I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the provisions of the bill that would take away existing tools available to state and local public health officials during a declared public health emergency. As I said in my Assembly Bill 1 veto message and will reiterate again today, our response to this pandemic should be about following the science and public health experts and working together to save as many lives as we can, not finding ways to make it harder to fight this virus or keep Wisconsinites safe.
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.
hist132603I am vetoing Assembly Bill 24 in its entirety. This bill, as amended, would prohibit local health officers from taking any action to close or forbid gatherings in places of worship to control outbreaks and epidemics of the 2019 novel coronavirus or any variant or virus derived as a mutation of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The bill would also specify that the statutory language shall not be construed to confer any authority on a local health officer to close or restrict capacity in places of worship or any other entities.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the provisions of the bill that would take away existing tools available to state and local public health officials to prevent and suppress COVID-19. As I said in my Assembly Bill 1 veto message, our response to this pandemic should be about following the science and public health experts, not finding ways to make it harder to fight it. 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Tony Evers
Governor
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Communications
April 21, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist132476Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 264, relating to compensation of election officials performing duties during a recount. Sincerely,
CHUCK WICHGERS
State Representative
83rd Assembly District
_____________
April 21, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist132483Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 160, relating to transportation to a private school during the 2020-21 school year for pupils who reside in a first class city school district. Sincerely,
BARBARA DITTRICH
State Representative
38th Assembly District
_____________
April 22, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist132527Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Joint Resolution 39, relating to proclaiming May 14, 15, and 16, 2021, Syttende Mai Weekend. hist132528Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Joint Resolution 43, relating to dedicating the second week of April to Black maternal health, formally known as Black Maternal Health Week, to acknowledge racial disparities among Black mothers and infants. hist132529Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 137, relating to prohibiting no-knock search warrants and limiting the execution of a search warrant to the hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Sincerely,
MARK SPREITZER
State Representative
45th Assembly District
_____________
April 23, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 193, relating to grants to prevent suicide by firearm and making an appropriation.
Sincerely,
TONY KURTZ
State Representative
50th Assembly District
_____________
April 23, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist132606Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 108, relating to law enforcement agency policies on the use of force. hist132607Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 109, relating to reporting of law enforcement use of force incidents. hist132608Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 110, relating to public access to policies regarding the use of force by law enforcement. Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 193, relating to grants to prevent suicide by firearm and making an appropriation.
Sincerely,
KRISTINA SHELTON
State Representative
90th Assembly District
