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Republicans just lost their lawsuit to strike down Wisconsin’s mask mandate. Good! But now they’re appealing to a higher court. The GOP is relentlessly sabotaging @GovEvers’s COVID response, & cases are spiraling. Let’s hold them accountable. THREAD 1/ https://twitter.com/GovEvers/status/1315685980297330688
Wisconsin Republican legislators are like Congressional Republicans: they’re out to undermine your health, but too chicken to admit it. The GOP didn’t repeal the ACA, so they want SCOTUS to do it. Here, they want courts to knock out the mask order. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/12/judge-denies-gop-effort-end-tony-evlers-statewide-mask-mandate/5967227002/
Knocking out the ACA and ending Wisconsin’s mask order are two stunningly bad ideas—especially amidst an explosive, lethal COVID outbreak in our state. Wisconsin’s is one of the worst in the country. Some say *the* worst. https://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-is-battling-americas-worst-coronavirus-outbreak-and-the-states-broken-politics-is-partially-to-blame-143650745.html
18.6% of Wisconsinites who got tested in the last week were positive. That suggests there’s a ton of people with COVID who *haven’t* yet been tested. And you can see it in the hospitalization and death rates, which are brutal. https://www.wpr.org/percentage-positive-covid-19-tests-wisconsin-continues-climb
What’s the reason why COVID is out of control in Wisconsin, and not in our neighboring states? The answer rhymes with “schmepublicans.”
The groundwork for today's outbreak was laid by the GOP this spring. First, GOP state legislators forced an in-person election on April 7, even as poll workers dropped out & voting precincts closed in massive numbers in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Green Bay. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/solutions/2020/04/08/wisconsin-election-ridiculous-voters-who-braved-coronavirus-lines-inspiring-vote-primary/2966298001/
WI Republicans sued in May to strike down @GovEvers’s stay-at-home order. The right-wing majority ruled for the GOP, lifting the order & handing the legislature authority over health rules. Within an hour, patrons packed into reopened bars and restaurants. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/13/855782006/wisconsin-supreme-court-overturns-the-states-stay-at-home-order
WI’s Republican-controlled state legislature grabbed the power to set COVID rules. So what did it do? Nothing. It's been over 175 days since the Republicans last passed a bill. Now, WI's legislature has been deemed “the least active full-time legislature." https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/review-finds-wisconsin-has-least-active-full-time-legislature-in-nation-since-pandemic/
Senate GOP Leader Scott Fitzgerald (now running for Congress) said he’s been “waiting to see if the court case against the mask requirement goes their way before coming up with a plan to fight COVID-19.” So he’s against a good plan. He has no other plan. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/06/partisan-infighting-handcuffs-wisconsins-ability-fight-coronavirus/3610844001/
BTW: Running for Congress against Fitzgerald is Tom Palzewicz. @TomforWi believes that healthcare is a human right and is committed to ensuring that care is affordable & accessible for all. Chip in to Tom’s campaign: https://www.tomforwi.com/donate
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos doesn’t have a plan either, other than letting local governments fend for themselves. @RepVos has helped Trump lead WI off a cliff into a virus-infested sea, joining the lawsuit against masks while passing zero bills. https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/63/vos/media/news-updates/statement-statewide-mask-mandate/
Vos isn’t just supporting the anti-mask order—he’s also fantasizing about a lawsuit to strike down the Gov’s recent order to limit bar & restaurant capacity to 25%. He says he wants “cooperation & collaboration.” But does nothing to fight COVID. https://twitter.com/mattsmith_news/status/1313952071733870597?s=20
Robin Vos is being challenged by Joel Jacobson, running a powerhouse grassroots campaign in the gerrymandered 63rd Assembly district. Learn about @JoelforWI, chip in, and sign up to volunteer here: http://joelfor63.com/
The rot starts at the top of the GOP caucuses, but frankly, every anti-mask GOP state legislator is culpable. Let’s meet a few more of the Republicans putting Wisconsinites’ lives at risk—and the Democrats running against them.
