Senate approves bill to address COVID-19 pandemic

The state Senate — meeting virtually for the first time — today unanimously approved legislation responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the bill to Gov. Tony Evers. The guv is expected to sign the bill quickly. The state faces deadlines

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Fitzgerald postpones Senate’s March 24 floor period

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald today said he is postponing the March 24 floor period “out of an abundance of caution” for senators and their families during the coronavirus pandemic. The Juneau Republican said he and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos,

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Senate approves curbside pickup for alcohol, to-go cocktails

The state Senate today approved legislation to allow curbside pickup of alcohol purchased online or over the phone. It also signed off 28-2 on a bill that would allow bars and restaurants to sell to-go cocktails, clearing the way for that legislation to head to the guv’s desk. The curbside

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Assembly unanimously passes UI system upgrade bill that includes liability protections from COVID-19 lawsuits

Assembly lawmakers unanimously approved an amended bill that would begin the process of overhauling the state’s UI computer system. The bill would also, among other things, waive a one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits through mid-March and provide businesses with liability protections from COVID-related lawsuits. But before voting for the

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Assembly votes to end Evers’ public health declaration

Assembly Republicans voted today to revoke Tony Evers’ public health declaration and the statewide mask mandate the guv has put in place since late summer, accusing the guv of abusing his power by issuing multiple orders without lawmakers’ input. The resolution will formally take effect tomorrow after it’s signed by

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Assembly amends COVID-19 bill as Republicans change tactics on legislation, resolution to overturn public health declaration

Republicans abruptly shifted tactics today on COVID-19 legislation and a resolution to overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ public health declaration. Assembly Republicans, on a party-line 59-35 vote, again amended the COVID-19 bill, this time with a provision designed to ensure the state wouldn’t lose enhanced federal food stamp benefits by overturning

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Assembly puts off vote to overturn Evers public health emergency

Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the Assembly will put off voting to overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ public health declaration to give lawmakers additional time to understand the fiscal impact of the move. The Assembly had been scheduled to vote this morning on the resolution, which cleared the Senate on Tuesday.

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Senate Republicans vote to overturn Evers mask mandate

GOP senators Tuesday took a step toward overturning Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate over the objections of many health groups and Dems who argued the requirement should remain in place with a pandemic that is still raging. GOP state Sen. Steve Nass, who co-authored the resolution, countered the public is

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Assembly revises COVID-19 bill again, sends it back to Senate

The Assembly today passed an amended COVID-19 bill that reinserted some provisions stripped out by the Senate two weeks ago. Lawmakers voted 58-34 along party lines on a pair of amendments before a party-line vote on final passage. One of those amendments added back provisions that strip local government officials

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Assembly passes GOP COVID-19 package on party line vote

The state Assembly Thursday voted along party lines to pass a COVID-19 package after the chamber convened nearly two hours later than originally scheduled as Republicans caucused on the bill. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, earlier this week said he had good talks with Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg,

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Senate approves bill to address COVID-19 pandemic

The state Senate — meeting virtually for the first time — today unanimously approved legislation responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the bill to Gov. Tony Evers. The guv is expected to sign the bill quickly. The state faces deadlines this month to change eligibility requirements for the Medicaid program

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Slideshow: Senate meets in virtual session on COVID-19 bill

The state Senate met in a virtual session to approve a bill to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was approved 31-0. See more on the meeting here. See the slideshow for images from the meeting. Screenshots are from WisconsinEye video. Other photos are from Pat Poblete, WisPolitics.com, and Steve

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Assembly passes bill to address impact of COVID-19 pandemic

The state Assembly, often deeply divided on big issues, today overwhelmingly backed legislation to help Wisconsin deal with the impact of COVID-19 as leaders praised the measure as an example of what can be done when lawmakers work together. The legislation, approved 97-2, would give the Joint Finance Committee new

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Slideshow: Assembly meets under social distancing requirements

Assembly lawmakers met in person and via video conference to take up legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Screenshots in the slideshow above are from Wisconsin Eye video. Other photographs are by Rick Wood of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Royce Podeszwa of WisPolitics.com. … Please log in to access

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Fitzgerald postpones Senate’s March 24 floor period

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald today said he is postponing the March 24 floor period “out of an abundance of caution” for senators and their families during the coronavirus pandemic. The Juneau Republican said he and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, plan to call an extraordinary session of the Legislature

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