VOTE NO: Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, Wisconsin Public Education Network join statewide orgs in urging NO vote on constitutional amendment questions

The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellence Schools joins the growing statewide coalition of trusted democracy champions in urging you to VOTE NO on both constitutional amendment questions on the August 13, 2024 ballot.

We again have constitutional amendments on our ballot that are misleading and dangerous. We urge you to VOTE NO on both of these 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?”

These proposals would disrupt our balance of power and strip the governor’s authority to direct funds directed to Wisconsin by Congress. Over the past few years Congress has sent states emergency funds for COVID relief. The Governor quickly directed those funds to public schools, childcare centers, and towns so that they could provide services to people across the state.

These proposals would have required a joint resolution of our Assembly and Senate before those funds could have been released. Can you imagine the gridlock that would have occurred if this had been in place then? Public schools would not have had the funds to buy COVID supplies and additional staff to meet students’ and communities’ needs.

We don’t need more political haggling during emergencies. Currently the governor has the authority to spend funds as directed by Congress. We can hold the governor accountable for those decisions through our statewide elections. There is no need for an additional layer of red tape.

There are other federal funds which might be impacted by this amendment as well – this is unclear. Currently the federal government provides funding for special education, services to assist teaching English language, additional supports for low income students. What happens to these funds if they have to be funneled through and approved by the state legislature?

Other organizations urging NO votes on these constitutional amendments:

Chippewa Valley Votes

Common Cause Wisconsin

EXPO of Wisconsin

GROWW

Law Forward

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

Oregon Area Progressives

Power to the Polls WI

Progress North

Souls to the Polls Wisconsin

Urban League of Greater Madison

WAVE Educational Fund

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition

Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice

Working Families Power

Wisconsin Voices

TAKE ACTION!

Our friends at Working Families Power have made it easy to send a personalize postcard urging your friends to VOTE NO – click here for more info and to sign up! (by July 19):

Send a free photo postcard this year to remind your friends and family to VOTE NO in August on the Constitutional Amendments that are on the ballot in 2024! Join a Working Families Power postcard event to learn how to do this action that turns out voters!. >> https://www.mobilize.us/wfpower/ .

We encourage you to learn more with these helpful resources from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, including this Overview of the proposals and Vote No Toolkit.