This week's survey

This week, Governor Evers issued his Safer at Home order, prohibiting all nonessential travel with some exceptions. The order is effective 8:00 a.m., on Wednesday, March 25 and will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m., Friday, April 24, or until a superseding order is issued. 

According to Governor Evers, individuals do not need special permission to leave their homes, but they must comply with this order as to when it is permissible to leave home. Similarly, if a business is an essential business or operation as defined by Emergency Order 12, it does not need documentation or certification to continue its work that is done in compliance with this order.

Under this order, Wisconsin residents are permitted to:

• Perform tasks essential to maintaining health and safety, such as obtaining medicine or seeing a doctor
• Obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, such as getting food and supplies, pet food, and supplies necessary for staying at home
• Care for a family member in another household 
• Care for older adults, minors, dependents, people with disabilities, or vulnerable persons. 

Businesses allowed to operate under the Safer at Home order include, but are not limited to healthcare operations and critical infrastructure. I would encourage you to read the report or contact my office for more information as to whether or not your business has been included in this list. 

In addition, the following businesses are permitted to remain open:

• Fresh and non-perishable food retailers, including convenience stores, grocery stores, and food banks
• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food and goods directly to residences
• Pharmacies, healthcare supply stores and healthcare facilities
• Child care facilities with some limitations
• Gas stations and automobile repair facilities
• Financial institutions
• Laundry businesses, dry cleaners and services necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of a residence, including rubbish collection
• Hardware stores, plumbers, and electricians
• Educational institutions, for the purpose of distance learning
• Roles required for any business to maintain minimum basic operations, which includes security and payroll
• Law and safety, and essential government functions

For an extensive list of businesses that may remain open during the Safer at Home order, I encourage you to read the full text of the order. 

If a business is uncertain about whether or not they are exempted from this order, please contact the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, here. 

Please, take a minute to answer this week's survey question regarding Governor Evers' Safer at Home order.

Click here for my survey

Survey Results

Thank you to everyone who responded to last week's survey regarding strategies for slowing the spread of COVID-19. I appreciated your input, feedback, and suggestions for dealing with this public health emergency. Your feedback will help us determine the best strategies for combatting the spread of this virus.

In total, 117 individuals answered this week's survey question, with 33 percent responding that the status quo was adequate and no further action needed to be taken by the state. What is more, 29 percent of respondents argued that Governor Evers should temporarily shutter all non-essential businesses. 

What is more, 23 percent of respondents answered "other." Responses include: 

"Provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for all appropriate workers such as healthcare workers."

"Following the federal government is useful, but so is monitoring what similar states in the progression of the epidemic are doing. The key is to recognize when and where the needs to be adopted."

"We need to provide relief to those who are unable to work."

"Isolate the most vulnerable and encourage everyone else to go about business as normal, using common sense. You cannot destroy an entire economy over the flu."

"Terminate the blanket closures of bars and restaurants and close businesses judiciously, based on scientific data indicating a specific need with a specific end date. Additionally, utilize the projected surplus to reimburse businesses forced to shut down."

Shelter-in-Place Order

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Governor Evers announced a Safer at Home order, or as it has been called in other states around the country, a shelter-in-place order, that will close all non-essential businesses and encourage citizens to stay home as much as possible.

My colleagues and I were assured on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that the Evers Administration was not intending to implement a stay-at-home order. In fact, members of the legislature were notified of Governor Evers' plan to issue a stay-at-home order a mere 15 minutes before it was announced on Twitter. Yes, that is right, Governor Evers made the announcement on Twitter, rather than notifying legislative leaders via phone. 

This has been especially frustrating because it is my job as your State Representative to keep you well-informed of any updates relating to this pandemic. The legislature is currently working with Governor Evers' office on a package of bills to address COVID-19. We want to be united and bipartisan, so we hope to see more open communication going forward. 

As of now, we know that all non-essential will be ordered to close. My office has been inundated with calls from businesses wondering whether or not they will be deemed "essential." I encourage you to read the text of the order. If you have any questions, please contact my office. 

The goal of the Safer at Home order is to slow the spread of the virus so that there is not an abrupt surge in patients that overwhelms hospitals and healthcare providers.  

My staff and I will continue to keep you updated, as more information becomes available. 

Local Dining Options

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Wisconsin restaurants and bars are closed to diners. Establishments are still permitted to offer carry out or delivery options to customers. 

In an effort to support our community, my office has compiled a list of local establishments within the 60th Assembly District that remain open for business. Please consider supporting our local food service industry.

If your dining establishment is in our area, is offering delivery and carry out options, and is not included on the list, please contact my office. 

Utility Changes

Due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, Governor Evers has issued an emergency order suspending several utility-related administrative rules. 

Governor Evers' order permits the Public Service Commission to temporarily authorize further consumer protection during this public health emergency.

As part of Governor Evers' order, the PSC has directed regulated utilities to discontinue assessing late fees for customer accounts and to stop disconnections for nonpayment for all consumers, including commercial, industrial, and farm accounts.

Additionally, the PSC's actions allow for deferred payment agreements for all ratepayers who request them and for the removal of any administrative barriers for customers establishing or reestablishing utility services. Furthermore, the practice of requiring deposits from customers for the reconnection of utilities has been halted.

During these challenging and stressful times, it is imperative to provide relief for those struggling with COVID-19.

Resources for Small Businesses

I am pleased to announce that help is on the way for small business owners. 

The Small Business Administration has approved Wisconsin's request to assist small businesses being affected by the COVID-19 outbreak by providing them with access to low-interest disaster loans. 

Through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, our businesses can qualify for up to $2 million in loans to cover their losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Interest rates are 3.75 percent for for-profit businesses and 2.75 percent for nonprofits. Payments can be extended for up to 30 years. 

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation also established a grant program to support small businesses and micro-enterprises that are experience short-term cash flow issues due to COVID-19.

Small Business 20/20 is open to businesses with fewer than 20 employees. The maximum a business may receive is $20,000 over a two-month period.

Additional information on both of these programs can be found here.  

Tax Deadline Extended

This week, Governor Evers announced that he was going to adhere to the tax extension guidelines established by the Trump Administration. As such, both federal and state income tax payment and return due dates have been extended to July 15. 

Wisconsinites will not be required to file extension forms to be eligible for the revised due date. What is more, there will be no interest or penalties for the period of April 15-July 15. Interest, penalties and underpayment interest for failing to make quarterly estimated tax payments will begin to accrue on July 16th. 

The extension is solely for income tax payments, estimated income tax payments and returns that were originally due on April 15th. The extension applies to individuals, trusts, partnerships, associations, companies, and corporations. 

For more information from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, please click here.

Stay up to date

One of the best ways to date with what is happening in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking system. This service affords you with the opportunity to track legislative activities in Madison. Upon creation of a free account, you can sign up to receive notification about specific bills of committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject (i.e., health care, education, etc.).