MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on veto override attempts (all times local):
3 p.m.
The first veto override attempt in nine years has failed on a party line vote in the Wisconsin Assembly.
No Democrats voted in support of an override pushed by Republicans to restore $15 million to build a new regional mental health crisis center in northern Wisconsin.
All 62 Republicans voted to override Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ veto and all 34 Democrats voted against.
Republicans argue that there was bipartisan support for building more regional crisis centers so Democrats should back the override. Backers cite the time and expense of transporting people up to eight hours away to get them to the Winnebago mental health crisis center in Oshkosh as reason to build a facility in northwestern Wisconsin.
Evers vetoed the funding so the money could be used to expand the existing Mendota mental health treatment center in Madison.
Republicans are also proposing two other overrides that Democrats have vowed to vote against.
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1:50 p.m.
Wisconsin Republican Assembly leaders say Democrats should join them in voting to override three vetoes by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
The Assembly is voting Thursday on the overrides. It is the first time since 2010 that the Assembly has voted to override a veto.
Republicans need Democratic support to be successful.
But Democratic Minority Leader Gordon Hintz says no Democrats will vote for them. He accuses Republicans of pushing the overrides to “cover for their cowardice” on not voting on gun control bills.
Republican Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke calls that accusation “ridiculous.”
Steineke says Democrats should support overriding one veto that killed funding to build a new regional mental health crisis center in northwestern Wisconsin. There has been bipartisan support to build more centers across the state.
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5:45 a.m.
The Wisconsin Assembly will vote on overriding three of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget vetoes.
Thursday’s votes will mark the first time since 2010 that the Legislature has tried to override the veto of a governor. No veto override has succeeded since 1985.
One of the targeted vetoes killed $15 million in funding to create a northern Wisconsin regional mental health crisis center. Another one blocked $5 million a year for doctors who care for people in state health care programs. The third gave the Evers administration more flexibility in how to spend $500,000 to increase the number of health care providers.
Republicans will need Democratic votes to be successful in the override, but no Democrats are expected to vote for it. The Senate would also have to go along.
