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From the Wisconsin State AFL/CIO
After weeks of Republicans refusing to
meet, Wisconsin legislators are finally meeting Tuesday, April 14, to
debate and pass a comprehensive coronavirus response bill. The federal government
is providing financial assistance to states to deal with the impact of
the coronavirus. However, Governor Evers must sign a bill by Friday,
April 17, in order to take full advantage of the federal funds.
Wisconsin is one of only a few states who
have yet to pass any COVID-19 related legislation.
It’s past time for our legislature to
act. Instead of coming together to fully fund and address the needs of
the people of Wisconsin during this unprecedented time, Republicans are
using the pandemic crisis bill to get items they wanted but were unable
to secure during the normal democratic process, including:
- Cutting
the training hours of Certified Nursing Assistants by nearly half
– even though Gov. Evers’ vetoed a similar bill last fall;
- Allowing
the Joint Finance Committee to unilaterally lower aid for schools
and cut state spending in any area, department, or service,
including reversing agreed-upon wage increases for state
employees.
Wisconsin legislators must come
together to ensure additional support for unemployed workers—including
the repeal of the one-week waiting period to collect unemployment
insurance; adequate funding for health care facilities; expansion of
health insurance programs for working families; and increased support
for our local communities fighting COVID-19.
The people of Wisconsin elected
Governor Tony Evers. He is leading during the COVID-19 crisis by taking
swift and bold action to keep the people of Wisconsin healthy and safe
and support our unemployed workers. Yet, GOP lawmakers continue to use
every opportunity, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to play politics
and attempt to limit our Governor’s authority to do the job voters
elected him to do.
Tuesday’s legislative session is a
step in the right direction, but the people of Wisconsin cannot
continue to wait for the legislature to act. We need a meaningful
response to COVID-19 that fully supports workers.
The health and safety of Wisconsin
working families must by the top priority of our legislative leaders,
not scoring partisan political points.
In Solidarity,
Stephanie
Bloomingdale, President
Dennis Delie,
Secretary-Treasurer
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