MADISON – Assembly Assistant Democratic Leader Representative Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) joined her legislative colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to invoke the full authority of the Defense Production Act (DPA). Provisions of the DPA will allow the United States to begin mass-producing the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak in Wisconsin.   “Swift action is needed to provide our healthcare workers with the necessary equipment to fight COVID-19. The DPA provides the federal government many tools to jump-start the mass-production of PPE and other medical supplies. My colleagues and I are calling on the president

[Madison, WI] – The Republican Party of Wisconsin announced on Monday that Dane County Judge and candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Jill Karofsky, refused to fulfill open records requests sent to her office, raising questions on her opinions on government transparency. On December 10, a Republican Party of Wisconsin staff member sent two separate open records requests to Karofsky’s office asking for emails containing certain search terms, her central calendar and copies of records requests sent to her office after receiving an anonymous tip that Karofsky was campaigning out of her official office. On December 18th, a Wisconsin Courts staff member acknowledged

MADISON – The COVID-19 public health emergency has forced all of us to think about what is essential in our lives. While some decisions are difficult, others are clear. Food and agriculture are essential. Food and those who produce it are fundamental to our personal well-being and our state’s strength. We are privileged to live in a state that produces an abundance of nutritious, high-quality foods. From fruits and vegetables to milk and meat, Wisconsin agriculture is diverse and plentiful. You do not have to drive far in Wisconsin to see the farms and fields that feed us. Unfortunately, this pandemic

MADISON, Wis. — More than 2,400 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard mobilized to state active duty Sunday and stand ready to serve as poll workers in Wisconsin’s election, if needed. Wisconsin National Guard members mobilized to state active duty to support the Wisconsin Elections Commission and county clerks across Wisconsin. The troops gathered today, completed necessary training, began receiving assignments from their county or municipal clerks, and began assisting with polling place setup. Wisconsin National Guard members reside in all 72 Wisconsin counties and will serve in the county in which they reside wearing civilian clothes

Milwaukee—Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement on Gov. Tony Evers decision to postpone the April Election: “I’m so grateful to Governor Evers for his decision to postpone April’s election. I understand that he wanted to work together with the legislature, but when the Republican majority failed to act, he had no choice but to do everything he could to protect the health and safety of Wisconsinites. “Let me be clear—if our elections are allowed to go forward, this would put people at risk unnecessarily, and our state would be a national embarrassment. In Milwaukee, we would have to

[Madison, WI] — Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) released the following statement: “We agree with the state Supreme Court’s ruling that affirms the separation of powers spelled out in our Constitution. The state’s highest court has spoken: the governor can’t unilaterally move the date of the election. “We are proud that Wisconsinites have come together to meet the challenges that this pandemic has created. The safety and health of our citizens have always been our highest concern; that’s why we advocated for everyone to vote absentee. Wisconsin has responded in droves. Over a million ballots have

WASHINGTON – Following Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ decision to suspend tomorrow’s state election until June – a reversal from his stated position just days ago – the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the governor cannot order the election postponed and said the election will move forward as planned tomorrow. Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Austin Chambers issued the following statement: “In words Governor Evers’ office used just days ago: ‘Democracy is essential, it must go on.’ The Wisconsin Supreme Court reaffirmed that guiding principle in its decision today, righteously protecting millions of Wisconsin voters from the Democrats’ pitiful, partisan gamesmanship – particularly

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of Wisconsin’s ruling enjoining Executive Order #74 suspending in-person voting for the April 7 election. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin’s ruling today allows the April 7 election to proceed against the advice of public health experts and with extreme risk to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “There are few things we hold more sacred and that are more American than the right to vote. People have bled, fought, and died for the right to vote in this country. But tomorrow in Wisconsin, thousands will wake up

“I am grateful to the many healthcare workers, working families, small businesses, and many others who have sacrificed so much to keep our community safe during the coronavirus pandemic by practicing social distancing, staying at home when possible, and taking precautions to keep our community safe. “Today, Governor Evers issued an executive order to delay tomorrow’s elections to protect the health and well-being of Wisconsinites as we enter what health experts believe to be the beginning of the peak weeks of the coronavirus pandemic. “This order followed Gov. Evers’ request for a special session of the legislature to delay the

DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement on today’s court decisions regarding the Wisconsin primary election: “Our country is the middle of a public health emergency, but you wouldn’t know it by the way the Republican Party in Wisconsin and across the country is acting. Instead of prioritizing the health and safety of the American people — including communities of color in places like Wisconsin that have been hit especially hard by this pandemic — the GOP is  trying to stop vote-by-mail and opposing other commonsense ideas to make our election systems more safe and accessible during this time.

Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Wisconsin and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and continuing. Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Wisconsin impacted by COVID-19. Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named James K. Joseph as the Federal

MADISON—The State Capitol will be open to the public beginning at 1:00 p.m. on April 7, 2020 for the scheduled Legislative Sessions that are currently scheduled at 2:00 p.m. The State Capitol will then be closed to the public again one hour following the session. The Department of Administration (DOA) closed the State Capitol building to the public on March 26, 2020, as a continued effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. DOA will continue reviewing strategies to limit COVID-19’s spread based on guidance from the CDC and DHS Public Health Officials. All individuals are encouraged to do the following: Stay

MADISON, WI – Wisconsin’s Spring Primary and Presidential Primary will occur on Tuesday, April 7, and all absentee ballots must be turned in or postmarked on Election Day as a result of decisions Monday by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court.   The Wisconsin Supreme Court enjoined an executive order by Governor Tony Evers, clearing the way for in-person voting at the polls to occur on Tuesday, April 7.   The United States Supreme Court enjoined an order from the U.S. District Court regarding deadlines and postmarks for absentee ballots. Ballots must be returned to the polling