The veto has been in place in Wisconsin since 1931, but it might not be around for very long.,”
- Referendum will be placed on April ballot to curb governor's "Frankenstein Veto" power.
- The veto gives Gov. Jim Doyle power to aggressively change legislation.
- The resolution passed in the state Assembly 94-1.
- State Rep. Frank Boyle says the bill won't restrict veto power.
It's alive! It's alive! For now.
Gov. Jim Doyle has the authority to slice sentences and words to create new paragraphs and change financial figures in what is being described as the "Frankenstein Veto," said state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls).
The veto has been in place in Wisconsin since 1931, but it might not be around for very long.
The state Assembly voted 94-1 on a resolution to place a referendum on the April 1 ballot, which could determine the future of the veto. If passed by voters, a constitutional amendment would be put in place to curb the governor's veto power.
Harsdorf, chief sponsor of the resolution, co-wrote the resolution with state Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee).
The proposed amendment passed through the state Senate in December with a 33-0 vote.
Harsdorf said the resolution states "a governor cannot create a new sentence by combining parts of two or more sentences."
In the 2005-2007 budget, Doyle used the "Frankenstein Veto" to take $427 million out of the transportation fund and place it in the general fund, Harsdorf said.
This issue sparked Harsdorf's concern regarding the governor's veto. Doyle eliminated more than 700 words and narrowed it down to 20, she said.
Harsdorf said she would like some assurance in knowing that what Senate and Assembly send into the governor's office doesn't come back dramatically different.
"It makes a mockery out of legislation," Harsdorf said.
State Rep. Frank Boyle (D-Superior) was the only legislator to vote against the bill. He said the bill is unclear, confusing and will eventually be tied up in the legal system.
"I have always supported a curb on the governor's power, but in a clearly defined manner," Boyle said.
Boyle opposed the veto because he doesn't think the amendment will restrict the governor's power. He said the bill is "total and complete deception," and it will eventually get tied up in the legal system because of its vagueness. Boyle said the bill is "much ado about nothing."
Boyle said the state Supreme Court should have interjected 20 years ago when former Gov. Tommy Thompson started to use his veto power wildly. Boyle said he blames the court for becoming inherently political.
The state Supreme Court election between incumbent Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gableman coincidentally will also be on the April 1 ballot.
Boyle said the governor should only have a line item veto. A line item veto would only give the governor the authority to remove items of bills—usually budgets, according to Janet Boles, a Marquette political science professor.
With the "Frankenstein Veto" a governor can change the overall meaning of a bill, Boles said. She said generally executives are given a line item veto over spending, and would have to remove the entire figure. With the "Frankenstein Veto," the governor can cut or add zeros to the end of a figure.
Doyle, who gave his annual State of the State address last night, was unavailable for comment.
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