Wisconsin Senate to pass GOP COVID package despite veto threat
By AP author
Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison
MADISON, Wis. - Republicans who control the state Senate were poised Wednesday to give final approval to set of bills that would wrest control of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and hand it to the GOP.
The state is in line to receive $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money. By law the funding is at Evers’ disposal. But Republicans have developed legislation that would give them control, saying that would create more accountability and transparency.
Evers has signaled he’ll veto the package, but Assembly Republicans passed it anyway on Tuesday. The Senate was expected to follow suit Wednesday and send the bills on to the governor. Democrats contend that Republicans are just trying to score points with their base.
WI Supreme Court says governor cannot issue capacity limits
By Scott Bauer
Wisconsin Supreme Court
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Gov. Tony Evers administration does not have the authority to issue capacity limits on bars, restaurants and other businesses without approval of the Legislature, a ruling that comes two weeks after the conservative-controlled court struck down the state s mask mandate.
The Supreme Court also ruled last year in a similar case that the Democratic governor needed legislative approval for an emergency declaration that shut down businesses early in the coronavirus pandemic.
There has not been a statewide capacity limit restriction in place since October. That order limited the size of indoor public gatherings to 25% of a building or room’s occupancy or 10 people in places that don’t have an occupancy limit. The on-again, off-again order was blocked by a state appeals court that month.
The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Wednesday that the order issued by Evers’ Department of Health Services meets the definition of a rule, which by law must go through the Legislature. The court’s four conservative justices ruled against Evers, while three liberals dissented.
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, writing for the dissent, said the emergency order did not meet the definition of a rule and the Evers’ administration did not have to “go through the cumbersome rulemaking process.”
“At a time when public health experts are imploring pandemic-weary Wisconsinites to stay vigilant, a faulty statutory analysis once again leads this court to undermine public health measures,” Bradley wrote.
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Wisconsin Supreme Court says governor can’t limit capacity By: Associated Press April 14, 2021
8:53 am
By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Gov. Tony Evers’ administration does not have the authority to issue capacity limits on bars, restaurants and other businesses without approval of the Legislature, a ruling that comes two weeks after the conservative-controlled court struck down the state’s mask mandate.
The Supreme Court also ruled last year in a similar case that the Democratic governor needed legislative approval for an emergency declaration that shut down businesses early in the coronavirus pandemic.