MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Legislature's budget committee has voted to give it the power to approve transfers of money from the state's veterans homes into a trust fund that pays for veterans services.
The Joint Finance Committee unanimously voted Thursday to give itself oversight of the transfers to the Veterans Trust Fund. The move comes a week after an audit found that $55 million had been transferred from the King veterans home despite concerns over needs there.
Gov. Scott Walker vetoed such oversight in the last budget. Committee co-chair Rep. John Nygren says he has no assurance that Walker won't do it again.
Democrats argued that $26 million from the state's main account should be used to make sure the veterans trust fund does not run out of money but Republicans rejected it.
Forecasts project the fund may run out of money by the end of the two-year budget.