Wisconsin State Legislators are seeking to repeal Governor Evers 400 year education bill, after a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court in April. 

Governor Tony Evers, with the use of line-item voting, created 400 years of funding for Wisconsin education. The bill funded $325 per K-12 student for the 2023-2024, and the 2024-2025 school years. Evers was able to use the line-item veto, and make it appear to fund schools through the year 2425. (RELATED: Green Bay Opens Search for New Superintendent)

In April, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a split decision that Evers’ veto was within his constitutional power. “Appropriation bills may be approved in whole or in part by the governor,” said Justice Jill Karofsky in the majority opinion. 

“How does a bill become a law?” Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote in the dissenting opinion. “According to the majority, one option looks like this: The legislature passes a bill in both houses and sends it to the governor. The governor then takes the collection of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks he receives from the legislature, crosses out whatever he pleases, and — presto! — out comes a new law never considered or passed by the legislature at all. And there you have it — a governor who can propose and enact law all on his own.” 

The bill that Wisconsin lawmakers are introducing would effectively repeal Evers’ “2425” funding. “The pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock 402 years before this veto. It is hard to justify locking in a funding increase for just as long into the future,” said the sponsors in the bill’s cosponsorship memo. 

If passed in both legislatures, the bill must pass through Governor Evers desk. 

Lawmakers are looking into the 2025-2027 budget for possible adjustments, and looking to possibly pass amendments to the State Constitution to try to limit line-item powers similar to this. (RELATED: State Supreme Court Strikes Down Evers’ Use of Line-Item Veto on a Literacy Coaching Program Bill)