MADISON, Wis (AP) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issued a new nationwide masked order Thursday, an hour after the Republican legislature decided to revoke his previous mandate, saying he did not have the power to do so. decided not to issue.
The Democratic governor said in a video message that he is the most important thing to keep people safe and that wearing a mask is the most basic way to do so.
“If the legislature continues to play politics and we do not wear masks, we will see preventable deaths, and it will take even longer to get our state and our economy back on track,” Evers said.
The Assembly vote to revoke the masked order came a week after the Senate voted to kill the mandate. Republicans, who control both chambers, have argued that Evers has exceeded his authority by repeatedly extending the mask mandate without legal approval. The recall did not even take effect until Evers released a new one.
Republican leaders did not immediately return messages for comment on Evers’ new order.
Dr. Bud Chumbley, head of the Wisconsin Medical Society, blasted the Assembly’s vote to revoke it, saying it was “sending the wrong message at the wrong time.”
“Instead, we need all of our policy leaders to unite behind the same message: wear a mask to protect yourself and others, prevent deaths and restore our economy,” he said in a statement.
The Medical Association was one of nearly 60 organizations representing businesses, health workers, hospitals, firefighters, pharmacists, churches, schools and more who opposed the recall.
The Assembly voted 52-42 to repeal the mandate, with seven Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition.
The Supreme Court can end the legislation back and forth with a ruling in a pending case stating that Evers must ensure the approval of the legislators every 60 days. The court can also say it does not need approval, forcing the legislature to revoke any order of Evers with which republics do not agree.
Health experts say masks could be the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has killed nearly 6,000 Wisconsinites., and that a recall could create the danger of creating confusion and sending the wrong message about the importance of masks.
“We have to wear masks,” said Democratic Rep. Robyn Vining. “Masks save lives.”
Republicans say the issue is not about masks, but whether Evers can legally issue multiple health orders during the pandemic. The Legislature argues that it cannot, and must obtain approval for it every 60 days. Evers claims that the changing nature of the pandemic has enabled him to issue various orders and mask mandates.
‘I know you want to make it over masks. It is not, “said Republican Majority Leader Jim Steineke. “It’s about the rule of law.”
The coronavirus has gone down in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the U.S., but health experts have warned of an ongoing danger, including the emergence of new and more contagious variants. All of Wisconsin’s neighboring states have some form of mask mandate, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.
The recall is the latest defeat for Evers, who has struggled to combat the pandemic. Republican lawmakers persuaded the Supreme Court last year to scrap its home order and a state appellate court has upheld limits it has set for indoor rallies.
Before Thursday’s vote, Republicans of the Assembly sent a letter to Evers, saying they would support a more limited mask mandate applicable to places “susceptible to virus transmission.” Republicans said it includes health care facilities, nursing homes, mass transit, government buildings, relief facilities, public schools, universities and prisons.
Republicans asked Evers to submit a rule proposal to establish such a mandate, promising that such a request would be fair and judicious.
The Assembly also passed a bill that includes a provision aimed at ensuring that the state does not lose about $ 50 million a month, which pays food benefits for about 243,000 low-income people in the state. According to federal law, there must be an emergency health order to receive the money. The Senate planned to meet Friday to approve the bill and send it to Evers.
Evers did not say whether he would sign the bill. It will also ban the closure of churches during the pandemic and prevent employers from requiring workers to be vaccinated for the disease. It also gives the Legislature control over how federal money is spent fighting the virus.
Evers supported an earlier, more limited version of the bill.
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