Unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court Curtails Governor’s Partial Veto Power

In a unanimous decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court limited the governor’s expansive veto powers. After Gov. Evers exercised a partial veto to expand coverage of a literacy coaching program, lawmakers withheld funding arguing Evers did not have the authority to change the law’s purpose. The court found the constitution gives the governor partial veto power for appropriation bills but not bills closely related to appropriation bills. The court also ruled the Legislature can put money for certain state programs into an emergency fund under the control of its budget committee, rather than appropriating public funds. The ruling will likely result in lawmakers crafting other spending bills in similar ways to avoid partial vetoes related to spending.

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