Governor Evers Signs Coronavirus Relief Package
Thursday, April 16th, 2020 -- 9:26 AM
(AP) -Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has signed the coronavirus relief package passed unanimously by the state Senate just hours earlier.Evers asked the legislature to send him the bill soon after the state Senate passed the bill Wednesday. The Assembly overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan bill on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald explained lawmakers developed this bill in response to the CARES Act, the federal government's $2.2 trillion stimulus package that allocated $2.3 billion to Wisconsin. He said it included Gov. Evers initial proposal as well as input from both chambers. Also calling the legislation a step in the right direction, Evers added that it "falls short of what is needed to address the magnitude and gravity of what our state is facing." According to Evers, the proposal doesn't include hazard pay or workers compensation benefits for frontline and critical workers. He also claims it will not provide meaningful support for small businesses and farmers. Some lawmakers echoed Evers, saying the bill does not go far enough to help the people who need it most.
After the bill made it through the Assembly on Tuesday, Speaker Robin Vos explained there are 55 provisions that address a wide range of issues stretching from unemployment to insurance. The bill waives the one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits and requires the state's economic development agency to create a plan by the end of June to help struggling industries. The bill also creates a $75 million emergency fund managed by the Joint Finance Committee. It also allocates more federal dollars toward healthcare and loosens restrictions on healthcare workers so they can continue working. Lawmakers also detailed the bill would allow pharmacists to extend prescriptions, ensure COVID-19 testing comes at no cost to patients and would block certain insurers from denying coverage if a patient is diagnosed.
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