4 Feb 2021
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly is planning a vote Thursday to repeal the statewide mask mandate Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) previously issued.
The Assembly initially planned to vote on a version requiring the Senate to concur later in February. However, it will instead vote on a version that immediately ends the mandate, according to the Associated Press (AP).
“When people want to impose things because only one person believes they have the power to do so, that’s where the whole system falls apart,” said Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
The AP report continued:
The Senate voted last week to repeal the measure, as Republicans who control the Legislature continue to defy doctors, nurses, hospitals, schools, chambers of commerce and scores of others who have begged them to keep the mandate in place.
Republican legislators are seeking to end Wisconsin s mask mandate despite public support for the governor s order. Medical associations, school groups and chambers of commerce are among 53 groups that registered in favor of keeping the mandate.
State law allows the governor to issue emergency orders for 60 days. So far, Gov. Tony Evers has been issuing new orders every 60 days to extend the mask requirement. Republican legislators contend Evers has acted outside his powers as governor with each new extension.
The Wisconsin Senate voted Jan. 26 to end the mask requirement. The Assembly was on track to also vote last week, but Assembly leaders pulled back after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that ending the emergency order could mean Wisconsin loses $49 million a month in federal food assistance. Federal food assistance money is tied to whether a state has a public health emergency in place.
Wisconsin will become one of only 10 states without statewide mask mandates when the Assembly votes Thursday to overturn Gov. Tony Evers' order, but masks