MADISON – Today, the State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 1038 which addressed our state’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Representative Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie) released the following statement:
I am encouraged that the Wisconsin Legislature has been able to work together in a bipartisan manner to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We addressed some real concerns today and began to ease the burden on Wisconsin residents who are hurting because of this once-in-a-century catastrophe. However, I do not think our work is finished. We cannot simply pass this bill and think we have done enough for our constituents. We are faced with a rapidly evolving situation and we have to be prepared to come back to address more issues as they arise.
Not only must we be ready to address unforeseen challenges related to COVID-19, there is more we must do. While a good start, I do not believe that AB 1038 was as strong as it could have been. Assembly Democrats have identified additional concerns that were not covered in AB 1038. The health, safety, and economic security of Wisconsinites is paramount, and I hope that our Republican colleagues will be willing to work with us in our continued pursuit to tackle the pandemic.
I remain committed to work on whatever Wisconsin needs to get our state through this crisis. We must not turn our backs on our constituents, who rely on us to do what is in their best interests, especially during an emergency such as COVID-19.
