In a groundbreaking decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Democratic Governor Tony Evers can use his unique partial veto power to lock in a school funding increase for 400 years. This ruling affirms the broadest partial veto power of any state, allowing governors to reshape spending bills by striking words, numbers, and punctuation.
The court’s 4-3 ruling, with the liberal justices in the majority, stated that the state constitution permits the governor to make significant changes through partial vetoes, even extending the duration of funding beyond what was approved by the Legislature. However, the conservative minority expressed concerns about the governor writing new laws through these partial vetoes.
Governor Evers’ partial veto in 2023 extended a funding increase for K-12 public schools until 2425, more than four centuries from now. This decision was challenged by the Republican-controlled Legislature, arguing that it was unconstitutional under a 1990 amendment restricting the ability to create new words through vetoes.
This ruling is part of a larger debate over the governor’s veto powers, with another case pending before the court. If the court sides with Evers in this case, it could further expand the types of bills subject to partial vetoes in the future.
Wisconsin’s partial veto power has been a tool for governors to shape state budgets, with ongoing battles between the governor and Legislature over the extent of this power. Republican leaders are now waiting for the court’s decision before taking up spending bills, including the state budget.
Overall, this ruling highlights the ongoing tension between governors and lawmakers over the use of partial vetoes to influence state funding and policy decisions.
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