The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) issued a statement applauding the Wisconsin State Senate for passing Senate Joint Resolution 116 (SJR 116). This proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution curbs executive overreach by prohibiting the governor from using the partial veto to create or increase taxes or fees.
The Quote: WILL Policy Director, Kyle Koenen, stated, “Governor Evers’ 400-year veto was a wake-up call to property taxpayers and policymakers alike. By striking single digits to turn a two-year funding plan into a four-century tax hike, the Governor effectively became a ‘super-legislator.’ No governor, regardless of political party, should have the power to unilaterally hike taxes through a veto pen. We urge the Assembly to act quickly and give Wisconsin voters, and taxpayers, the right to correct this costly decision.”
Closing the 400-Year Loophole: While past amendments eliminated so-called “Vanna White” and “Frankenstein” vetoes, Governor Evers exploited a remaining loophole in the 2023-25 budget. By selectively striking digits from a school funding provision, he transformed a two-year increase into a permanent hike lasting until the year 2425.
In 2025, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld this “digit-veto”, confirming that the governor can create new fiscal policy the Legislature never authorized. SJR 116 directly addresses this by:
- Prohibiting any partial veto that results in a tax or fee increase.
- Stripping the governor’s ability to authorize new taxes through selective deletions.
- Returning the power of the purse to the elected representatives who are accountable to taxpayers.
What’s Next: If SJR 116 is approved by the Wisconsin State Assembly by the end of this legislative session, Wisconsin voters will have the opportunity to ratify the amendment on a statewide ballot in November 2026.
Read More:
- Legislative Testimony, January 2026
Read and share the press release online.