Before we dig in: one piece of context. Robin Vos has been gunning for a supermajority so he can re-gerrymander the maps. We’ve been on offense, and it’s working. Now he’s defending GOP-held seats. Let’s go get ‘em. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/republican-dreams-of-a-supermajority-in-the-wisconsin-legislature-fade-with-trump/article_a5b11afd-31f4-5ec7-b864-05b25f46f165.html
GOP Rep. Shannon Zimmerman says ‘a one size fits all approach’ to mask mandates creates undue harm, especially in sparsely populated areas. But some of these areas are seeing some of the state’s highest COVID rates! https://wiseye.org/2020/09/09/campaign-2020-rep-shannon-zimmerman-r-river-falls-30th-assembly-district/?startStreamAt=136
Sarah Yacoub is running against Rep Zimmerman in WI 30th Assembly District. For @YacoubforWI, having a plan to fight COVID is crucial because “healthy people lead to a healthy economy.” Chip in to Sarah’s campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sarahforassembly
Although GOP Rep. Jim Ott says he himself would wear a mask, he says “a statewide mandate to wear one based on incomplete or questionable data is irresponsible.” Uh, Rep. Ott, the data is clear. And your constituents are getting sick. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2725969477683866
If you don’t want someone that spreads lies about public health, support Deb Andraca, who’s running against Jim Ott in WI AD23. Chip in to @DebforWI’s campaign here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-deb-andraca-1
Over in WI’s 21st Assembly District, GOP Rep. Jessie Rodriguez claims that “most people, before the mask order, they were already using masks”—implying, so why mandate them at all? Which makes sense... until you think about it for two seconds. https://wiseye.org/2020/09/17/campaign-2020-rep-jessie-rodriguez-r-oak-creek-21st-assembly-district/?startStreamAt=156
South Milwaukee Mayor Erik Brooks has long supported the Gov’s mask mandate for his community’s safety. He’s running for Assembly in this Milwaukee County district on a common-sense, actually-do-good-things platform. Chip in to Erik’s campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/brooks-for-assembly-1
Republican Rep. John Macco claims his constituents tell him that the Gov’s masking rule is “silly.” He says information on COVID-19 and masks is “just not trustworthy anymore.” Health experts disagree. Masks save lives. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=296814121633307&ref=watch_permalink
Here’s COVID information that’s not silly: hospitals in Rep. Macco’s district are at or nearing capacity because of the GOP’s failure to respond to the pandemic.
Dr. Kristin Lyerly is running in AD88. Support @KristinforWI today: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kristin-for-wisconsin
Dr. Kristin Lyerly is running in AD88. Support @KristinforWI today: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kristin-for-wisconsin
Weeks ago, GOP Rep. David Steffan said we should have “local governments make decisions if they want.” Now he’s finally flip-flopped & supports “all Wisconsinites wearing masks… it should not even be a discussion at this point.” A little late, pal. https://fox11online.com/news/local/letter-from-250-physicians-sent-to-elected-officials-asking-for-help-amid-covid-19-surge
Kathy Hinkfuss, who has consistently supported masks and public health measures, is running against Rep Steffan in Wisconsin’s 4th Assembly District. Support @KHforAssembly campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-kathy-hinkfuss-1
Republican Senate candidate (and current Assembly Rep) Dan Kapanke, an early critic of efforts to fight the pandemic, has spread lies about mask usage, going so far as to suggest that COVID-19 is “hard to catch.”(It’s not.)
Brad Pfaff has shown time and again that he will not only fight to protect us. Our health. Our farms. Our communities. Chip in and help @Pfaff4Senate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/pfaffwebsite
GOP State Senator Alberta Darling in WI’s 8th District says she “wears a mask when it's appropriate” but calls the mask mandate an “overreach.” Is it appropriate to let the pandemic spiral out of control in our state, Senator? https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/sen-darling-statement-on-gov-evers-mask-mandate/
As a business owner, Neal Plotkin knows that the health and safety of his constituents is both intrinsically vital AND the key to getting the economy back on track. Chip in and help @NealPlotkin1 flip the 8th Senate District: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/plotkin-for-senate-1
GOP State Sen. Patrick Testin, Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee, doesn’t even have a plan to fight COVID. Instead, he thinks that a “one size fits all approach… is heavy and misguided.” Here’s what’s heavy: Preventable death. https://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/story/news/local/2020/07/30/central-wisconsin-leaders-residents-react-covid-19-mask-mandate/5547298002/
Chip in to support Paul Piotrowski, who is running against Sen. Testin! @Piotrowski4Sen has supported expanded testing and has a long history of working to make central Wisconsin better. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/piotrowski-for-state-sednate-1
GOP Rep Dan Knodl calls the mask mandate “a heavy-handed use of government power.” That’s a heavy-handed misuse of your platform as a state legislator, Dan, while your constituents are in danger from a deadly virus.
