Governor Tony Evers wearing a mask
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WSAU) — Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature has repealed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate by a vote of 52-42, despite warnings from health experts who maintain that masks are the best resource for slowing the spread of COVID-19.
The Assembly vote Thursday came a week after the Senate also voted to kill the resolution. Reports originally stated they planned to kick the mandate back to the Senate, but changed course unexpectedly.
Representative Pat Snyder of Schofield released a statement shortly after Thursday’s vote saying “Today’s vote ends the Governor’s emergency declaration which has been in place for 269 days longer than allowed under Wisconsin law. From the beginning, this has been about the Governor acting outside the scope of his powers. Our government works on a system of checks and balances and today’s vote reinforces the role of the Legislature as an equal branch of government.”
Snyder adds he will continue to wear a mask in public “so long as it helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and Wisconsinites are vaccinated.”
The repeal takes effect on Friday after GOP leaders from both chambers have signed off on the measure. It does not impact any local face-mask mandates or resolutions such as those that are in place in Green Bay, Wausau, Racine, or Dane and Milwaukee Counties. City and County leaders in Eau Claire are also working to implement their own mandate.
Local businesses may also require face coverings.
Evers could defy the Legislature by issuing a new order, forcing them to vote again to repeal that.
Wisconsin is one of only 10 states without a mask mandate.
