WI Governor Boosts School Funding for Centuries with Veto Power

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Uses Veto Power to Secure 400 Years of Funding for Public Schools

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has made a bold move to support public schools by utilizing his veto power. In a surprising decision, Evers has extended funding for public schools for an unprecedented 400 years.

The governor, a Democrat, devised this visionary plan by removing the “20” and the dash from “2024-2025,” effectively ensuring a $325 increase in per-pupil spending each year until the year 2425 — a remarkable 402 years from now.

Evers, speaking at a news conference, expressed his belief that this action would provide school districts with long-term and predictable increases in funding. This groundbreaking move has garnered attention from media outlets such as USA Today, who reported on the governor’s decision.

The Power of the Wisconsin Governor’s Veto

The governor of Wisconsin holds the most extensive veto power among all governors in the country. This authority allows the state’s chief executive to modify laws by striking out words and numbers, reshaping them to align with their vision.

Previously, governors had the ability to strike out individual letters, a practice known as the “Vanna White veto.” However, this power was revoked by voters in 1990 through a referendum. Despite this change, governors have continued to utilize the veto in creative ways. Former Republican governor Scott Walker, for instance, employed a “thousand year veto” by extending a program deadline from 2018 to 3018.

Evers’ recent veto has even caught the attention of Jeopardy host Ken Jennings, who humorously expressed his desire to run for Wisconsin governor to wield the powerful veto pen.

Running for Wisconsin governor just so I can strike out letters in an appropriations bill to make it a “poop bill.” https://t.co/IZuKQo0P6g

— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) July 5, 2023

Evers’ veto is part of a series of over 50 line-item vetoes he made to reshape the $99 billion budget passed by Republicans for 2023-2025. Notably, the governor vetoed a $3.5 billion tax cut championed by the state’s Republican leaders.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP

Furthermore, Evers vetoed a plan proposed by state Republicans to cut funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the University of Wisconsin. This decision ensures that these vital positions will remain intact within the state’s flagship university system.

In response to Evers’ vetoes, Wisconsin House of Representatives Speaker Robin Vos has vowed to overturn them, particularly the veto of the tax cuts. Vos emphasized that Republicans will stand up and fight, determined to remind the people of Wisconsin who is truly on their side.

“We want to make sure the people of Wisconsin remember who’s on their side and who’s not,” Vos stated. “We are not going to lay down.”

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases