Fitzgerald Statement on Evers’ Misleading Political Ad

[Madison, WI] —Senator Scott Fitzgerald released the following statement in response to a political ad released by Governor Tony Evers’ campaign:

“The Governor’s ad shamelessly exploits the COVID crisis to push a partisan political message. Using his own political campaign account to politicize the pandemic and baselessly attack Republicans is about as cynical as it gets.

“The federal CARES Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27th. Immediately following that, the legislature developed a bill with significant input from Governor Evers and public health stakeholders. That bill was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law on April 15th.

“Since then, the legislature has been waiting for Governor Evers to expend the CARES Act dollars and direct them to where they are most needed. The legislature has no oversight over the funds and is only in a position to urge the Governor to send them to one area of need or another.

“Over the summer, legislative leaders repeatedly pleaded with the Evers Administration to correct their botched handling of unemployment insurance claims, as many unemployed claimants waited months to receive their benefits. While Governor Evers fired his Secretary of Workforce Development over the mishandling of the crisis, he has still failed to take action to fully resolve the situation and ensure that Wisconsin’s unemployed can receive their benefits.

“Now, unfortunately, we are waiting again, this time watching Speaker Pelosi and majority-party Democrats in Congress play political games with a second relief bill. Just like Governor Evers is politicizing the pandemic here in Wisconsin, inaction from D.C. Democrats is clearly a political calculation intended to prevent President Trump from delivering a win for swing states on the eve of the presidential election. If and when Congress finally acts, the Wisconsin legislature is prepared to react quickly to implement any needed statutory changes.

“As Governor of the State of Wisconsin, attempting to lay the responsibility for pandemic response at the feet of the legislature simply demonstrates Tony Evers’ poor leadership of an administration more focused on politics than on coming together for meaningful reform. He has not approached the legislature with any proposal that he wants to see acted on, instead relying on unilateral administrative actions that he knows violate state law, and have failed to make a meaningful difference in combating the public health crisis. His administration has failed to present a long-term plan that legislators and the constituents they represent can embrace, and the only moves he has made in recent months have unfortunately run afoul of the law.

“I again would ask that Governor stop focusing on political messaging and demonstrate some leadership that Wisconsinites are sorely in need of right now.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.