Assembly Republicans on Tuesday passed almost a dozen bills aimed at taking control over billions of dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus â funds that Gov. Tony Evers currently has discretion over.
All told, Evers has control over $3.2 billion in federal dollars from the latest stimulus package and the Democratic governor has signaled heâs likely to veto the GOP-authored bills if they reach his desk. Whatâs more, some of the spending proposed by Republicans may not be allowed under federal rules, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
Evers, who has unveiled some of his plans for spending those dollars, has already vetoed two Republican bills that would have given the Legislature control over federal coronavirus stimulus funds.
Assembly OKs Republican COVID spending plan; Evers vows veto
By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press April 13, 2021 8:55pm Text size Copy shortlink:
MADISON, Wis. Assembly Republicans took another step Tuesday toward ripping control of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, passing a package of bills that would divvy out the money according to GOP priorities.
The state is in line to receive $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money and, by law, the dollars will be at Evers disposal. But Republicans have been loudly demanding they should have a say in the spending, saying that would create more transparency and accountability.
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Assembly Republicans took another step Tuesday toward ripping control of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, passing a package of bills that would divvy out the money according to GOP priorities.
The state is in line to receive $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money and, by law, the dollars will be at Evers’ disposal. But Republicans have been loudly demanding they should have a say in the spending, saying that would create more transparency and accountability.
“Instead of one person deciding how these taxpayer dollars should be spent, we really believe we should have a robust debate… and give the opportunity for the public to actually see where their dollars eventually will go,” Speaker Robin Vos told reporters.
GOP set to vote on $2 billion in spending that may violate U S rules postcrescent.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from postcrescent.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
RILEY VETTERKIND
Republican legislative leaders on Thursday called on Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to join 13 other states in suing the federal government to allow states to use the latest influx of federal stimulus dollars to cut taxes.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, sent a letter to Kaul to join other states in filing suit based on the argument that the federal government overstepped its constitutional authority in prohibiting states from cutting taxes with the money. A state s power to control its own budget and decide its state s tax burden is a core legislative function that is constitutionally protected, Vos and LeMahieu wrote. (The latest stimulus ) restriction that states may not reduce taxes â only raise them â is an unfair limitation on the sovereign authority of the states that acted responsibly and prudently during the trying times of this pandemic. Â