While families are suffering Governor Evers continues to play politics rather than take responsibility for his lack of leadership. Following months of inaction from his administration, Governor Evers declared a special session of the legislature in an effort to distance himself from his irresponsibility and distract from his administration’s failure to help those in need during a difficult time.

Governor Evers has had the tools needed and the ability to initiate the changes that he is calling for without a special session. The calling for a special session was purely political and is the result of either Governor Evers administration’s irresponsibility, or his lack of awareness of the issues that Wisconsin families are struggling with.

My colleagues in the Assembly and I have invested a tremendous amount of time working with our constituents directly to help resolve issues and find pathways to ensure they receive the support that they have earned. It is disappointing, to say the least, that our efforts are not being reciprocated by the Governor’s administration.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau, from March 15, 2020 through June 30, 2020, a mere .5% of all calls placed to the DWD unemployment call center were answered.

The nonpartisan staff also found that the UI system was not overwhelmed due to a computer system. It was the department’s failure and inaction to correct known issues that has and continues to affect our communities.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has also found several avenues for the Governor and DWD to utilize existing revenues to begin fixing problems associated with the state’s UI system. Instead of requesting new dollars, the governor should begin solving the problem with the tools already at his disposal.

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