MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous ruling that strengthens the authority of the Republican-led Legislature, limiting the veto powers of Democratic Governor Tony Evers. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the governor and the Legislature regarding budget control.
The court ruled against Governor Evers’ attempt to partially veto a Republican bill related to literacy funding, which was a significant point of contention. Evers had claimed that the Legislature’s plan to manage funding for certain state programs through an emergency fund was unconstitutional. However, the court disagreed, stating that the Legislature could indeed manage its budget in this manner.
This ruling suggests that the Republican lawmakers will increasingly design future budgets with strategies that minimize Evers’ ability to use his veto power. The court’s decision follows a previous ruling this year that upheld a controversial partial veto by Evers, which secured a funding increase for schools over an extended period.
Governor Evers has frequently found himself at odds with the Republican-controlled Legislature, particularly regarding the use of his veto powers to block their proposals. In a bid to regain some financial control, Republicans have placed funds for key state programs into an emergency fund overseen by the Legislature’s budget committee, thus exerting greater influence over how public money is allocated.
Governor Evers asserted that this approach undermines his authority and distorts the executive branch’s ability to administer state funds. However, the Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday sided firmly with the Legislature, determining that Evers had misused his veto on a budget plan intended to enhance literacy programs for K-12 students.
In a specific instance, a $50 million fund was set aside for literacy initiatives but was placed under the legislative budget committee’s control. Evers contended that withholding these funds was an overreach of legislative power and called for their immediate release to the Department of Public Instruction. The court, however, upheld the Legislature’s authority to manage the funds as it sees fit.
Republican leaders expressed optimism about eventually releasing the $50 million and attributed delays in funding for literacy programs to Evers’ vetoes. If the committee does not act swiftly, this money will revert to the general state fund.
The continuing struggle over budgetary control reflects broader political tensions in Wisconsin. As the Republican-controlled Legislature seeks to enhance its powers, Evers has fought to maintain his executive authority, particularly regarding educational funding and program implementation. Following the Supreme Court ruling, Republican leaders framed the verdict as a correction of Evers’ political maneuvers that jeopardized funding essential for children’s literacy programs.
