Former Gov. Thompson backs spending change constitutional amendments

(The Center Square) – One of Wisconsin’s former governors is supporting the push to give state lawmakers a say in how Wisconsin spends billions of dollars in certain federal money.

Gov. Tommy Thompson said he supports the constitutional amendments that would give the legislature some authority to spend any future federal dollars.

“The Wisconsin’s Constitution establishes the power to appropriate money to the legislature. Clearly, this was intentional. The United States Constitution provides the same authority to Congress. Why? Because our elected representatives are closest and most responsive to the voters. And they know and understand – they respond and advocate – for the unique needs of their local communities,” Thompson said in a statement.

Thompson said government works best when it works together. There are two amendments on this month’s ballot that would change the constitution and stop Wisconsin’s governor’s from making certain federal spending decisions on their own.

“Our framers envisioned and designed our system so that they, your elected representatives, would drive taxing and spending decisions and would be accountable to you. This is exactly what the ballot questions before you are asking,” Thompson said. “Should your representative – the person who goes door to door to hear and respond to the concerns of their constituents, the person working with and most responsive to local government officials and needs – have a role, as is the case for all other taxpayer spending, in directing immense amounts of federal aid. Or should all that spending be unaccountable to and uninformed by your representatives?”

Republican lawmakers placed the two amendments on the August ballot after Gov. Tony Evers unilaterally spent more than $4 billion in COVID relief dollars. Some of the money went to things like minor league baseball teams across Wisconsin, and some of the money went groups like Planned Parenthood.

“If you share my determination for the value of collaboration and accountability, the answer to these questions is absolutely ‘YES,’” Thompson said.