Gov. Evers Calls On Legislature To Pass Covid Compromise As First Act In New Legislative Session

Press Release

MADISON -- Gov. Tony Evers today sent a letter to the Wisconsin State Legislature asking them to pass the COVID-19 compromise bill as the first bill of the 2021-22 legislative session. The letter today comes after Gov. Evers in December announced LRB-6592, a compromise bill resulting from several weeks’ of conversations with Republican legislative leaders that includes provisions on which the governor and Republican leaders could agree. The Wisconsin State Legislature has not passed a bill in 264 days.

“As we begin a new year and you begin a new legislative session, I write today to ask for your urgent consideration and support of legislation to aid in our state’s continued response to COVID-19,” Gov. Evers wrote. “I respectfully request that you prioritize the COVID-19 compromise bill—LRB-6592—that I introduced several weeks ago now, and ask that the bill as drafted, which includes provisions agreed upon by Republican leaders and me, be the first bill taken up and passed by both respective houses so it can be sent to my desk without delay. Time is of the essence, and frankly, we cannot delay any longer. It is time to move forward on legislation where there is agreement.

“Wisconsinites expect and are counting on perhaps now more than ever a state government that works effectively and efficiently for them,” Gov. Evers continued in his letter. “As the pandemic continues to have effects on our small business owners, our workers, students and parents across the state, and every aspect of Wisconsinites’ daily lives, it would be inexplicable after more than 260 days of inaction for any other issue or topic to be taken up by the legislature prior to passing a bill to address COVID-19—especially one on which we’ve already been able to find common ground." The letter sent by the governor echoes his previous requests for immediate action by the Legislature to pass legislation that addresses the continuing needs of the state’s response to COVID-19. The governor’s letter also urges the Legislature to find consensus beyond a first compromise bill to comprehensively address the many pressing issues facing Wisconsinites and support the state’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

2019 LRB-6592 is available [below].