WisGOPs can't mask their pettiness, or foolishness

In typically absurd fashion, the GOP decided today that a symbolic show of power against Governor Evers was more important than public safety, or food aid.

In approving the Senate Joint Resolution to end the public health declaration 52-42, Republicans insisted their move wasn’t about masks, but the rule of law.

To back up that assertion, Speaker Robin Vos and Assembly Republicans offered to work with Evers on a rules package that would impose a mask requirement in health care facilities, schools and other places “susceptible to transmission of the virus to those who are especially vulnerable.”

“We are not anti-mask,” Vos, R-Rochester, declared as he unveiled the letter to reporters.

But such a proposal would have to go before the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules [JCRAR], and Co-chair Steve Nass opposes the effort, a spokesman said.

The cynicism has no limits with these guys. Remember that after the State Supreme Court struck down the Safer at Home limits in May, Evers responded by sending new proposed rules to nASS, who immediately rejected them without a hearing. The Evers Administration took the hint, didn’t waste more time on the issue, and instead took measures such as the mask mandate.

And by the way, if today’s GOP action wasn’t about masks, then why did the Republicans pull this routine when Dems called their bluff?

Dems just introduced an amendment to AB1 which introduced a statewide mask requirement tied to the federal designation of a health emergency. Republicans ruled it non-germane and voted it down.

There you have it. It IS about the masks.

— Rep. Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) February 4, 2021

That amendment has nothing to do with whether EVERS can or cannot call an emergency or impose a mask mandate. And WisGOP said no to it anyway.

Within an hour of the resolution being passed ending the last mask mandate, Evers responded.

A little more than an hour after Assembly Republicans voted to end Wisconsin's mask mandate and underlying public health emergency declaration, @GovEvers issues new ones.

Here's his video announcement on the action: https://t.co/m3yrs1qp0G

— Briana Reilly (@briana_reilly) February 4, 2021

How ridiculous you have to act in order to make Tony Evers look like an ass-kicker, and fire up every statewide Dem in the process?

Evers is giving the correct response. Republicans will not act in good faith on this issue (or pretty much any other), and Evers has the backing of a clear majority of Wisconsinites. And the GOP's crocodile tears about "we'll work with you now" got blown up when nASS (who Senate GOPs have still chosen to chair the Admin Rules Committee) said he wanted this new mandate gone as well.

State Senator Steve Nass vowed to draft another Senate joint resolution Thursday to overturn Gov. Evers’ new emergency declaration. https://t.co/KQKMFszWJH

— NBC15 News (@nbc15_madison) February 4, 2021

9 1/2 months of dithering from the gerrymandered WisGOP Legislature, and this garbage is what they choose to pass as their first bill. State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) called out these bums as the whiny fools that they are.

Despite opposition from 59 statewide organizations and many of their own members, the #WIGOP just voted to pass SJR 3 and strike down the statewide mask mandate. Without an ounce of hyperbole, I can confirm that today’s unconscionable decision will cost lives here in Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/QSoUEw5m38

— Rep. Brostoff (@RepBrostoff) February 4, 2021

“To advance this resolution now, rather than any of the hundreds of days last year that Republicans refused to come to Madison, just shows how nakedly political, cynical, and cowardly this move is. They knew that this move would be unpopular with the vast majority of Wisconsinites, and so they waited until after the election to pull this, because they knew that doing so beforehand would have cost them at the ballot box.

So congratulations, Wisconsin Republicans. You got to throw your deadly tantrum, and the whole world was there to watch. Now, you own what comes next.

And we have to make them own anything awful that results. Gerrymander be damned.