Both sides of the political aisle are making their opinions known on the three constitutional amendments on the 2026 election ballot.
Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu stated on WOMT’s Be My Guest program that the first amendment would stop any governor from raising taxes or fees with their veto power.
As stated previously, the issue arose after Republicans criticized Governor Tony Evers for using his pen in a previous budget to extend school funding to the year 2425.
LeMahieu described, “So a yes vote on this would say that whoever the governor is, and not just Governor Evers, can’t raise taxes like he did, for the next because, essentially, by doing that, if we don’t backfill that money, it raises taxes on everybody because schools are going to raise it $325 and you’ll be paying more in property taxes.”
The second amendment would prevent the State of Wisconsin from closing a place of worship in the event of a state or national emergency.
This comes after worship services in person were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to LeMahieu.
If the amendment passes, “The government can’t stop you from going to your church and worshiping your God,” he explained. “Which I think we have that right to do if we choose.”
LeMahieu says the last amendment would prevent discrimination based on sex, race, gender, or ethnicity.
This comes after Republicans have raised concerns about DEI, or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in places like higher education.
The Oostburg Republican claimed that the UW System would give preferential treatment to certain people.
LeMahieu noted, “And there has been good case law on this, and I believe. But it’s just codifying this now in the Constitution of Wisconsin.”
Democrats have come out against the constitutional amendments.
Previously during a debate, 25th District Assembly Candidate Chris Able said he doesn’t support the 1st constitutional amendment, calling it strangely phrased.
“I think the Frankenstein veto itself is the problem, that’s what should be fixed,” he stated. “And again, I understand why Governor Evers did it. Because he saw that school districts across the state were drastically underfunded and they could not legally raise their revenues without something changing.”
The League of Women Voters has also come out against the constitutional amendments, saying that “temporary closures of physical places of worship do not infringe upon citizens’ right to freely worship in safer ways, as during the COVID-19 pandemic” and that the third constitutional referendum would cause a loss of “60 years of progress for women and people of color.”
Wisconsin’s election is next Tuesday (November 3rd).
Today (October 30th) is also the last day residents can vote early.
