CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Tony Evers, by luck and by accident, has been one of the most powerful governors in state history.
Because of COVID-19, the governor was able to assert emergency powers for nearly two years. It gave him breathtaking powers that normally belong to the legislature, including the power to close schools and to shut down parts of the state economy. He declared consecutive emergencies for the same issue – COVID – until he was blocked by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In Governor Evers’ world, he could claim emergency power indefinitely simply by claiming COVID was causing a new, different crisis.
Tony Evers has also been given $3.7-billion in federal COVID funding from the Biden Administration. A state audit has also dinged Evers for a lack of transparency as to how the money was spent. Another $1.9-billion hasn’t been spent yet.
And the GOP-controlled legislature is ready to reign in these abuses. Our state constitution gives the power of the purse – to levy taxes and to spend state funds – to the legislature. The Biden Administration specifically give COVID cash to governors to end-run the legislature. The purpose was for the money to be spent quickly without getting bogged down in legislative debates in states with divided government.
Now comes a proposed amendment to the state constitution to clarify that the legislature gets to determine state spending, regardless of where the money comes from. Federal grants? The legislature decides how the money would be spent. Settlements involving state lawsuits? The legislature, not the Attorney General, decides what the money gets used for. Such an amendment is entirely correct. The legislature and the governor will have to agree on what these windfalls are used for, instead of one politician having complete control over what amounts to a slush fund for political favors.
The measure needs to be passed, by a simple majority, in two consecutive sessions of the legislature. Then it needs to be put on the ballot and approved by the voters. Let’s hope it is, so a constitutional abuse in our state can come to an end.
Chris Conley
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