Three weeks ago, Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) publicly asked Governor Evers for his
“rationale” in keeping the entire state under his Safer-At-Home order.1 Two weeks ago, State Senate Republicans followed up with Governor Evers with the same question about regionalization. As of this morning, Governor Evers still hasn’t provided any rationale for his one-size-fits-all approach vs a regional approach to his “Safer At Home” order.
“Governor Evers has said he based his decisions on “science and data.” If that is true, he should have easy answers for why he made his decisions,” said Wanggaard. “I fear the fact that he won’t answer this simple question to the Senate Majority is that he doesn’t have anything to back it up. Since he won’t answer the Senate Majority, maybe the media can get an answer from him.”
“Since I first asked my questions on April 17, the regional differences in COVID-19 infections have only grown wider.” Wanggaard added. “There are hotspots and flare-ups of infections, but they are largely in the same areas with high infection rates before Evers extended his Safer-At-Home Order. Wisconsin’s economy is being devastated because of the outbreaks of Coronavirus in 8-10 counties. It’s past time to loosen the reins in those other 60+ counties”
Wanggaard also noted that the other states in the “Midwestern partnership” for reopening the region’s economy are much further along in their reopening process. Evers has also repeatedly refused to answer why Wisconsin remains an outlier among the states in the strictness of their Safer-At-Home orders.
“Illinois and Michigan have outlined their regional approach to reopening in the last week. Other Midwest “partner states” are reopening in a much broader way than what Governor Evers has allowed,” said Wanggaard. “If Evers and the other Governors are sharing data and best practices as the “partnership” claims, then why is Wisconsin an outlier? Who is not following the science and data? Is it our partners, who are beginning to free their citizens and unleash their economies, or is it Wisconsin, which remains under lock and key for another two and a half weeks or longer? With Wisconsin being the one state that’s different, I think we know the answer.”
