August 2024 Partisan Primary Constitutional Amendments:

Adding Obstacles to the Allocation of Federal Monies

Madison skyline from Lake Mendota. Credit: Michael Cain

As we head into the summer of 2024, much of the current political and media attention is focused on the November election and its impact on the future of our country. First, however, is the August 13 partisan primary. The outcomes of two constitutional amendment questions on this ballot may have significant impacts on the future of our state. These questions ask voters to decide how federal dollars should move through the state.

Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) is working collaboratively with a wide array of partners to create awareness of the two constitutional amendments on the August 13 primary ballot, and to ensure voters fully understand the effect it will have if they are approved. As a nonpartisan conservation organization, we want to help Wisconsinites feel informed about these constitutional questions and be empowered to vote.

How do federal monies get to Wisconsin communities now?

Currently, the Wisconsin governor is the conduit by which federal funds are delivered to the state, under Chapter 16 of the State Statutes. As the conduit, the governor “may stipulate…such conditions in the governor’s discretion…to safeguard the interests of the state.” For example, Gov . Tony Evers used his authority under this statute to distribute federal COVID-19 pandemic response funding.

What would change if voters approved these questions in August?

The August 13th ballot questions, if approved by voters, would remove this authority from the executive branch and require legislative approval before the governor could allocate federal monies and help Wisconsinites and their communities. This additional time-consuming step could slow or halt distribution of federal dollars. These kinds of public monies are necessary for communities to recover from disasters like floods or severe storms or to conserve special places like the Gile Flowage.

If these amendments are approved, the state’s time-sensitive work on climate change and clean energy could be in jeopardy. Climate change funding, under the Inflation Reduction Act, is channeled through the governor’s office. The recent history of the Legislature has shown repeated attempts to delegitimize the existence of climate change and reject clean energy opportunities. WGF is part of the Wisconsin Climate Action Navigators, working with the Governor’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy to develop and implement the state’s Clean Energy Plan.

The questions on voters’ ballots:

(Check your ballot and voter registration status at https://myvote.wi.gov)

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?”

• Yes
• No

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?”

• Yes
• No

What does a “Yes” vote or a “No” vote mean on each question?

According to BallotPedia:

“A ‘yes’ vote supports amending the state constitution to require legislative approval via a joint resolution before the governor can expend federal money appropriated to the state.”

“A ‘no’ vote opposes this amendment, thereby allowing the governor to accept and allocate federal funds without seeking legislative approval.”

Mix of Sun and Clouds – Perch Lake, Chequamegon National Forest, photo by Jeff Henry