3/6/2020 UPDATE AND CLARIFICATION: The vetoed bill was specifically pertaining to Paddlewheels being used in raffles, not meat raffles themselves. Those are still legal with a typical state raffle license. We’ve left the story below in the interest of transparency.
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) — De Pere State Senator Andre Jacque had a big legislative week. Several bills Jacque sponsored were signed into law by Governor Tony Evers.
“Regulatory licensing…and of course getting the animal sexual abuse bill through was significant, as well as the town reform bill,” Jacque said, listing several that were passed into law.
But there was one bill he sponsored that was vetoed: A bill to allow charitable organizations to hold paddlewheel raffles.
“It was completely unexpected,” said Jacque. “We had unanimous support throughout the entire process, from the committee level to both chambers in floor votes…there were no individuals or groups known to be in opposition.”
As it stands, charities that hold such raffles could find their organizers charged with facilitating illegal gambling.
“It just seems odd that the governor would stand with those who would threaten our charitable organizations with Class I Felonies and jail time,” pondered Jacque.
Evers said he was opposed to expanding what constitutes a raffle in the state of Wisconsin and thought the measure could pose a threat to the exclusive rights of tribes to offer class III gaming in Wisconsin.
Jacque said he had a meeting with a tribal leader Wednesday who couldn’t understand the Governor’s justification.
“I was completely caught off guard [by the veto],” said Jacque. “I don’t know if that’s something that could potentially be overridden, but that tends to be more of a partisan exercise.”
