MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Long-stalled stimulus talks on Capitol Hill are showing new signs of life. And, it’s not just at the capital, lawmakers in Wisconsin are also working to pass new COVID-19 legislation.
For the first time since the pandemic, republicans in Wisconsin have released their proposal for COVID-19 legislation. Just last month, the governor proposed a COVID-19 bill.
While the governor is hopeful for a special session in December, Evers hopes they can have discussions prior to finding some common ground.
“When we meet they may have some further ideas they would like to propose themselves. So those are the questions I’ll be asking and the other question I’ll be asking if indeed there are some pieces of legislation or pieces of the puzzle we can all agree on, are they willing to come into session in December.”
Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Vos and assembly GOP released their own legislation.
The package includes creating a $100 million fund for the public health emergency and to expand COVID-19 testing.
It also includes allowing one person to visit a loved one in nursing homes in certain situations.
As for schools, it would require all teachers to instruct from school buildings by the end of January. They would also like school districts to pay parents at least $371 dollars if their student learns virtually for at least half the year.
State Rep. David Murphy tells FOX 11 there is some common ground for both sides, but there has been little communication.
“There’s going to be certain things that I suspect the Governor is going to want and there are certain things we’ll want. Specifically, we want to limit liability for schools and for businesses when it comes to COVID, that’s something we want, but I don’t know if the Governor is going to want to do that or not but I hope that would be the case.”
At this point no meetings, or dates for a special legislative session, have been announced.
