MADISON (WKOW) -- Republican state lawmakers will bring to the floor next week a resolution that would end the emergency order that includes a statewide mask mandate.
Senator Steve Nass (R - Whitewater) announced Friday the legislature will take a vote on the resolution, which has the support of at least 27 GOP lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate.
"Governor Evers has repeatedly abused the powers granted to him in Chapter 323 of the Wisconsin Statutes to issue repeated emergency declarations since March 2020. The Wisconsin Legislature has never authorized, as is required by law, an extension of these emergency declarations," said a quote attributed to Nass in the press release.
Some Republicans in the legislature, including Nass, have said publicly for months they wanted to strike down Evers' emergency orders, which his administration has extended since its inception last August.
Republicans have fought Evers on his response to the COVID-19 pandemic going back to their lawsuit to strike down the "safer at home" order last April.
In a statement, Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback described the resolution as another effort to derail the administration's efforts to contain the virus.
"While Gov. Evers works to keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe and distribute vaccines across our state, Republicans continue their efforts to hinder our state’s response," Cudaback said. "Republicans haven’t taken COVID-19 seriously from the beginning, and they still aren’t now more than 280 days since they last sent a bill to the governor’s desk."
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R - Oostburg) confirmed a vote on the resolution is scheduled for noon on the Senate floor.
Spokespeople for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R - Rochester) did not respond to questions Friday.
More at WKOW 27 News