Politics & Government

Walker Plans to Make 50 Vetoes in Wisconsin State Budget

But controversial provision that could hurt microbrewers statewide isn't one of them.

Hours before he is slated to sign the 2011-13 state budget into law, Gov. Scott Walker Sunday morning announced that he will make 50 vetoes or partial vetoes in the spending plan approved by the Legislature.

"These vetoes remove unnecessary reports and requirements, clarify program implementation timelines, and improve the intended focus of certain programs," the Republican governor said in his budget address and veto message.

JSOnline is reporting that Walker will veto one provision that would have allowed bail bondsmen in Wisconsin and another that would have let fired Milwaukee police officers to continue to receive pay while they appealed their dismissals.

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He also plans to use his vast veto powers to bar public employees from collecting pensions unless they work for a government for five years or more, JSOnline reports.

WisPolitics.com says Walker also will veto a measure requiring fingerprinting for child care providers, saying "requiring fingerprints of all child care providers creates an unnecessary burden for small child care businesses."

Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, Walker is not going to veto a provision in the budget that bans beer-makers from also distributing their beverages, even though he had been urged to do so by .

Former Gov. Jim Doyle issued 81 partial vetoes in his last budget, when his Democratic Party had control of both legislative houses, according to WisPolitics.com.

During his tenure, Doyle’s budget veto numbers ranged from a high of 139 in 2005 to a low of 33 in 2007, the lowest number of budget vetoes issued by a governor since 1971, when there were 12.

Walker will sign the budget bill into law at 2 p.m. Sunday in Green Bay.


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