February 2021 Extraordinary Session11:00 A.M. FRIDAY, February 5, 2021
The Assembly met in the Assembly Chamber located in the State Capitol.
Representative Wittke in the chair.
The Assembly dispensed with the call of the roll.
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MOTION FOR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
February 5, 2021
The following motion was approved by the Committee on Assembly Organization:
In accordance with Joint Rule 81 (2) and Assembly Rule 93, it is moved that the Committee on Assembly Organization authorize the Legislature to meet in Extraordinary Session beginning at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 5, 2021, solely for the consideration of Assembly Bill 1, Assembly Joint Resolution 4 and Senate Joint Resolution 3. Ayes: 5 – Representatives Vos, Steineke, Peterson, August and Vorpagel.
Noes: 3 – Representatives Hintz, Hesselbein and Spreitzer.
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February 5, 2021
The following motion was approved by the Committee on Senate Organization:
In accordance with Joint Rule 81 (2) and Senate Rule 93, it is moved that the Committee on Senate Organization authorize the Legislature to meet in Extraordinary Session beginning at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 5, 2021, or at the time established in the Committee on Assembly Organization’s call for Extraordinary Session, whichever is later, solely for the consideration of Assembly Bill 1, Assembly Joint Resolution 4 and Senate Joint Resolution 3. Ayes: 3 − Senators LeMahieu, Kapenga and Feyen.
Noes: 2 – Senators Bewley and Ringhand.
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Message from the Senate
From: Michael Queensland, Senate Chief Clerk.
Mr. Speaker:
I am directed to inform you that the Senate has
Concurred in:
hist126891Assembly Amendment 2 to Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 1 _____________
Reference Bureau Corrections
hist126892Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 1 In enrolling, the following corrections were made:
11.
Page 3, line 22: on lines 22 and 24, delete “s. 108.141” and substitute “sub.”. 22.
Page 5, line 8: delete that line. Note: Assembly Amendment 1 deleted the subsection containing this text, rendering the amendment item unnecessary.
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Enrolled Bill
The following Assembly proposal, which has been approved by both the Assembly and Senate, has been enrolled by the Legislative Reference Bureau:
KAY INABNET
Assistant Assembly Chief Clerk
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Executive Communications
February 5, 2021
The Honorable Robin Vos
Speaker of the Assembly
211 West, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708
The Honorable Chris Kapenga
President of the Senate
220 South, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53707
Dear Assembly Speaker Vos and Senate President Kapenga:
With both the Assembly and Senate having voted on Assembly Bill 1, I am calling for this bill to be sent to my desk.
I intend to take action on this bill as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Tony Evers
Governor
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Chief Clerk Reports
The Chief Clerk records:
Presented to the Governor on Friday, February 5.
KAY INABNET
Assistant Assembly Chief Clerk
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Governor’s Veto Message
February 5, 2021
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
hist126907I am vetoing 2021 Assembly Bill 1 in its entirety. Assembly Bill (AB) 1 relates to state government actions to address the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Among other provisions, the bill limits the Department of Health Services and local health officers authority relating to gatherings. The bill also strips employers of their ability to keep their business and community safe by requiring vaccination as a condition of employment, with medical and religious exemptions.
It is incumbent upon all of us, but especially on elected officials, to lead by example and to do everything we can to keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe. I am vetoing AB 1 in its entirety because I object to the provisions in this bill that will make it more challenging to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Instead, AB 1 takes away existing tools available to public health officials and employers.
Moreover, what is especially unfortunate is that these provisions were added back into this piece of legislation late and well after an earlier version of this legislation was passed by the Wisconsin State Senate with bipartisan support. That earlier version of AB 1 was a good faith effort at finding common ground, and I was proud to work across the aisle with Majority Leader LeMahieu and Senate Republicans on a compromise that would be supported by both Republicans and Democrats. While that version did not contain every provision that each side would have liked, it would have nevertheless moved Wisconsin forward in addressing many critical issues, including flexibilities for unemployment benefits. Shortly after that version of AB 1 passed the Wisconsin State Senate on a bipartisan vote, I committed to signing that version of AB 1 and urged the Legislature to send it to my desk without delay. If that version of AB 1 was before me, I would be signing it today. Unfortunately, AB 1 as I am vetoing it represents a missed opportunity for meaningful compromise and the continued partisan obstruction that has plagued our state’s response to this pandemic from the beginning.
As I have said all along, our response to the pandemic should be about doing what’s best for people, not politics. It should be about following the science and public health experts. It should be about working together to save as many lives as we can. I remain committed to doing everything I can to keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe, following the science and advice of public health experts, and putting people first. I am hopeful members of the Legislature will choose to join me in these essential efforts, and should they decide to be partners in our state’s response, I am ready and willing to welcome their participation and to work together to do what’s best for the people of our state.
Respectfully submitted,
Tony Evers
Governor
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Adjournment
Representative Callahan moved that the Assembly stand adjourned until 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 9.
The question was: Shall the Assembly stand adjourned?
Motion carried.
The Assembly stood adjourned.
11:01 A.M
