The Frankenstein veto sounds like a rhetorician's dream. Conjuring up images of an out-of-control monster, terrorizing all who come across its path, it sounds like something that will scare the dickens out of you, along with some other unsavory things.
But, truth be told, it might not sound so scary to those who have a less-than-affectionate view of American democracy's commitment to checks and balances, or if you've been watching the news lately, Wisconsin's State Senate Democrats. Last Tuesday, by refusing to act on a measure, which would put Governor Jim Doyle's veto powers up to a vote on the April ballot, Senate Democrats allowed the infamous veto to remain part of the governor's arsenal. In the process, the state Senate gave away their rights as a body to legislate the laws that influence the lives of everyday Wisconsinites.
While the hubbub surrounding the veto is relatively new, the Frankenstein veto has been around for years, and Doyle is certainly not the first to abuse it. Former Governor Tommy Thompson, now running for president, abused this privilege mightily during his tenure as governor. But, despite Democratic opposition to the use of it then, the Democrats seemingly forgot their high-minded principles the second that the state's gubernatorial colors changed to blue.
The powers give the governor authority to alter legislation by removing chunks of text to change the meaning to fit the governor's desires. That is to say if there are 10 sentences between the words "increase" and "spending," Jim Doyle can cut all of those sentences to make a new sentence to say "increase spending." The veto power is particularly useful in appropriations bills, such as the budget, where the governor is able to resolve budgetary disputes with the simple stroke of a pen. This has to violate some principle of American democracy, right? You bet.
Fundamental to the Legislature's powers is its ability to present legislation for the governor to sign into law. By separating the powers, Americans have found the value of acquiring consent of all parties before passing laws that directly affect the people they govern.
Almost every state, except for Wisconsin, follows this procedure, which makes the governor's powers sweepingly inconsistent with the values of our democracy. However, despite the fact that Democrats have been at the raw end of this deal and have experienced the abusive power of Republicans before, their commitment to reversing this practice is, at its most flattering, weak.
By refusing to act on the bill Tuesday, Senate Democrats guaranteed that the practice will face no democratic vote and continue, for the most part, unbeknown to Wisconsinites. This failure to act shows that Senate Democrats gave way for this practice to continue simply for selfish motivations.
It is rather easy to understand the temptation to not act on this kind of legislation, as the governor's powers make it easier for Senate Democrats to attain the appropriations they want without facing their partisan opponents in the Capitol. But this kind of temptation must be rejected for the sake of the Democrats' integrity.
Although the Democrats have made a habit of lambasting previously GOP-dominated Washington for not pursuing more democratic legislation in Congress, it appears that when the spotlight is turned on their own party's actions, they are quite content to shy away and use the same kinds of tactics they associate with neoconservative Republicans. This kind of hypocrisy has its unique place in politics, but it corrupts the idealism and rhetoric that spew from each party.
Senate Democrats need to take a stand against the veto and move to make the governor's office as democratic as it is supposed to be, for the sake of their own future. If you opposed a power when it was in the hands of your opposition, why not act now to prevent that kind of sweeping rule from being used against you in the future?
Apparently, the Senate Democrats in Madison simply forgot that election cycles bring new leaders and new majorities from time to time. This kind of thoughtlessness is something that the high-minded Democrats can surely avoid in the future.
However, in order to do this, Senate Democrats must first do something they have not yet demonstrated they are capable of doing: put their money where their mouth is.
Robert Phansalkar ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in languages and cultures of Asia and political science.
