Wisconsin

Republican-led Legislature files challenge to Evers’ partial veto of literacy bill • Wisconsin Examiner

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2024

Republican-led Legislature files challenge to Evers’ partial veto of literacy bill • Wisconsin Examiner

Wisconsin’s Republican-led state Legislature filed a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Tony Evers this week to challenge his partial veto of a bill meant to help fund new literacy programs throughout the state.

The suit centers on $50 million that lawmakers dedicated in the most recent state budget to support the creation of new literacy programs in Wisconsin. Shortly after including the money in the budget, lawmakers passed Act 20, which directed the creation of the programs.

A final bill passed this year — now Wisconsin Act 100 — to create a “mechanism” for the state’s Joint Finance Committee to deploy the $50 million to support the programs is the subject of lawmakers’ suit.

Evers signed the bill, but exercised his partial veto power. He said in his veto message that he objected to overly complicating the allocation of funding, and that the veto would allow DPI the flexibility necessary to use the funding for various literacy needs based on the needs of Wisconsin schools.

“The single appropriation created through my partial veto will allow the department to administer the literacy coaching program, curriculum grants and financial assistance for early literacy professional development effectively and efficiently,” Evers wrote in the message.

Evers also vetoed a part that he said would have provided per-pupil increases to private choice and independent charter schools. He noted that those increases wouldn’t have been provided to public schools.

Republican lawmakers argued that the bill wasn’t eligible for a partial veto because it did not appropriate any money. They said the bill created a “framework” for the budget committee to direct the $50 million to specific DPI programs created after the budget bill passed.

“The unconstitutional partial veto of Act 100 leaves the Legislature in a dilemma: [the Joint Finance Committee] would like to fund the literacy programs created in Act 20, as specified in the bill, but the partially vetoed version of Act 100 does not ensure that the funds would be used on the literacy programs created by Act 20,” the complaint states. “Rather, any money directed under the partially vetoed version of Act 100 might (but should not) be treated by DPI as money that can be used by the Office of Literacy for any nondescript ‘literacy program’ of DPI’s invention.”

The lawmakers said declaratory relief is urgent. They said that the status quo should be preserved until there is a decision and the Court should bar DPI from spending the money and taking any other actions until then.

Evers’ spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a statement that the governor is capable of exercising line-item veto authority on appropriations bills under the Wisconsin Constitution.

“Republicans didn’t seem to have concerns about this concept until Wisconsinites elected and re-elected a Democratic governor,” Cudaback said.

Cudaback called the lawsuit “yet another Republican effort to prevent Gov. Evers from doing what’s best for our kids and our schools — this time about improving literacy and reading outcomes across our state.”

The lawsuit is the second challenge to Evers’ partial veto powers this week. The first lawsuit — filed by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business lobby group — seeks to have Evers’ partial veto that extended school funding increases for 400 years declared unconstitutional.

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Wisconsin

Sister Bay, Wisconsin: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Published

4 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Sister Bay, Wisconsin: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Located in scenic Door County, Wisconsin, the town of Sister Bay is a waterfront town directly on Green Bay. Outdoor enthusiasts head to Sister Bay for its access to hiking trails, nature preserves, and water pursuits such as boating, fishing, and ice-skating during winter. The town hosts a number of seasonal festivals including a film fest, marina fest, outdoor concert series, and the Door County Festival of Fine Arts. The annual Roofing of the Goats Parade is a popular event tied to Al Johnson’s, a local restaurant known for goats that graze on its rooftop during summer months.

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Wisconsin

Vote: Who is Wisconsin High School Boys Basketball’s Top Guard of 2025-26?

Published

16 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Vote: Who is Wisconsin High School Boys Basketball’s Top Guard of 2025-26?

With the action-packed Wisconsin high school boys basketball regular season completed and March Madness beginning, it’s time to take a look at some of the outstanding players and cast your vote for the best.

We began by looking at the most prolific individual scoring threats, talented 3-point shooters,strong rebounders, and top free-throw shooters so now it’s time to take a look at the high-caliber guards from throughout the state.

There are hundreds of high-caliber boys basketball players in Wisconsin, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

Voting remains open until March 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

(Players are listed in alphabetical order and all nominees are leaders from the 2025-26 season as compiled by Bound.com, and WIAA; the poll is below the list of athletes)

Castillo is averaging 25.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for Greendale (18-6 overall record).

Collien is averaging 15 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Oakfield (21-3 overall record).

Edwards is averaging 14.1 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for D.C. Everest (21-3 overall record).

Gray Jr. was averaging 24.3 points per game with 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals prior for West Allis Central (22-2 overall record).

Hereford is averaging 36.4 points per game with 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.1 steals for Beloit Memorial (22-2 overall record).

Johnson is averaging 27.3 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 steals for Milwaukee Juneau (22-1 overall record).

Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals for Germantown (15-9 overall record).

Kern is averaging 16 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Berlin West (21-3 overall record).

Kilgore is averaging 14.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals for Kewaunee (24-0 overall record).

Kohnen is averaging 16.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for Slinger (20-4 overall record).

Knueppel is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals for Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0 overall record).

Loose is averaging 18.2 points per game with 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals for Port Washington (23-1 overall).

Manchester is averaging 35.8 points per game for Mount Horeb (19-5 overall record).

Platz is averaging 19.5 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals for Brookfield East (19-5 overall record).

Prochnow is averaging 21.3 points per game with 11.1 assists, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 steals for Reedsville (21-3 overall record).

Resch is averaging 21.3 points per game with 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals for Arrowhead (18-6 overall record).

Schultz is averaging 27.4 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals for Plymouth (17-7 overall record).

Schwalbach is averaging 15 points per game with 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for Kaukauna (21-3 overall).

Sweeney is averaging 15.5 points per game for Appleton North (20-4 overall record).

Vandenberg is averaging 13 points per game with 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds for Freedom (23-1 overall).

About Our Player Poll Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

— Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com

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