'Frankenstein' Amendment Goes Before Voters Tuesday

MADISON, Wis. -- The so-called "Frankenstein" bill goes before voters at the polls on Tuesday, but do Wisconsinites know what they're voting on?

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The measure is called the Frankenstein veto because according to existing state law, governors can veto words or punctuation in legislation to combine sentences in bills to create new sentences that have a completely different meaning. Governors in Wisconsin have had a partial veto power since 1930, WISC-TV reported.

But in recent years, some said the executives of the state have abused the power.

The use of the power is bi-partisan. Gov. Tommy Thompson used it in 1991 to spend more than $319 million for a school tax credit. But possibly the most well-known "Frankenstein" sighting was in 2005 when Gov. Jim Doyle took a 752-word section down to 20 words that transferred $427 million from the state's transportation fund.

Critics charge the veto gives governors the power to create law that the Legislature didn't approve.

Some believe the amendment voters will decide on Tuesday limits that power, but others said that they believe it doesn’t go far enough.

"I don't know why anybody in the state of Wisconsin would want to vote against this because it clearly does bring the executive more into balance with the Legislature," said Common Cause executive director Jay Heck.

Madison attorney Fred Wade said the amendment contradicts wording that said the lawmaking power belongs in the Legislature. He said that he's not sure if passing this now is a step in the right direction.

"This amendment will limit the governor's power to make more laws," Wade said.

WISC-TV reported that there have been numerous instances of single-sentence vetoes, which can change the meaning just as much as multiple sentences and this amendment does not get rid of those.

Voters will not see the word "Frankenstein" on the ballot on Tuesday. The amendment is worded "partial veto." Voters will decide whether or not to prohibit part of the partial veto authority.