Wisconsin Republican Leaders Signal They Want Oversight on Relief Money and Vaccine Distribution

Friday, December 11th, 2020 -- 10:00 AM

(AP) -The Wisconsin Legislature’s top Republicans have signaled that they want oversight of how Democratic Gov. Tony Evers divvies up any future federal pandemic relief money and distributes vaccines.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and incoming Senate Majority Leader Devin LaMahieu said during a conference call with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce on Wednesday that they believe Evers is making too many unilateral decisions on how to respond to COVID-19 without any public input. They said legislative oversight of federal aid and vaccine distribution would create transparency.  They also said they want to restore a one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits that Evers and the Legislature suspended in April as part of a pandemic relief bill.

They said unemployment has subsided since then and that the state shouldn’t provide incentives for people to stay home and not work.  The lawmakers’ remarks come as the Senate, the Assembly and Evers’ administration wrestle over three plans to bolster pandemic relief. The Legislature has not met to consider any COVID-19 legislation since April.

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