(WTAQ-WLUK) — In November, Wisconsin voters will decide whether to add three amendments to the state constitution.
The Republican-led amendments include changes to veto powers, government authority over places of worship and affirmative action.
The first is about the Governor’s veto powers and asks yes or no: “…to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee?”
It comes after Gov. Tony Evers’ 2023 partial veto which increased school funding for the next 400 years.
The constitutional amendment would essentially ban the governor from using partial veto powers to raise taxes or fees.
“I get Republicans want to blame my 400-year veto for property taxes going up. Why? Politics, of course,” Evers said.
“400-year veto is a big part of the problem. It’s got to be fixed for any solution,” State Rep. Robin Vos, R, Assembly Speaker said.
The next amendment asks voters if the state should be prevented from banning religious services during emergencies.
This is in response to Governor Evers limiting religious services to under 10 people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawrence University Professor of History Jerald Podair said putting these amendments in place would make it much harder for future lawmakers to change those policies.
“Out parties or parties that do not hold the governorship or do not hold the executive have found more and more innovative ways to hamstring the governor or hamstring the executive, and this is one of those ways,” Podair said.
The last amendment asks to ban discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin in government programs.
Podair said this directly targets Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education.
DEI is typically aimed at helping disadvantaged students.
“What it would do is make it very difficult for these DEI programs and colleges to continue to operate as they have. If they want to continue to operate, they’re going to have to service all students,” Podair said.
While Republicans in the Legislature are behind these amendments, Podair said Democrats could use the same strategy in the future if the political balance changes.
Follow this link to see what else is on your ballot for the Nov. 3 General Election.
