Wisconsin voters rejected two ballot measures that would have limited the governor’s spending power, Decision Desk HQ projects.
The Republican-led state Legislature proposed the bill as part of a primary vote that took place on Tuesday, which aims to increase scrutiny of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, and future gubernatorial candidates.
One bill would prohibit the Legislature from delegating appropriation authority, and the other would prohibit the Governor from spending unappropriated federal funds without Congressional approval.
The state legislature passed the measures and sent them to voters in the aftermath of millions of dollars in federal funding to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans in the state Legislature strongly supported the measures, saying they were necessary to limit the governor’s powers, but Democrats, including Evers, blasted them as an attempt to grab power.
Critics also argued that it would simply add a new step to allocating funds, since the money is often needed to respond to emergencies like natural disasters.
The Republican Party’s control of the Legislature has put the governor at odds with the state legislature for years, but Evers was elected to two terms and has vetoed more bills than any governor in state history, according to the Associated Press.
The bill’s defeat happened right before the eyes of state lawmakers. running The new legislative map could give Democrats a better chance to clinch a majority.
