{"id":11559,"date":"2024-07-10T19:07:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T19:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=11559"},"modified":"2024-07-10T20:00:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T20:00:50","slug":"what-to-know-about-wisconsins-constitutional-amendment-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=11559","title":{"rendered":"What to know about Wisconsin\u2019s constitutional amendment vote"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.badgerinstitute.org\/what-to-know-about-wisconsins-constitutional-amendment-vote-2024\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions on the Badger State\u2019s August 2024 referendum <\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n
What are the basics of the constitutional amendment on major federal spending?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h5>\n
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\"Blocks<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

On Aug. 13, voters across the state should vote \u201cyes\u201d to two questions that would amend the state Constitution. The first would prohibit the legislature from ceding its \u201csole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated\u201d and the second would prevent the governor from spending money from major federal allocations without legislative approval. (You can find the ballot questions here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

But doesn\u2019t the Legislature already work with the governor on federal funding?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h5>\n

The Legislature had no input into how or where to spend billions of dollars that came to Wisconsin through three congressional bills \u2014 the CARES Act, the American Recovery Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The governor and the Legislature debate and decide on billions of federal dollars in every state budget, but whoever the governor may be has sole discretion over these sorts of revenue.<\/p>\n

How come the Legislature is left out?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h5>\n

As far as can be determined, the governor assumed authority during the Depression without a vote ever having been taken. Since then, the Legislature is afforded no opinion on special or emergency federal appropriations. Wisconsin is now one of only 16 states that grant their governors sole authority over these allocations.<\/p>\n

So, what changed?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In a critical report,<\/a> the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau called on the governor\u2019s administration to provide \u201cclear and comprehensive information that will allow legislators and the public to more readily identify how these funds are spent in the future.\u201d The authors of Assembly Joint Resolution 6<\/a> proposed the constitutional amendments.<\/p>\n

Was there reason for concern?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Badger Institute has over the past three years found numerous instances<\/a> of waste, fraud and abuse in \u201cemergency\u201d spending. The state is still sitting on $1.1 billion of this funding with no explanation for why and where that \u201cemergency\u201d\u00a0money might one day go.<\/p>\n

Some critics of the amendment say it\u2019s undemocratic, that it eliminates checks and balances. Is that true?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h5>\n

The opposite is true.\u00a0Passing this amendment would give the 33 state Senators and 99 Assembly members, elected by you, a say in where all of that money goes. It doesn\u2019t get much more democratic than that.<\/p>\n

They also say it\u2019s on a ballot that few voters will come out for. True?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This was as soon as the authors could get their amendment question before the voters. While the November election is likely to draw more voters, a question as important as a constitutional amendment is far less likely to get lost on a ballot in August.<\/p>\n

But with all of the gridlock in Madison, isn\u2019t this just the usual power grab?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h5>\n

A change in the state Constitution \u2014 not made or undone easily \u2014 is binding on every governor, regardless of party, and every Legislature, regardless of majority or makeup.<\/p>\n

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