The Sconi

On August 13, voters across Wisconsin will decide on two proposed amendments to the state Constitution. The first amendment seeks to prohibit the legislature from ceding its "sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated." The second amendment aims to prevent the governor from spending money from major federal allocations without legislative approval.

The proposed amendments come in response to recent events where the Legislature had no input on how billions of dollars, received through congressional bills such as the CARES Act, the American Recovery Plan Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, were spent. Historically, Wisconsin's governors have held sole discretion over these funds since the Great Depression.

The non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau issued a critical report urging the governor’s administration to provide “clear and comprehensive information that will allow legislators and the public to more readily identify how these funds are spent in the future.” This call for transparency aligns with findings by the Badger Institute, which reported numerous instances of waste, fraud, and abuse in emergency spending over the past three years. Notably, $1.1 billion of this funding remains unallocated with no clear explanation.

Supporters argue that passing these amendments would democratize financial decisions by involving all 33 state Senators and 99 Assembly members. They contend that a change in the state Constitution is binding on every governor and Legislature, ensuring accountability regardless of party or majority makeup.

While some believe that placing such an important question on an August ballot might reduce voter turnout compared to a November election, proponents assert that it ensures focused attention on this critical issue without it being overshadowed by other electoral matters.