Protect checks and balances in our state constitution.

The Wisconsin Working Families Party recommends our members Vote NO on both statewide referendum questions that will be on the ballot.  Question 1 and Question 2 on the August 13 ballot work together to alter our constitution to give the state legislature more control in how Governor Evers allocates federal funds. The questions read as follows:

Question 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”

Question 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

Political insiders and special interests added these two deliberately confusing constitutional amendments to the August ballot. Their goal is to take advantage of a low turnout election and confusing language to change our constitution—getting rid of checks and balances that ensure fairness and representation for all Wisconsinites. You have the power to stop this extreme power grab by voting NO on both constitutional amendments.

If Question 1 & 2  pass they would

Eliminate checks and balances: These Amendments eliminate checks and balances by trying to trick voters into giving away sole power of spending these federal funds to the legislature. Currently, the governor and legislature work together to decide how to spend the state budget.

Block emergency response: These Amendments could slow or block funding for emergencies that require urgent help—like a flood, a bridge collapse, or a pandemic affecting people or livestock. During a crisis, communities can’t afford delays caused by requiring legislators to go to Madison to vote or the political gridlock and fighting over how to spend federal funding.

Cause more gridlock in the Legislature: These Amendments would lead to more gridlock in Wisconsin’s unproductive legislature, which has been one of the most extreme in the country. When hospitals and first responders needed funding, they didn’t pass a single bill for six months. This year, the legislature blocked money to clean toxic chemicals from our water and blocked settlement money to address the opioid epidemic.

They are deliberately confusing: These Amendments were designed with deliberately confusing language and are the first Constitutional Amendments ever put on a low-turnout August election ballot. The special interests that wrote these Amendments don’t want Wisconsin voters to understand them or have their voices heard.

If passed, the August 13 constitutional amendments would make it harder for Wisconsin to efficiently and effectively use federal funding in times of emergency and beyond. In Wisconsin, we expect and need our government to be able to move quickly to get aid into Wisconsin communities, especially in times of natural disaster or emergency.

We know the vital importance of getting needed resources into local communities quickly and efficiently. These needless constitutional amendments would make that more difficult. We urge you to Vote NO on both August 13 statewide constitutional amendment questions.