Assembly Republicans plan to attempt an override of Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of legislation seeking to cut off enhanced federal unemployment benefits when the chamber convenes today.
Meanwhile, Evers wants lawmakers to approve $550 million for K-12 and higher ed while they’re in the Capitol, calling a special session to coincide with the veto override attempt.
Assembly Org on Monday afternoon circulated a ballot adding AB 336 to the extraordinary session used last month to take up the budget and several other bills.
The enhanced benefits of $300 a week are set to expire in early September. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to be in regular session again until Sept. 28.
As planning for the veto override was underway, Evers signed an executive order calling on lawmakers to meet and take up a bill to increase education funding.
While the guv can call the special session, he can’t force lawmakers to act.
In a video announcing the special session, Evers said he was glad lawmakers aren’t “taking this summer off,” a dig over the Legislature not returning in 2020 after passing a bipartisan COVID-19 bill in April. He then accused Republicans of trying to play politics by seeking to override his vetoes.
“If Republican have time to come into session just to try and override my vetoes, then they sure as heck have time to come into session and to do what’s best for our kids,” Evers said. “So If they’re going to come to Madison, then they have work to do.”
The Republican co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee in a joint statement said the special session call was “nothing but political posturing.”
State Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and state Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said the governor signed the K-12 budget passed by the Legislature.
“It was a good budget and we continue to stand by our decisions,” they said.
