(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed nine bills, including one that moves state employees back into an office and others that deal with unemployment requirements.
Overall, the vetoes dealt with bills that textended the time employers have to respond to unemployment claims, allowed for businesses to report when those on unemployment decline job offers, required state workers to work 80% of their time in an office, required schools to allow for inspection of instructional materials within 14 days of a request, prevented local governments from blocking the sale of motor vehicles based on energy source and required judicial approval for plea agreements related to violent crimes.
The vetoes came as Evers also signed 11 bills, including a cell phone ban in schools during instructional time.
Evers explained that he vetoed the unemployment requirements because he is against “creating additional barriers for individuals applying for or receiving benefits” from unemployment. Additionally, he wrote that an in-office work requirement for state workers would be encroaching on his own authority as governor.
Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, wrote Monday that the bill extending the time employers have to respond to unemployment claims came because delays in the U.S. Postal Service have created situations where employers don’t have enough time to respond to claims after they receive a letter and that some letters have even arrived after the deadline.
“Improper payments cause unnecessary paperwork for both the state and employer and create a sense that the system is unfair among the hard-working staff that show up to work every day and keep a business running,” Hutton said in a statement. “This bill wasn’t a silver bullet, but it was a needed step in the right direction.”
He also objected to Evers’ veto of the bill requiring judicial approval of plea agreements for certain offenses. Evers said he disagreed with limiting prosecutors’ discretion in charges.
“Governor Evers’ veto is a victory for violent felons, dangerous reckless drivers, car thieves and abusers who hope to walk away from the consequences their crime, and it’s a defeat for the law-abiding citizens those people prey upon,” Hutton said in a statement.
Evers said that he believes schools already are required to provide parents access to instructional materials and doesn’t believe the state should add additional requirements.
