Telling reporters he thanks God he has a strong veto,
Governor Doyle is urging Senate Democrat leaders to delay action in the state Senate on a constitutional amendment to do away with the Frankenstein veto power of the governor. The amendment would prohibit governors, regardless of political party, from using their partial veto power to create new sentences, and thus, new appropriations.
Senate leaders are listening to the governor. Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) and Senate President Fred Risser (D-Madison) say the amendment will not come to the floor of the state Senate anytime soon.
The state Senate is the last stop for the amendment that must pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before it can go to voters in a statewide referendum. The state Assembly passed the amendment February 1, 70-25. Unless the Senate acts on the amendment by February 20, the amendment cannot be placed on the April 2007 ballot for voter consideration.
What does this mean? The refusal of Senate Democrats to schedule the amendment in a timely fashion means Governor Doyle desperately wants to retain the ability to abuse the most expansive veto authority of any governor in the country. Senate Democrats are willing to oblige the governor instead of allowing statewide voters an opportunity to consider bipartisan public policy.
The most serious ramification of inaction by Senate Democrats is that Governor Doyle will be able to utilize the Frankenstein veto in the upcoming state budget. Two years ago, he was able to veto into the state budget an extra $427-million in spending the Legislature never authorized.
