This week, I was honored to receive the Wisconsin Dairy Business Association 2020 Legislative Excellence Award. I am proud to be an advocate for the dairy industry in the 3rd Assembly District!
Why I voted No on SJR 3
Unfortunately, due to the weather yesterday and time constraints, I was unable to deliver my floor speech. However, I wanted to share my rationale for voting the way I did on Senate Joint Resolution 3:
I am voting no today because I think this is a mistake. I think it is a mistake for three reasons that I’d like to explain:
1. I do not agree that it is necessary
2. I do not want the State gov’t to send a mixed message about masks.
3. I do not see this changing anything
First: Imagine this, The Representative from the 3rd Assembly District is entering a goggle mandate for the entire district. You must wear goggles in a public place. The eyes are a gateway to the blood stream. Why not? Well, I don’t have the power to do that. Neither the Constitution nor WI statutes give me the ability to do so. So, what effect does my mandate do? Nothing. Gov. Evers doesn’t have anymore authority to do his mandate that I have for my hypothetical mandate.
According to Gov. Evers' own mandate, his only power to do a mandate originates in WI Stat 323.10. That statute clearly states that his mandate is limited to 60 days, I quote “A state emergency shall not exceed 60 days, unless the state of emergency is extended by joint resolution of the legislature.” The legislature took no vote extending the state of emergency. Therefore, he does not have the power to do a mandate beyond 60 days. Period.
So, what has he been doing? It hasn’t been a mandate. It has been essentially an advisory. Its advice. It’s like a resolution. A resolution that is unenforceable. Have you heard of anyone getting a fine for breaking the mandate? I haven’t. We have 5.5 million people in Wisconsin. Do you think they all followed his mandate? I don’t. I think our law enforcement reads 323.10 the same way that I do.
Second: I wear a mask. I appreciate when others around me wear masks. And, I don’t want to send a mixed message on wearing masks. This issue should not be partisan. Based on my Republican collages comments, this isn’t about masks, its about following the law and protecting our separation of powers. But, the action does send a mixed message that I am just very comfortable sending to your districts and mine.
Finally, this vote is about partisan messaging, not changing things. If this vote fails, we have a non-enforceable mask mandate. A mandate that we understand. If it’s a devil, its at least the devil that we know.
If this vote succeeds, I understand that both parties will continue to promote wearing a mask. Further, the federal gov’t will require masks. Further still, many of our counties will require masks. I expect both of my counties, Calumet & Outagamie to enter in their own mask mandate. So, not one of my constitutes’ lives will change. The counties mask mandates might be more restrictive than the current mandate. One that probably can be enforced. Further, I expect almost all businesses to continue to require a mask.
Celebrating Justice Clarence Thomas
February is celebrated as black history month. This week, I would like to recognize United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Thomas was was born in the Pinpoint community near Savannah, Georgia on June 23, 1948. He attended Conception Seminary from 1967-1968 and received an A.B., cum laude, from College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1974. He was admitted to law practice in Missouri in 1974, and served as an Assistant Attorney General of Missouri, 1974-1977; an attorney with the Monsanto Company, 1977-1979; and Legislative Assistant to Senator John Danforth, 1979-1981. From 1981–1982 he served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, and as Chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1982-1990. From 1990–1991, he served as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. President Bush nominated him as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and he took his seat October 23, 1991.
Officials Frustrated Over Evers’ Vaccine Distribution
Wisconsin continues to rank near the bottom for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution because Governor Evers’ administration has dropped the ball. Unlike the unemployment claims onslaught, Governor Evers’ administration had months to prepare for a vaccine distribution. Former President Donald Trump told the American people that a vaccine would be available by the end of 2020, and he delivered on this promise. I am profoundly disappointed in Governor Evers’ ability to effectively distribute the vaccine in Wisconsin.
Calumet County currently offers a FREE drive-thru testing site utilizing a federal mobile testing unit operated by ThedaCare. This “self-swab” and appointment-only registration process operates at Christ the Rock Church Community Church every Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Christ the Rock Community Church is located at W6254 US Highway 10/114
in Menasha. Anyone experiencing symptoms, those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus can be tested. The site is open to anyone regardless of county of residence, and testing is not limited to ThedaCare patients.
