This is an opinion piece by Ty Bodden about the Wisconsin referendum questions.
As the Aug. 13 primary election approaches, I am being asked by more and more people about how to vote on the two referendum questions. I’m educating voters on the importance of saying “YES” to both on the primary ballot. These questions are key to restoring our state’s constitutional foundations as originally intended by our founders.
With billions of your hard-earned dollars on the line, don’t you deserve to know where they are being spent? Don’t you deserve a voice in your state government to influence how those dollars are allocated? By voting “YES” to both Wisconsin August referendum ballot questions, you can ensure that your voice is heard.
The first question reads, “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?” This question aims to ensure that the legislature retains its constitutional power to decide how state funds are appropriated, preventing any delegation of this critical responsibility.
The second question reads, “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?” This question seeks to prevent the governor from unilaterally deciding the allocation of federal funds without legislative oversight, ensuring a more transparent and accountable process.
The genesis of these questions lies in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the federal government sent enormous amounts of money to states for relief. While some funds had restrictions, much of it did not. In Wisconsin, this became problematic due to a historical relinquishment of the legislature’s power of the purse, leaving the governor to decide how to spend these funds without sufficient oversight. Much of this reckless spending has led to the high inflation rates we are seeing today.
The non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau found in 2022 that our governor lacked transparency in spending these dollars. This lack of accountability is unacceptable. During the pandemic, we saw funds wasted and given to entities or projects such as a soccer stadium, a railroad museum, Planned Parenthood, and who knows what else. There were and are no checks on the governor or oversight on the spending of funds from the federal government.
Our government is not intended to be a dictatorship. It’s time to correct past decisions and restore proper checks and balances. By voting “YES” on both referendum questions, you can restore your voice in state governance and ensure the responsible allocation of your tax dollars. Make your voice heard on August 13th—vote “YES” for a more transparent and accountable Wisconsin.”
Ty Bodden is a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
