Partisan fissures are widening over the state’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, as Republican lawmakers say they plan to ask the Wisconsin Supreme Court to block Gov. Tony Evers’ extension of the “safer-at-home” order.
The move comes amid growing public discontent, even protests in defiance of prohibitions against large gatherings, after the order was extended through May 26.
Small business owners are among the most vocal, especially as Congress has yet to approve additional funding for business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. Money allocated for the program, which is part of the CARES Act, ran out this week.
State Sen. Alberta Darling, a Republican from River Hills and co-chairwoman of the Legislature’s finance committee, told FOX 6 in Milwaukee the GOP will challenge whether Evers has the right to act unilaterally in extending the order.
“We are going to the Supreme Court,” Darling said. “We have to get Wisconsin back to work.”
Republicans believe that Evers must get legislative approval to extend the order past 60 days. The order went into effect on March 25 and originally was set to expire on April 24.
