MADISON, WI – On Friday, August 8th, Governor Tony Evers vetoed five of the bills sent to his desk by the Wisconsin Legislature. One of these vetoed bills was AB 85, which would have ensured that criminals would go before a judge for revocation if they are charged with a new crime while serving community supervision. Another was AB 73, which would have statutorily recognized two specialized dockets in Wisconsin’s court system. As the author of AB 85 and the second author of AB 73, Representative Brent Jacobson (R – Mosinee) released the following statement:
“I am disappointed and frustrated that Governor Evers has once again chosen to stand in the way of meaningful reform to our justice system,” said Rep. Jacobson. “These two bills offered real solutions to the growing backlog in our courts, and the threat posed to our communities by rampant criminal recidivism. By vetoing AB 85 and AB 73, the Governor has demonstrated an unwillingness to address these major issues.”
“By the Department of Correction’s own estimates, over 6,000 individuals are allowed to remain on our streets despite continuing their criminal activity while on probation, parole, or extended release,” said Rep. Jacobson. “Meanwhile, our courts are clogged with complex commercial cases which can drag out for years, consuming resources that could go to other areas. Despite the Governor’s obstruction, I will continue to fight to protect Wisconsinites from being victimized, and to improve efficiency in our courts.”
