Emergency funding should remain in governor’s hands

Denise Fenton, Alderperson, Appleton Common Council District 6

The flooding in Appleton on July 5 combined with my anxiety about my elderly parents who are still without power after Hurricane Beryl struck near their home in the Houston area made the importance of the two questions on the Aug. 13 primary ballot even clearer to me.

While both ballot questions are worded for maximum confusion, they both seek to remove the governor’s statutory authority to spend appropriated or federal funds by requiring approval by both the state assembly and state senate. In an emergency, it is imperative that funds be available as soon as possible. If the legislature is not in session, there would be more delays to call a special session. The legislature committee process is not set up to be fast-moving even when it is in session. The governor is accountable to the whole state, while representatives and senators are incentivized to prioritize their own districts in the distribution of federal funds.

I hold the non-partisan office of alderperson in the city of Appleton, so I avoid public comments on national and state issues unless they directly affect the citizens of our city. Even then, my opinions are my own and I do not speak for the city of Appleton. I believe that amending Wisconsin’s constitution via ballot questions 1 and 2 will be bad for the citizens of Appleton and I urge everyone to vote absentee or in person and to make sure and turn your ballot over and vote 'no' on both questions.