Posted on 08/03/2005 5:31:16 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Wednesday August 03, 2005
By JR ROSS
Associated Press Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) The attorney general agreed Wednesday to review whether Gov. Jim Doyle violated the state constitution when he used his veto authority to allow his top aide to give more than $400 million to Wisconsin schools in the budget without legislative oversight.
Republican lawmakers have argued that Doyle, a Democrat, overstepped his authority with the move, saying only the Legislature has the power to appropriate funds.
Senate President Alan Lasee, R-DePere, asked the attorney general to review Doyle's vetoes in the state budget, particularly those that give the Department of Administration secretary the power to allocate money to K-12 education.
Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager told Lasee in a letter Wednesday the request had been referred to staff attorneys for a ``thorough review.''
Her opinion does not carry the weight of law and will have no impact on Doyle's vetoes. But Lasee said lawmakers could use her advice and the opinions of legislative attorneys in determining whether to challenge Doyle's vetoes in court.
Lasee said he preferred not to go to court, but lawmakers may have no other option.
Republican lawmakers are unlikely to override any of Doyle's vetoes, which would take a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Legislature. Some have talked about a constitutional amendment to rein in the governor's authority, but that would not go into effect until at least 2007 if lawmakers could successfully get it through the Legislature and a statewide referendum.
``That's a huge chunk of money for an unelected official to be in charge of and make decisions where it should go. That is troubling,'' Lasee said.
Doyle spokeswoman Melanie Fonder said Lautenschlager's decision to review the vetoes was a standard response. She said lawmakers should try to override the vetoes if they have a problem with them and was confident Doyle acted within his powers.
Wisconsin governors have one of the most powerful veto authorities in the country, allowing them to strike out numbers and words to create new policy and spending levels. Doyle's office has argued the vetoes he issued in the state budget were well within that power and that previous governors had taken similar steps.
Lawmakers approved a two-year budget giving schools $458 million more in state aid on top of the more than $5.3 billion they already get each year. Doyle vetoed a series of Republican initiatives and cut spending from other areas in the budget to give schools an increase of $861 million.
Didn't Tommy Thompson do a lot of weird things (like vetoing individual words and letters) to change the meaning of statutes? Eventually such antics were going to bounce back to the GOP's detriment.
Peg really showed Wisconsinites just what a great sense of responsibility she has..and just how 'other' centered she realy is
Doyle covered the matter up and never demanded her resignation... she was given a mild slap on the wrist.. and it's back to business as usual with our fully compromised AG..
She owes Doyle big time...and this is one of those times
he had in mind when he saved her in the first place
Of course MZ Lautenslaggers celebrating and parading in Madison's Gay Pride Parade makes her the local 'femanazis' and lesbian's delight..and her dog and pony shows of contention with Doyle make great drama..for the rubes, but the truth is they are very much birds of a feather.
I am pretty sure she was one of those Bill Clinton picks
for federal prosecutor years ago when the PC crowd regardless of credentials got 'judgeships' and federal prosecutor jobs..when Bill and Hillary fired any and all conservatives they could and replaced them with their own compromised personnel
IMO
Is anyone here in Milwaukee? Is there any news about the county sheriff there who put the baliff on foot patrol? Didn't want to start a whole thread to get an update and thought WI folks might read this one. Thanks.
He has been joined by a second deputy and a squad car
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