Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Republicans are preparing to sue over Gov. Evers’ partial veto that increased public school revenue limits for the next 400 years after the 2023-25 budget cycle.
From Wispolitics.com: “When you say he has the broad authority, that is clearly in question,” Vos said on WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “We do not know that. He has taken the broad authority, but it doesn’t mean that it’s right.”
Vos said Republicans will also consider introducing a proposed constitutional amendment to further limit the partial veto powers of Wisconsin’s governor.
“I never thought it was necessary, frankly,” Vos said, referring to a constitutional amendment that would require passage from two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before going to voters. “This is something that is unprecedented. Gov. Evers has taken this to a new level. Talking about how the Legislature is undemocratic, well, having one person using a creative veto that is clearly in question — we won’t know until the court says whether it’s constitutional — but it’s clearly questionable.”
Former Dem Gov. Jim Doyle argued that the partial veto was legal and not unusual:
“Oh yes,” Doyle, who was also attorney general, said when asked whether the veto was legal. “I mean, this has been upheld many, many times now. Unless the court goes against all the precedence that’s been laid down for many, many years, I don’t think there’s any question about it.”
Former GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson spoke about the partial veto authority on WKOW’s Capital City Sunday:
“Governor has got the power and most governors have used it,” Thompson said. “Every governor that I’ve known has been able to use it. I probably used it more. As you said, I’ve got the record. And I used it because the Democrats controlled both houses. I was the only Republican in power. So, if I was going to have a Republican initiative, I needed the item veto in order to accomplish it.”
Read More: Legislative Reference Bureau-The Wisconsin Governor’s Partial Veto after Bartlett v. Evers
