State Rep. Warren Petryk

Recently the Assembly and Senate passed legislation asking Wisconsin voters if they want to continue the practice of allowing one person in our state government to control and spend billions of dollars without oversight by peoples’ elected representatives. This practice, implemented in the 1930s, gives the governor complete control over federal funds that come into the state. The people of Wisconsin elected the legislature to have control over the purse strings, and when this power is circumvented, the people lose their ability to have a say in spending decisions.

The need to reform the existing process was on full display following the passage of various COVID relief packages by Congress. Because of current practice, the governor embarked on a one-man $5 billion spending spree without consulting you, the people of Wisconsin, and the funds were spent on hand-picked projects that the governor wanted. This unilateral decision-making process by the governor raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the allocation of public funds. His actions highlighted the urgency to establish a process of fair distribution of resources based on community needs and priorities.

Not surprisingly, both parties have introduced bills to take back legislative oversight of these federal funds. In fact, the Democratic-controlled legislature approved legislation in 2009 to give the legislature oversight over federal funds received by the state during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Similar legislation known as the "Truth in Spending Act" was passed in 2021 to provide the same oversight of federal COVID funds, only to be vetoed by the governor.

That is why the legislature began the process of getting these questions before voters. During the November election, voters will be asked two questions:

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?”

So, the questions for voters this November are simple: should one person be allowed to spend your tax dollars without any oversight by the people, and do you think that your elected legislators should have a say in this discussion to make sure that the interests and the needs of the people of the Chippewa Valley are represented? The answer should be a resounding “yes.”