Reported by The Associated Press, on July 5, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 6-1 in favor of Governor Evers in a separation of powers case deeming the Joint Finance Committee’s (JFC) denial of funding for land conservation projects unconstitutional. This ruling marks a victory for the governor and for all Wisconsinites.
The case focused on the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Established by the legislature in 1989, the program allows the state Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations for environmental initiatives. The DNR also uses the program’s funds to purchase land for conservation and public use.
Republicans on the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) have long opposed the Stewardship Program, claiming that it impedes land development and removes parcels from local tax rolls. In a glaring example of this obstruction, JFC blocked a DNR proposal to allocate $4 million from the program to secure a conservation easement on 56,000 acres of the Pelican River Forest, the largest land conservation effort in Wisconsin’s history. Governor Evers eventually obtained federal funding for the purchase, circumventing the committee’s decision.
In an attempt to put a stop to JFC’s overstep, Governor Evers filed a lawsuit in October 2023, which challenged the Republican-led JFC’s constitutional authority to block conservation projects. The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case in April 2024. Today, the court determined that once the executive branch is granted the authority to allocate funds, the legislature cannot reject spending decisions without amending the relevant laws.
The court’s recent ruling is a major step in safeguarding Wisconsin’s public lands and upholding the separation of powers, ensuring that the will of the people who cherish the state’s natural heritage is respected.
Governor Evers expressed his relief and gratitude following the Court’s ruling.
“I’ve spent years working against near-constant Republican obstruction, and this historic decision rightfully resets constitutional checks and balances and restores separation of powers,” the governor said in a statement. “This decision is a victory for the people of Wisconsin, who expect and deserve their government to work — and work for them, not against them.”
This story was also published on WXPR, WisconsinWatch and The Washington Post.
Featured image by Mike Goad, 2018.
