Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Evers' 400-Year Veto Authority

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, upheld Governor Tony Evers' partial veto that extended increased public school funding through property taxes for the next 400 years, far surpassing the original legislative intent of two years. Evers achieved this by striking specific digits and words from the budget language, effectively changing the funding timeline from '2023-24 and 2024-25' to '2023-2425.' The court's liberal majority ruled that the governor's use of partial veto power did not violate the state constitution, despite criticism from conservative justices and business groups who argued it constituted executive overreach and undermined the legislative branch's authority. Justice Jill Karofsky, writing for the majority, emphasized that the constitution does not restrict the degree of policy change a partial veto can enact, although she suggested the legislature could seek to amend the constitution to limit this power. The ruling has sparked concerns about long-term tax implications and the balance of power between Wisconsin's executive and legislative branches. The case highlights ongoing debates over the scope of gubernatorial veto authority in the state.