Special Public Health
Emergency Update
The Need for Compassion |
The weight of this national emergency
is felt by all of us in different ways. For many of us, there is
an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty.
We have to show compassion for the sick,
the front-line workers, healthcare professionals, at-risk
individuals, and people who are losing
their jobs and businesses.
We’re all in this together. Illness and job
loss don’t discriminate based on politics. The solutions we need
to address these serious problems must be collaborative and
demonstrate compassion for
everyone who is being harmed.
As we consider the right path for our
state to take next, let’s do all we can to work together for the
benefit of everyone.
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Honoring My
Responsibilities |
From the first day of the shutdown, I’ve
been asking how we plan to adapt in order to reopen safely.
While the shutdown order has prevented a surge of COVID-19 from
overwhelming our hospitals, it has also crippled our economy.
It’s critical to put health and safety first; however, we cannot
destroy folks’ ability to put food on the table.
The governor has done an admirable job at
keeping us safe and I thank him for that.
As we plan for the future, we must ensure
public safety and
economic stability.
I have a duty to represent you by actively
engaging in the development of policy and law. While the
governor’s decisions have been well intentioned, they have not
involved the legislature in any meaningful way. The legislature
is asking the Supreme Court to restore the people’s involvement in the critical
decisions being made about public health and the economy.
Details about the lawsuit from State Assembly Speaker Vos:
“The Wisconsin State Supreme Court is now reviewing
the petition that the Wisconsin
Legislature filed on Tuesday that challenges how the
extension of the Safer at Home order was issued. The main
question in the lawsuit is whether an unelected, unaccountable
bureaucrat has broader authority and power than the governor and
can exercise it without limit, or public or legislative input,
or whether that bureaucrat is bound by the rules process.
“The Legislature is asking the court for an injunction of
the extension but also asking to ‘stay enforcement of its
injunction for a period of six days, to allow DHS sufficient
time to promulgate a new emergency rule consistent with
Wisconsin law (a process that it should begin undertaking as
soon as this filing is served on them). Such a stay would fairly
accommodate the parties’ mutual interest in preserving the
status quo and ensuring no disruption to the State’s efforts to
control the spread of COVID-19 while DHS undertakes steps to
comply with all applicable statutes.’”
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Your Ideas for a Safe
Reopening Are Needed |
As a former business owner, I know the
value of consumer confidence. If a shopper or employee doesn’t
feel safe, they find somewhere else to go.
When it comes time to reopen, folks will
need to know that their places of work and where they spend
money are safe to revisit.
That’s where you come in. I need your help
for ideas to make Wisconsin safe enough to reopen with
confidence. Please contact me with ideas about how businesses,
places of worships, schools, etc. can reopen safely. When you
reach out, be sure to
leave your email, home address, and phone number, which will
help me get back to you more effectively.
If
you are a business owner or operator:
What will you do to restore consumer
confidence?
Develop your plan now. Don’t wait for the
government to act. Account for safety. Listen to the experts.
Consider what you can do to ensure customers and employees are
confident in their safety at your place of business.
Go beyond guidelines. The safer you make
your business, the more likely you are to attract your customer
base back.
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Hospitals and Health
Industries Scale Back |
Hospitals and businesses that provide
services like cancer screening are suffering massive budget
shortfalls in light of the lack of demand for their services.
While it’s critical for hospitals to remain on alert for any
potential surge in COVID-19 patients, it’s clear that we must
adapt flexible regional solutions to address the situation,
instead of a one size fits all that is currently bankrupting our
healthcare providers.
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One Legislative
Proposal for Reopening |
Last Friday, many of my colleagues and I
signed on to a letter authored by Rep. Horlacher that proposed a
specific and achievable way for Wisconsin to reopen in a
reasonable and responsible way. You can read the full proposal
by clicking on the letter below:
On Tuesday, even one of my Democratic
colleagues put forward a plan to move the state beyond the
current shutdown. You can read
more about Rep. Doyle’s plan here.
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Today In the Fox Valley |
The Wisconsin Hospital Association maintains a
dashboard where the public can view the data being used by
the state to make public health decisions.
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COVID-19 Guidance and
Assistance |
Help is available if you are in need.
You can’t control whether you lose your job
or your benefits because of the Coronavirus. However, you can
take steps to protect yourself in case you wind up without
health insurance during the pandemic. If you have lost coverage
(or fear that you might), you have options! Call
920-882-6420 or dial United Way’s 2-1-1 for free help.
Below are additional resources:
Unemployment and Job Opportunities
Small Businesses
Financial Resources
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A Request from AASD |
As part of our special update on Monday, I
include an excerpt of a letter from the Appleton Area School
District (AASD) as an example of harm being done when one size
fits all solutions are imposed by the state and federal
governments in our community. My purpose was not to
insinuate that AASD wanted to open all schools, it was simply to
display the need for flexibility during this emergency order to
carry out their mission successfully. I support their request
and I am including their letter below so it can be read in its
entirety:
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"Like" Representative
Murphy's Facebook Page
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I have a Facebook page so I can continually engage with you on
important topics facing the state. Please like it by
clicking here! I use Facebook to update constituents more frequently on
my work in Madison and the 56th Assembly District. I look forward to
using this as another way to connect with constituents and encourage you to follow it and watch for
regular updates.
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"Like" Representative Murphy's
Official Facebook Page
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Welcome!
I live in Greenville, but have an
office at the State Capitol in Madison. If you are in
downtown Madison, please feel free to stop by and say
hello! Just go to the information desk in the rotunda,
and they can direct you on how to find my office, 318
North. At the bottom of each e-update, you'll see my
office contact information.
If your school or group plans to tour the Capitol
building, please let me know in advance. I'd
love to visit with you for a few minutes and take a
group photo.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
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