Wisconsin’s $4.6 billion budget surplus is facing uncertainty as the state Supreme Court, with its liberal majority, considers a challenge to Governor Tony Evers’ partial veto power. The governor’s ability to partially veto spending bills, known as the “Frankenstein veto,” allows him to alter legislation by deleting words and numbers without legislative approval. This has been a point of contention since 1930, as Wisconsin is the only state that permits such extensive use of partial vetoes.
In a recent budget conflict, Governor Evers used this power to extend an annual $325 school revenue limit increase from 2025 to 2425 by altering the bill’s text. This change could lead to four centuries of funding increases unless reversed by legislative or court action. The Wisconsin Supreme Court previously attempted to limit this power in 2020 when it declared three of Evers’ edits unconstitutional (Bartlett v. Evers).
The current lawsuit before the high court challenges the constitutionality of Evers’ school revenue alteration for creating a new word. Arguments suggest that liberal justices may side with Evers, preserving his expansive partial veto power. Conservative Justice Hagedorn criticized this approach as “crazy.”
If upheld, Republicans fear that Governor Evers will significantly alter any submitted budget, increasing costs for families and benefiting his political allies. His proposed budget includes raising spending by 20% over two years, introducing $1.3 billion in new taxes, repealing right-to-work laws, reestablishing prevailing wage laws, mandating paid family leave, and adding “gender identity and expression” to non-discrimination laws.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected after April 1 when voters will choose between Republican Brad Schimel and Democrat-endorsed Susan Crawford for an open court seat. The outcome could influence future partial veto cases and impact Wisconsin’s financial surplus.
If no new budget is approved by July 1, the state will revert to the 2023-25 budget, potentially affecting services and tax relief for residents.
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