Earlier today the conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling striking down Gov. Tony Evers’ emergency health order mandating masks be worn statewide and blocking Gov. Evers from issuing any new public health emergency orders without the approval of the Republican-led do-nothing state Legislature
In a 4-3 decision, conservative justices in the majority declared the statewide mask mandate invalid and ruled Evers exceeded his authority in issuing multiple emergency declarations over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Evers used the emergency orders to require face coverings be worn indoors statewide after lawmakers opted not to.
“The question in this case is not whether the Governor acted wisely; it is whether he acted lawfully. We conclude he did not,” Justice Brian Hagedorn, writing for the conservative majority, said.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision could have a tremendous fiscal impact on the state, as the state could lose $50 million a month in extra federal food assistance to low-income people. Since last year Congress has increased funding for food programs in states that have emergency health orders in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and lawmakers have already been advised by the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau Wisconsin stands to lose the extra $50 million in funding if the state’s emergency order is ended.
This tweet sums up our state’s Supreme Court rather succinctly.
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