WED PM Update: State GOP knocks Dem absentee voting lawsuit; state sees absentee ballot envelope shortage

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — State and national Dems today said their federal lawsuit seeking to make it easier to vote absentee in the spring election was an effort to prevent the disenfranchisement of voters due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the state GOP accused Dems of trying to use the health crisis to “rig” the election. The suit, filed in the Wes… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember Me

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DNC, WisDems: File lawsuit to expand access to voting in wake of global pandemic

MADISON, WI – Today, the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin are filing a request in the Western District of Wisconsin to expand access to voting in response to the growing coronavirus threat. The suit seeks the following: Extend the electronic and by-mail registration to April 3; Suspend the requirement that copies of photo identification accompany absentee ballot requests and copies of proof of residency documents accompany voter registration requests, for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak; and Extend the current deadline requiring absentee mail-in ballots to be received by  8:00 p.m. on Election Day to being

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Evers turns to lawmakers in the fight against COVID-19

Gov. Tony Evers is calling for lawmakers to immediately repeal a one-week delay in collecting unemployment benefits and his administration is asking agencies for input on a possible legislative package in response to the pandemic. Stephanie Hoff and Pat Poblete discuss the latest coronavirus developments in the Capitol and when the state Senate intends to meet.  

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Gov. Evers: Orders scaling down of all child care settings

Contact: [email protected] or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today directed Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to restrict the size of all child care settings. Centers may not operate with more than 10 staff present at a time and may not operate with more than 50 children present at a time. This order can be found here. The restriction in size goes into effect at 8 a.m. on Thurs,, March 19, 2020 to give child care providers and families time to make plans for care moving forward. The closure will remain in effect for the duration of the public health

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Amendment would protect workers during coronavirus emergency

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) have introduced an amendment to the House coronavirus legislation to eliminate job-killing paid leave mandates and instead expand eligibility for unemployment insurance to those who aren’t able to earn a paycheck due to coronavirus. The senators’ amendment would: Create a Temporary Emergency Federal Unemployment Insurance Program in which states must expand eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who cannot work due to the coronavirus; Benefits paid are the lesser of 2/3 an individual’s average weekly earnings or $1,000; Affected workers can receive unemployment

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U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Helps introduce updated emergency paid leave; small business support legislation in response to worsening coronavirus crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, helped introduce the PAID Leave Act (Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act). The PAID Leave Act is a comprehensive emergency paid sick days and paid family and medical leave bill—fully funded by the federal government during this emergency—to provide additional support to workers and businesses during the coronavirus outbreak and future public health emergencies. The bill is led by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).   “The Senate must guarantee workers don’t lose pay when they stay home sick, or go

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ACLU of Wisconsin: Demands the release from prisons and jails of communities vulnerable to COVID-19

MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin officials should heed public health experts’ advice and immediately release individuals in detention who are at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19, wrote the ACLU of Wisconsin in a letter to Governor Tony Evers and other criminal justice system stakeholders today. In the letter, they are asking to ensure that system actors are responding to recommendations put forth by public health experts, specifically calling for the immediate release from prisons and jails of communities identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as vulnerable, as well as people currently in pretrial detention, to prevent a

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Gov. Evers: Submits request for economic injury disaster loan assistance for small Wisconsin businesses

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today submitted a request to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance for small Wisconsin businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. Gov. Evers request to SBA can be found here.  “Social distancing and self-isolation are critical steps in reducing and preventing the spread of this virus in our communities, but it comes at an economic cost to our local businesses,” said Gov. Evers. “The loan assistance from SBA will help alleviate some of the financial burden and stress on our small businesses during

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Sen. Kooyenga: Open letter to Secs. Crim and Palm

Note: If this post has anything to do with Evers, the Evers administration or lame-duck legislation and related lawsuits, please tag it as Evers Administration. Please delete this note before publishing…. Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

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Evers turns to lawmakers in the fight against COVID-19

Gov. Tony Evers is calling for lawmakers to immediately repeal a one-week delay in collecting unemployment benefits and his administration is asking agencies for input on a possible legislative package in response to the pandemic. Stephanie Hoff and Pat Poblete discuss the latest coronavirus developments in the Capitol and when

Read More »

U.S. Sen. Johnson: Amendment would protect workers during coronavirus emergency

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) have introduced an amendment to the House coronavirus legislation to eliminate job-killing paid leave mandates and instead expand eligibility for unemployment insurance to those who aren’t able to earn a paycheck due to coronavirus.

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U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Helps introduce updated emergency paid leave; small business support legislation in response to worsening coronavirus crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, helped introduce the PAID Leave Act (Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act). The PAID Leave Act is a comprehensive emergency paid sick days and paid family and medical leave bill—fully funded by the federal government during this emergency—to

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Sen. Kooyenga: Open letter to Secs. Crim and Palm

Note: If this post has anything to do with Evers, the Evers administration or lame-duck legislation and related lawsuits, please tag it as Evers Administration. Please delete this note before publishing…. Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free

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