Reps in the News: April 3 – 10

Representative Joel Kitchens

Rep. Joel Kitchens released the following statement on the upcoming April 7 election in light of the coronavirus.

“Gov. Tony Evers has been adamant that the April 7 general election and presidential primary will proceed as planned – at least for the time being.

Legally, the only way we can postpone the vote or move to an all mail-in election is for the governor to get approval from the state Legislature. However, legislative leadership in both the Assembly and Senate have said as recently as [March 25] that they support Gov. Evers’ decision.

“One of the main issues with a delay is that if the election is not held on the original date, many people across Wisconsin would be left without local representation because many local officials’ terms expire in mid-April.

“I would also like to let you know that we are working on a package of bills to alleviate some of the stress being put on our poll workers and clerk’s offices. One of the ideas being considered is extending the counting period.”

Source: Kitchens e-newsletter

Governor Tony Evers

Gov. Tony Evers has launched an initiative designed to get more personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gowns, gloves and masks to those who are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response.

“It is absolutely imperative that our health-care workers and first responders have the equipment they need to stay safe and healthy as they care for our communities,” Evers said. “As we face a global shortage of PPE and are competing with other states to acquire limited resources, I am calling on companies, schools and other organizations that may have unused protective equipment sitting in their facilities to make those materials available to those who need it most. The state appreciates any donations, but we are also prepared to pay a fair market value for large quantities of this equipment that are offered.”

Wisconsinites can now go to covid19supplies.wi.gov/Donations to either donate or sell large quantities of PPE to the state. The State Emergency Operations Center will then work to distribute it to communities that need it the most.  

Source: Evers press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a member of the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, joined her colleagues in sending a letter to Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies; and to its ranking member, Tom Udall (D-N.M.), to request at least $320 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in fiscal year (FY) 2021.

The GLRI is a program that’s designed to address the most serious issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of the Great Lakes basin, including invasive species, pollution and toxic contamination.

“As the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies considers FY 2021 appropriations requests, we are requesting no less than $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI),” wrote the senators. “We are pleased that the administration agreed to bipartisan requests from Congress to include at least $320 million in its FY 2021 budget request for this important program, which supplies drinking water to millions of people and contributes billions of dollars to the economy each year … We appreciate your past support of the GLRI and look forward to working with you to ensure that the program remains fully funded.”

Source: Baldwin press release