https://www.facebook.com/RepKnodl/posts/4967063879977785?comment_id=4969394673078039#
https://www.facebook.com/RepKnodl/posts/4967063879977785?comment_id=4969394673078039#
Emily Siegrist is running to unseat Dan Knodl in Wisconsin’s 24th Assembly District. As a veteran and Nurse Practitioner, we’re pretty sure @EmilySiegristWI can handle anything thrown her way—such as anti-health Republican posturing. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/emily-siegrist-for-wisconsin-1
Republican Bonnie Lee is trying to unseat Democratic Rep Robyn Vining in the 14th Assembly District. She’s not just anti-mask—she pandered to an anti-stay-at-home rally earlier this year! https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1251602603714248704?s=20
Democratic Rep. Robyn Vining, who won by 132 votes in 2018, is running for re-election in the seat once held by Scott Walker. She’s a top target for the GOP. But she’s a powerhouse. Chip in to help @RobynVining keep the 14th blue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/teamvining2020
Wisconsin’s 51st Assembly District is in a bellwether region—if Trump loses here, he’s toast statewide. Maybe that’s why Republican Rep. Todd Novak has refused to tell reporters where he stands on the mask fight. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/opinion/biden-trump-bellwether-counties-.html
Support Kriss Marion, a farmer & business owner, to defeat Novak, and you’ll not only flip this seat, you’ll help to tip the scales for Biden in AD51 and thus statewide. Support @Kriss4Wisconsin: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kriss-marion-for-assembly
In Wisconsin’s 30th Senate District, one of the most COVID-explosive areas in the entire country, Republican Eric Wimberger wants to turn a blue district red—and he’s willing to hold unmasked indoor campaign events to do it.
The Democratic candidate in Wisconsin’s 30th Senate seat is De Pere Alder Jonathon Hansen, who strongly supports public health measures to bring the pandemic under control. Help power @HansenforWI victory: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hansenforwisconsin
Early in the pandemic, GOP Rep. Loren Oldenberg, WI 96th, advocated for reopening the state “regionally” for “the health of our economy.” The path to a healthy economy is a healthy public. No word from Oldenburg on how to get there. https://lacrossetribune.com/community/vernonbroadcaster/opinion/loren-oldenburg-community-continues-during-covid-19/article_a6a416b9-e12c-5071-9f84-57582d074fa1.html
18yo breakout candidate Josefine Jaynes is running a wildfire grassroots campaign to unseat Rep Loren Oldenberg in the 96th. Chip in to @Jaynes4WI’s campaign: https://www.josefinejaynesforwi.com/
GOP Rep. Ken Skowronski, in Wisconsin’s 82nd, says “common sense” is the best way to deal with coronavirus. Opposes mask mandates, saying they should be “up to the community.” And refuses to name anything the legislature should do. Watch this video: https://www.jsonline.com/videos/news/2020/10/08/state-rep-ken-skowronski-r-franklin-talks-covid-19-legislation/5904727002/
22-year-old candidate Jacob Malinowski is already a stronger leader on COVID than Ken Skronowski. His campaign was one of the first to propose a COVID response. @ElectJacobWI in the 82nd so we can flip this seat & see his plan through: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friendsofjacob
Republican Rep. Rob Stafsholt, running for State Senate in SD10, claimed in July that 86% of his constituents opposed a mask order. We hope that Rep Stafsholt has polled his constituents again. https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/reo-stafsholt-opposes-gov-evers-statewide-mask-mandate/
As an EMT & medical examiner, Sen Patty Schachtner’s experience as a frontline worker leaves her equipped to continue to lead in the State Senate-because we cannot defeat the virus without “showing up in the legislature.” Help re-elect @PattyforSenate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/pattyforsenate
Governor Evers has continually worked to keep the people of our state healthy & safe, all while Republicans have failed to show up, putting politics before people. They believe the winning strategy is doubling down on the President’s failed COVID response.
We have to hold them accountable. And we have 22 days to do it. Join us in this fight and sign up to volunteer: http://Wisdems.org/volunteer
