Governor Tony Evers and Lt. Gov Sara Rodriguez. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – During Tony Evers first term, assembly speaker Robin Vos was asked a curious question. “How many times have you talked with Governor Evers?” The question is fair enough. Evers is a Democrat, Vos’ Republican party controls the legislature. In a divided-government state, there would have to be some negotiation, some give-and-take for anything to get done.
Vos’ answer, “We’ve sat down once.” He went on to clarify that he and the governor exchange pleasantries and say “hello” occasionally at events where the are both present… but for all of Tony Evers’ first term, there was one sit-down of substance.
The only tools the Governor has to move his agenda are these: He can attempt to use a friendly state Supreme Court to strike down laws that he doesn’t like; he can use his line item vote to strike out numbers and parts of sentences to create spending that the legislature never imagined, or he can negotiate with Republicans who control the legislature – which, as we know from the Assembly speaker, never happens.
This week the governor proposes to add another tool to his toolbox: direct referendum. If enough Wisconsin voters sign a petition, a proposal could go onto the ballot. Residents could vote up or down directly on laws across the state. This, of course, is a non-starter. What the governor proposes is a scheme that bypasses your state representatives and state senators. The governor considers this idea, since he refuses to negotiate with legislative leaders.
Under direct referenda, Wisconsin as we know it today would be unrecognizable. Any idea that could get huge majorities in Milwaukee and Madison would become law in our state. Recreational marijuana? Done. Expanding BadgerCare? Easy. Eliminating right-to-work laws? Simple. Squandering our state’s $4-billion surplus on a liberal wish list? It would happen right before our eyes. The Milwaukee-and-Madison-ization of Wisconsin could happen after just a few election cycles.
Happily, Republicans are not stupid. The Governor’s proposal is going nowhere. We elect state representatives and state senators to write bills. At least some of them are experts at crafting laws. Their ideas at then refined through committee hearings where bills can be improved through amendments. The finished product needs to win majority support in both chambers, and then earn the governor’s signature. That process is much better than a rag-tag group of citizen activists trying to gather petition signatures in the parking lot of the local shopping mall. We are, after all, a representative democracy.
If the governor wants to get things done, he can invite Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu to coffee. Or is the art of political give-and-take dead?
Chris Conley
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