CAPiTOL EYE
by WisPolitics.com staff
Failing to act SENTRYWORLD ■ SUNDAY, APRIL 5 ■ 10AM-4PM
d e n o p t P o s il 11, 2021
Apr e t a D New
New Location SentryWorld 601 N. Michigan Avenue Stevens Point, WI 54481 The Festival of the Arts will be held in the Atrium and Fieldhouse
Johnson, House Republicans fail to embrace Coronavirus aid legislation U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, criticized coronavirus legislation that cleared the House by a large bipartisan majority over the objections of all four Wisconsin Republicans in that chamber. The bill cleared the House on March 13 by a 363-40 vote as the state’s House delegation split along party lines. Johnson said he worried about “unintended consequences” in the House bill by mandating small businesses pay sick leave, saying it could drive them further into debt. He said using existing state unemployment funds may be a better way to address the situation. “I hope the Senate will approach this with a level head and pass a bill that does more good than harm - or, if it won’t, pass nothing at all,” Johnson said. Gov. Tony Evers sent Johnson and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, a letter urging them to support the bill.
Evers seeks unemployment changes To help workers impacted by the growing coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers has called on lawmakers to immediately repeal a one-week delay in collecting unemployment benefits — something Republicans approved nearly a decade ago. Evers also ordered bars and restaurants to be closed to in-house patrons as of 5 p.m. yesterday as part of the state’s escalating response to the outbreak. He also issued a new ban on gatherings of 10 or more people after prohibiting groups of 50 or more just the day before. The Tavern League knocked the order closing bars, saying there would be large swaths of noncompliance because the directive came so late.
Graduation rates rise, with caveat
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The good news is a higher percentage of Wisconsin students are finishing high school. The same old news is there continues to be an achievement gap between white students and those of color. New numbers from the Department of Public Instruction show overall four-year graduation rates rose to 90% for 2018-19, compared to 88.4% in 2014-15. For white, non-Hispanic students, the rate was 93.8%, up from 92.9%. Both black and Hispanic students also showed progress, even though a big gap with their white counterparts remains. Black student graduation rose to 71.3% from 64% and Hispanic students rose to 82.8% from 77.5%. The only category that saw a decrease in rates over the last five years was among Pacific Islanders, which fell to 83.3% from 84.5%.
Ron Johnson
COVID-19 causes cancelations around Wisconsin, and selfquarantines, including Scott Walker The international outbreak of the coronavirus sparks a tidal wave of closings and cancellations, from State Capitol tours to the Wisconsin high school basketball tournaments. While Washington, D.C., falters over the appropriate responses, Gov. Tony Evers declares a public health emergency. He also signs an executive order authorizing DHS to take the necessary measures to help prevent and respond to the virus. In two different announcements, schools are closed and gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. State funds are also authorized to help local health departments with costs related to quarantine and isolation. The order also authorizes the Wisconsin adjutant general to activate the National Guard to assist in the state’s response and directs the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection to enforce prohibitions on price gouging during an emergency. New cases in Wisconsin are being announced each day and people taking steps to self-quarantine. That includes former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who has been in self-quarantine for the last two weeks after coming in close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 at last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference. A Walker spokesman told WisPolitics.com the former governor is in his Milwaukee home as a precaution and that March 13 was his last day of quarantine. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s office said the Oshkosh Republican was considering selfquarantine after coming into contact with a member of the Spanish parliament who has tested positive for COVID-19.
