Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers' proposal to allow voters to repeal and create state laws without legislative approval faces opposition from Republican lawmakers. Evers, a Democrat, aims to include a constitutional amendment in his upcoming budget that would empower voters through ballot proposals. Republicans, who maintain control of the Legislature albeit with a slimmer majority, reject the plan, arguing it undermines their legislative authority. The new two-year session, marked by numerous new members, highlights the ongoing power struggle between the Governor and the Legislature.
TODD RICHMOND and SCOTT BAUER Associated Press Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' plan to let voters repeal and create state laws without legislative involvement met opposition on Monday from Republican leaders of the Legislature , who signaled that the idea is likely to be rejected for a second time.
Evers said on Friday that the state budget he plans to unveil next month will include a mandate that legislators take up a constitutional amendment allowing voters to petition for ballot proposals to repeal state statutes and create new ones. Evers made a similar proposal in 2022 for voters to repeal the state's 1849 abortion ban, but Republicans killed the plan.
There are six new state senators, all Democrats. Nearly a third of the Assembly - 31 lawmakers - are newly elected. Of them, 23 are Democrats. Those new lawmakers make up the majority of the 45-member Democratic caucus. Evers said Republicans have been ignoring the will of the people by refusing to legalize marijuana, repeal the abortion ban, implement gun control measures and increase funding for public schools. Instead, he said, the GOP has been enacting policy through constitutional amendments, denying voters a voice.
Republicans have asked voters to approve seven amendments since 2010, according to data from the University of Wisconsin Law School's State Democracy Research Initiative. Voters ratified three in 2024 alone, including two in April to restrict use of private money in election administration and one in November that prohibits foreign nationals from voting.
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