Wisconsin State Government Actions to Date
3/12- Public Health Emergency Declaration
3/13- School closure order
3/14- DOT permits to assist with grocery supply efforts
3/15- DCF rules suspension order
3/16- Mass gatherings order
3/17- Revised mass gatherings order
3/18- Childcare settings restrictions,
Governor Evers submits application for SBA loans,
DWD issues order relating to Unemployment Insurance
The Evers administration also launched a website that is being updated with the most recent developments and information. You can visit the page by clicking here.
State Agency Updates
The Wisconsin State Legislature has been having daily phone conferences in order to keep up with what the departments have been doing to stay on top of COVID-19. Below you will find information, updates, and links to further resources for each agency.
Department of Children and Families
DCF has created a page on its website with updates related to COVID-19 that can be viewed here.
Child care information
Child welfare information
Department of Corrections
The DOC has created a website that is intended to be fluid in nature and provide frequent updates for family and friends of those who are in custody.
Below are some of the steps that the DOC has taken so far to address the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Suspended work release program
- Suspended volunteer activities and contracted programming
- Suspended face-to-face contact, using phone and video conferencing
- Enhancing communication measures with staff and people who are incarcerated
- Enhanced site cleaning measures
- Established infection monitoring of people who are incarcerated and the staff
- Monitoring inventory of personal protection equipment
- Formed a task force made up of subject matter experts to make recommendations
- Conducting daily executive briefings 3x per day (virtual)
Department of Workforce Development
Governor Tony Evers has waived the Unemployment Work Search requirements to ensure that eligible workers can get benefits more quickly.
Apply for Unemployment Benefits
If your workplace shuts down due to COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply for unemployment benefits through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. You can apply HERE.
Department of Transportation
The DOT will be closed tomorrow Friday, 3/20 for deep cleaning. They are recommending that you call ahead or make an appointment online, in addition to using their robust online services.
Online Services
The majority of DMV services can be done online. Use these shortcuts and save yourself a trip to the DMV:
COVID Relief Permits
COVID-19 Relief Effort Supply Permits will allow for additional supplies to be moved across Wisconsin interstates, most highways and local roadways by increasing weight limits and waiving truck driver hours of service limitations.
Public Service Commission
Access to Utilities during COVID-19
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) directed water, electric, and natural gas utilities to cease disconnecting residential service for nonpayment until the state public health emergency has been lifted.
Additionally, utilities must make reasonable attempts to reconnect service to an occupied dwelling that has been disconnected.
PSC also compiled information and resources for free or affordable Internet services.
You can learn more HERE.
Department of Public Instruction
Standardized Testing Requirements
It will not be possible to complete mandated standardized testing this year. Yesterday, DPI said they will aggressively pursue a waiver request to the United States Department of Education (USDE) from this requirement and will work with the Legislature and Governor's office around suspending the state testing requirements for this spring.
School Meals
Due to the school closures, DPI requested a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to serve food in non-group settings. This waiver request was approved and can be viewed here. DPI is also pursuing exemptions to any regulations that prevent schools from providing meals to students.
UW System
UW System COVID-19 Preparedness page includes the UW System’s response as well as links to what each campus is doing to address the outbreak.
Numerous faculty and staff members from UW-Madison Experts Database have been made available to media outlets across the country on the topic of COVID-19.
You can find more information on these individuals in the following two releases:
1. https://news.wisc.edu/experts-from-uw-madison-available-to-discuss-covid-19/
2. https://news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-experts-available-for-analysis-on-the-novel-coronavirus/
Department of Trade, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection
Price Gouging
Governor Evers signed Executive Order #72 which authorizes DATCP to enforce Wisconsin’s price gouging statute until the emergency has ended. In addition to price gouging, DATCP remains the agency charged with investigating scams and other fraudulent trade practices in Wisconsin.
If you receive any constituent contacts related to suspected scams, fraud, false marketing claims, price gouging, please refer those contacts to DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov or (800) 422-7128, or have them file an online complaint.
Department of Natural Resources
Counter Service
Counter service at DNR service centers has been suspended statewide. DNR Customer Service Representatives can be reached via their Customer Service Hotline (888-936-7463) 7am-10pm, 7 days per week.
Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Hunting and fishing licenses are available for purchase at www.GoWild.WI.gov.
Federal Government Responses
The federal government has now passed two pieces of legislation aimed at providing relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A third bill, which is poised to be the largest in terms of dollars, is not yet finalized, though a description of what we know now is provided below. The Federal Government's actions will impact our State action, as many of the economic relief and health care programs are shared between the two layers of government.
Phase 1: The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6074) was passed on March 5th and signed on March 6th. This bill provides $8.3 Billion in emergency funding, all of which is designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including funding for testing and the development of a vaccine. For more on this bill, click HERE.
Phase 2: Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) was passed by the House on March 14th, the Senate on March 18th and signed into law the same day. This bill provides roughly $100 Billion in funding and creates emergency paid sick leave for individuals that are unable to work because they have contracted COVID-19 or are required to be quarantined because of symptoms of COVID-19. There are also provisions that establish a federal emergency paid leave benefits program to provide payments to employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak. For more on this bill, click HERE and check out this NPR article.
Phase 3: This is pending and has not yet passed. Reports place the range of this future congressional action at somewhere around $1 trillion and will be designed to address the economic displacement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This would take the form of direct payments to individuals, increased unemployment compensation, relief to the airline industry, and much more. We will keep you up to date as things develop. Read more on Politico about this newly introduced legislation.
One final note on the federal action. This is a time for action, not partisan politics. Below are the contact numbers for our two US Senators and our member of Congress. Please reach out to them for more information or to voice your opinion on the pending legislation.
Senator Tammy Baldwin:
Washington DC Office:
709 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5653
Milwaukee Office:
633 West Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1920
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: (414) 297-4451
Online Contact Form: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/feedback
Senator Ron Johnson:
Washington DC Office:
328 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5323
Milwaukee Office:
517 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 408
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 276-7282
Online Contact Form: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator
Congresswoman Gwen Moore:
Washington DC Office:
2252 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4572
District Office:
250 East Wisconsin, Suite 950
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 297-1140
Online Contact Form: https://gwenmoore.house.gov/contact/
|
The Goyke Report
