Opinion | Don't give do-nothing Legislature more power

Opinion by Sarah Godlewski, The Cap Times

On Aug. 13, Wisconsinites face a critical choice that could reshape our state’s future. This election provides an important opportunity to reject two constitutional amendments that would erode the checks and balances in our government and give the Legislature unfair authority to dictate our state’s future.

Voters will have two constitutional amendments on their August ballot. At the heart of these amendments is an extreme power grab that gives the Legislature sole power to distribute federal funds. Currently, the governor and legislators work together to allocate most of the federal funds directed to our state. In emergencies like natural disasters, the governor has discretion to direct funds to state agencies, ensuring timely relief to those who urgently need it.

These amendments would permanently prohibit Wisconsin governors from having a role in how these funds are used, and recent history shows such a change would be disastrous.

Wisconsin has a full-time Legislature, yet under Republican control, it was the least active full-time legislature in the country during the pandemic. This year, the Assembly gaveled out on Feb. 22 and the Senate on March 12. Their inaction has led to tens of millions in federal funds — our tax dollars — being revoked from Wisconsin. Even now, they’re holding funds hostage that should be used to clean up toxic chemicals from our water and help keep rural hospitals open.

Photo by The Cap Times. Read the full piece at CapTimes.com