Frankenstein Veto Almost Dead
December 15th, 2007 - Written by Joey
We northern ‘Sconies should be ashamed of continually re-electing Dave Obey, but we nearly make up for the embarrassment by electing Sheila Harsdorf:
MADISON, Wis. — The most expansive veto power of any governor in the country would be curtailed under a proposal that unanimously cleared the state Senate on Tuesday.
The proposal would amend the Wisconsin constitution to ban the so-called “Frankenstein” veto. That allows the governor to cross out words and numbers and stitch together others to create new laws not approved by the Legislature.
Senators said Tuesday that the veto ability gives the governor too much power.
“It is very difficult for us as legislators to negotiate a budget in good faith with no assurance that what comes out of the governor’s office looks anything like what was sent to them,” said Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls.
“We feel its so important to restore integrity of the state Senate and Assembly that we don’t allow something to be vetoed in without having the legislative intent — that you create law simply by veto,” said Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee.
The proposal that passed Tuesday would only take away the ability to create new sentences and would leave intact several other ways in which governors could make new laws or change spending levels.
Voters have to approve of the change. If the Assembly agrees, it will appear on the April 1 ballot.
A spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle said he had no comment on Tuesday’s vote, but he has voiced opposition to the measure in the past, saying the veto has been used to help reign in extreme spending.
If you were to record Doyle’s quote on a voice recorder, and play it backwards, this is what you would get:
“I support the Frankenstein Veto because I can use it to slash the funding necessary functions of government (i.e. infrastructure spending), and instead use my power to appease special-interest groups by transferring massive dollar amounts from designated funds (e.g. The Transportation Fund) to the general fund, which allows me to spend the taxpayers’ money on things they don’t support, but that my supporting special interest groups want. Because after all, the taxpayers of Wisconsin don’t know what they need. Special interest groups do, and that’s why they support me and my creative vetoes, because I – like them – understand how stupid the Wisconsin taxpayers are.”
Here’s an example of the Frankenstein Veto in action (Click on the image to view the original PDF):
Our deepest gratitude goes out to Sheila Harsdorf, who has been a hawk on this issue. Thanks, Sheila!
December 16th, 2007 at 7:42 am
This is good news! Doyle is an embarrassment to this state and the fine people who live here. Somehow Madison seems to trump the rest of the state when it comes to state government a lot of the time, as I have noticed that rarely does Madison coincide with the rest of us (especially out here). On the other hand, Sheila really seems to represent us very well, which is a good thing.
It will be a good day when Doyle’s magic pen gets taken away from him.