The Sconi

The opponents of constitutional amendments that would give legislators a say, along with the governor, on spending federal dollars are claiming that adoption by voters on Aug. 13 would somehow slow down help for people struck by natural disasters. That’s simply not true.

“God forbid a tornado comes and hits Madison and if FEMA has to come in and start sending money to us, if the Legislature is the one that is holding the keys to the castle and we have to wait for them to decide. I have way more faith in one person making that decision than 132 of them,” said Nick Ramos of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

In response to such claims, the office of Rep. Robert Wittke (R-Racine) asked the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau for its opinion.

“With respect to allocations of FEMA aid provided to the state in the wake of natural disasters or other states of emergency, it is important to note that the Legislature can account for FEMA disaster relief by a process established by legislative rule. That being said, FEMA disaster relief accepted by the governor in connection with disasters like floods or fires or other states of emergency overseen by the state’s Department of Military Affairs is typically provided as reimbursements . . . to state, local, and individual actors for costs those actors incurred in a disaster,” wrote LRB in response.

“As such, FEMA moneys are essentially preapproved for specific reimbursements of costs already incurred and appropriated under existing appropriations to DMA.”

In other words, people would get help just as quickly as they always have, and reimbursements to local governments or agencies, for example, could be preapproved through legislative rulemaking long before the tornado ever strikes. That’s explicitly stated in the second referendum question that alludes to approval through either “joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule.”

Mike Nichols is the President of the Badger Institute. Permission to reprint is granted as long as the author and Badger Institute are properly cited.