The Wisconsin State Assembly took the final vote in a two-session process to send two constitutional amendments to the general election ballot for Nov. 5. Both relate to the governor’s power to appropriate federal funds given to the state.
The first question will ask voters whether the legislature should be prohibited from delegating its power to appropriate money. The second question would require legislative approval via a joint resolution before the governor can expend federal money appropriated to the state.
The ballot measures were introduced in response to federal funds allocated to the state during the coronavirus pandemic. State Rep. Robert Wittke (R-62) said, “As you are well aware, billions of federal dollars pour into our state in the last couple of years. These supplemental federal funds were important to our state’s economic well-being, but only Governor Evers made the determination for allocation of all that money without legislative consideration. AJR 6 would amend the Wisconsin Constitution by prohibiting the governor from allocating federal moneys without the approval of the legislature.”
