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Wimberger Demands Evers Follows the Law
The fight over nearly $200 million in interest from Wisconsin’s unspent COVID money may very well end-up in court.
Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, told lawmakers Wednesday that Wisconsin state law is clear: Any unspent interest money needs to go back to the state’s general fund, and not stay in Gov. Evers’ “slush fund.”
“It’s now up to $172 million,” Wimberger explained. “The bill might seem a bit redundant, in that it's telling the governor to obey the state law, but apparently that's needed. “We need to tell the governor to obey the state law.”
The $172 million in interest comes from what is left of the nearly $3 billion that Wisconsin got in pandemic era relief dollars. Lawmakers tried to get some control over that money as well, but Gov. Evers vetoed legislation that would have given the legislature fiscal oversight on federal dollars.
Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, said Gov. Evers is likely to veto this legislation as well.
“Clearly this is some sort of an extension of the debate this legislature and this Governor have had, for essentially five years running now, over who should have authority over Federal COVID relief money,” Spreitzer asked of Wimberger. “Isn't this just likely to be vetoed by the governor, and then unless this legislature decides to sue and actually find out what a court thinks, the governor gets to spend these funds? Is there anything more to this than that?”
Spreitzer said there’s a “legal gray area” around the COVID interest.
Wimberger said that’s a “ridiculous” argument.
“This guidance from the federal government is actually an absence of guidance from the federal government,” Wimberger added. “We're bound, in these circumstances, to do things with interest unless directed by the federal government.”
Wimberger's plan had its hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Labor, and Economic Development. It still needs a vote in the full Senate, and Assembly.
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