WHERE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS ARE
ALREADY SETTING UP THEIR FIRST
SHOWDOWN OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE
SESSION WITH GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS, THIS TIME OVER THE
STATE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE
STORY.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> THE BIENNIAL INAUGURATION IS
SUPPOSED TO BE A BIPARTISAN
CELEBRATION OF THE NEW
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
FOR ONE DAY AT LEAST, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS WELCOME NEW
MEMBERS AND PLAY NICE.
>> TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR
WISCONSIN BONDS, NOT AS
REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, EVEN
THOUGH DEMOCRATS AREN'T HERE,
BUT AS WISCONSINITES.
>> BUT THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE
OF THE DAY COULD NOT MASK OUR
STATE'S FRACTURED AND PARTISAN
RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
DEMOCRATS IN THE ASSEMBLY DID
NOT EVEN TAKE THE FLOOR BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT MANDATE
MASKS AT THIS INDOOR EVENT.
>> I'M ABSOLUTELY JAZZED TO BE
HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO OFFER
MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO
EVERYONE GETTING SWORN IN.
>> SOME TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE
BEFORE THE NEW YEAR,
ADMINISTERED OVER ZOOM BY
GOVERNOR TONY
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
OTHERS OUTSIDE BEFORE A JUDGE.
>> MY DUTY AS STATE
REPRESENTATIVE.
>> WISCONSIN'S COVID-19 RESPONSE
IS ALSO THE FIRST ISSUE TO REACH
THE FLOOR.
GOVERNOR EVERS REEF ISSUED HIS
BILL FROM LAST DECEMBER.
DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED THEIR OWN
BILL.
BUT REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE
LEGISLATURE, SO ASSEMBLY BILL 1
COMES FROM THEM.
>> THE PROPOSAL WE ARE
INTRODUCING TODAY HAS OVER 44
PROVISIONS TO HELP FIGHT THE
VIRUS AND REOPEN OUR ECONOMY AND
OUR SCHOOLS.
>> THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL
PROVISIONS INCLUDE A CIVIL
LIABILITY SHIELD FOR BUSINESSES,
MEANING THEY COULDN'T BE SUED BY
EMPLOYEES WHO GET COVID ON THE
JOB.
BANNING A LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
FROM SHUTTING DOWN RELIGIOUS
SERVICES.
LOCAL SCHOOL CLOSURES LIMITED TO
TWO WEEKS, WHILE SHUTDOWN ORDERS
ARE LIMITED TO TWO DAYS.
AFTER THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD OR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOULD NEED TO
VOTE BY A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY
FOR ANOTHER TWO-WEEK ORDER.
THE BILL PASSED THURSDAY ON A
PARTY LINE VOTE, WITH DEMOCRATS
DEBATING THE MEASURE WEARING
PLASTIC FACE SHIELDS WHILE SOME
REPUBLICANS DID NOT WEAR A MASK
AT ALL.
IT MOVES ON TO THE SENATE WHERE
SOME REPUBLICANS SAY IT DOESN'T
GO FAR ENOUGH.
EVEN IF IT PASSES THERE,
DEMOCRATS SAY IT FACES A CERTAIN
VETO FROM GOVERNOR EVERS.
REPORTING FROM