control over spending.

The ruling against Evers comes after the court earlier this year upheld Evers’ partial veto that locked in a school funding increase for 400 years. The court last year issued a ruling that reined in some powers of the Legislature’s budget committee, while this ruling went the other way.

Evers clashes with Legislature

Evers, in his seventh year as governor, has frequently clashed with the Legislature and often used his broad veto powers to kill their proposals. Republican lawmakers have tried to take control away from the governor’s office by placing money to fund certain programs and state agencies in an emergency fund controlled by the Legislature’s budget committee. That gives the Legislature significant influence over that funding and the implementation of certain programs within the executive branch.

Evers argued that the Legislature is trying to limit his partial veto power and illegally control how the executive branch spends money.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with the Legislature.

It ruled that Evers improperly used his partial veto on a bill that detailed the plan for spending on new literacy programs designed to improve K-12 students’ reading performance. The court also sided with the Legislature and said the budget committee can legally put money into an emergency fund to be distributed later. That is what it has done with the $50 million for the literacy program.

Evers and Republican lawmakers did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Fight over literacy funding

In 2023, Evers signed into law a bill that created an early literacy coaching program within the state Department of Public Instruction. The bill also created grants for schools that adopt approved reading curricula to pay for changing their programs and to train teachers on the new practices.

However, Republicans put the $50 million to pay for the new initiative in a separate emergency fund controlled by the Legislature’s budget committee. That money remains in limbo amid disagreements about how the money would be used and who would decide how to spend it.

Evers argued that the Legislature didn’t have the power to withhold the money and the court should order it to be released to the education department.

The Supreme Court declined to do that, saying the money was appropriated to the Legislature and the court has no authority to order it to be released to the education department to fund the literacy program.

The Legislature has been increasing the amount of money it puts in the emergency fund that it can release at its discretion, but it remains a small percentage of the total state budget. In the last budget, about $230 million was in the fund, or about half of a percentage point of the entire budget.

Republicans sue to stop veto

Evers used his partial veto power on another bill that created the mechanism for spending the $50 million for the new program. He argued that his changes would simplify the process and give DPI more flexibility. Evers also eliminated grants for private voucher and charter schools.

Republican legislators sued, contending that the governor illegally used his partial veto power.

State law allows only for a partial veto of bills that spend money. For all other bills, the governor must either sign or veto them in their entirety.

Because the bill Evers partially vetoed was a framework for spending, but didn’t actually allocate any money, his partial vetoes were unconstitutional, the Supreme Court said, agreeing with Republican lawmakers.

“The constitution gives the governor authority to veto in part only appropriation bills — not bills that are closely related to appropriation bills,” Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote.

Evers argued for a liberal interpretation of his veto powers. He said that by challenging it, the Legislature was trying to weaken his powers.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Two Pokémon card fanatics arrested over stabbing in line at California GameStop

Two Avid Pokémon Card Collectors Arrested for Stabbing Incident While Waiting at California GameStop

Two men were detained and another was hurt after the suspects allegedly…
Bay Street near Jacksonville's Maxwell House Coffee plant down to 1 lane

Traffic Reduced to Single Lane on Bay Street Near Maxwell House Coffee Plant in Jacksonville

A JEA spokesperson crews will be working Bay Street near the Maxwell…
Jacksonville Sheriff hosts 6-week town hall series for crime feedback

Jacksonville Sheriff Launches 6-Week Town Hall Series to Gather Community Input on Crime

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is kicking off six weeks of town halls…
Trump Moderate: Unraveling the Extremist Narrative

Trump the Centrist: Debunking the Radical Mythology

A recent New York Times opinion by Jamelle Bouie, dated July 2,…
Fultondale man who died at the Jefferson County Jail had been booked twice over several months

Fultondale Resident Dies in Custody Following Multiple Arrests Over Several Months

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — An inmate at the Jefferson County Jail died…
Family-owned Texas restaurant works to feed first responders: 'We're thankful for them'

Texas Restaurant, Family-Owned, Shows Gratitude by Feeding First Responders

Janyce Karcher, a lifelong resident of Kerrville, Texas, shared her thoughts with…
Chicago-area family mourns David Meneou of Joliet, Jameson Meneou of Lockport, who drowned in Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes

Chicago-area family grieves the loss of David Meneou from Joliet and Jameson Meneou from Lockport, who tragically drowned in Lake Michigan near Indiana Dunes

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) — A family from the suburbs is grieving…
Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts, sending ash 11 miles high

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Volcano Erupts, Sending Ash 11 Miles into the Sky

Indonesia’s rumbling Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted Monday, sending a column of…
Harrowing photos show what's left of volunteer fire chief's vehicle after he was swept away in Texas floods

Shocking images reveal the volunteer fire chief’s car after being carried away by floods in Texas

A desperate search was under way for a volunteer fire chief who…
Manhunt for alleged killer dad reignited after campers report possible sighting over holiday weekend

Search for Suspected Killer Father Resumes Following Campers’ Report of Possible Sighting During Holiday Weekend

The search has intensified for the Washington father suspected of murdering his…
The Galaxy Leader cargo ship escorted by small boats in the Red Sea.

Israel Launches Airstrikes on Hijacked British Ship Galaxy Leader Seized by Houthis in Major Assault on Terror Group

ISRAEL has bombed the hijacked Brit ship Galaxy Leader seized by Houthis…
The attitude Nets' quintet of rookies are bringing as they begin to jell

The Emerging Cohesion and Spirit of the Nets’ Rookie Quintet

While it’s too early to officially name the Nets’ extraordinary lineup as…