Author: Sam Buisman

State Republicans sued the Wisconsin Government over the Safer At Home order's extension, demanding its end.

Attornies representing the Republican-controlled state legislature sued the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Tuesday, arguing that the Safer At Home order's extension oversteps their authority and harms the state's economy. The lawsuit asks the court to issue an injunction ending enforcement of the order after allowing time for the Legislature and Department of Health Services to write a new order.

Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald addressed the lawsuit in a joint press release.

“The governor has denied the people a voice through this unprecedented administrative overreach,” wrote the pair. “Unfortunately, that leaves the legislature no choice but to ask the Supreme Court to rein in this obvious abuse of power.”

While the lawsuit acknowledges the severity of COVID-19, the plaintiffs argue that there is “no actual evidence” that the Safer At Home order has done anything to protect Wisconsinites from the coronavirus.

State Democrats immediately condemned the lawsuit as dangerous and politically motivated.

Reacting to the lawsuit, Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz wrote in a press release “I can't imagine another group of elected officials more interested in power and politics than Wisconsin's Republicans.”

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, there are currently 4,845 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, with 386 of those cases located in Dane County.