Author: Sam Buisman

State Republicans slammed Governor Evers' coronavirus transition plan as a “roadblock” to reopening Wisconsin.

In a joint letter signed by Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican leaders decried the Badger Bounce Back plan as too strict in its criteria for easing economic restrictions and too broad in its application to the entire state. Instead, the legislators demanded a regional approach that would allow portions of the state with fewer COVID-19 cases to reopen earlier than more afflicted regions.

The pair insisted that the current plan would be counterproductive to the economic interests of Wisconsin.

“Instead of listening to the resounding outcry from the people of the state, Governor Evers is now making it harder to reopen Wisconsin,” the lawmakers wrote.

Vos and Fitzgerald present three main objections to the specifics of the plan. First, they argue that plan's criteria of increasing COVID-19 testing before opening up the state is unnecessary.

Second, the pair allege that it expands upon the CDC's guidelines by setting a 1,000-person goal for contact tracing. The CDC's guidelines recommend contact tracing but do not enumerate any specific goals.

Finally, the lawmakers criticize the plan for dealing with the state as a whole instead of on a regional basis. The CDC does recommend that state governors apply different reopening criteria based on local differences when appropriate.

The Republican leaders close the letter by demanding further involvement in the planning process.

“It's clear one person shouldn't be allowed to unilaterally rule over businesses, families and the state's future,” concluded the pair.