WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Legislature has filed legal action against Gov. Tony Evers over his extension of the Safer at Home order.
The original order was scheduled to expire on April 24, but Evers extended it to May 26.
The legislature filed legal action in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court challenging Evers' order.
“The public outcry over the Safer at Home order continues to increase as positive COVID cases decrease or remain flat. There’s immense frustration regarding the extension, as it goes beyond the executive branch’s statutory powers," said Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. "Wisconsinites are forced to sit by with no voice in the process. Other Midwestern states with more confirmed cases, like Ohio, have set firm dates to begin a phased reopening far earlier than the Evers administration."
On Monday, Evers announced the "Badger Bounce Back Program," which detailed a phased plan to reopening Wisconsin.
The plan has three phases and specific requirements needed in order to allow the state to reopen its economy.
"Right now, Wisconsin does not meet the criteria the White House established to start reopening our state," Gov. Evers said Monday. "But with our Badger Bounce Back plan, we're going to be taking some important steps to get us there."
"The governor has denied the people a voice through this unprecedented administrative overreach. Unfortunately, that leaves the legislature no choice but to ask the Supreme Court to rein in this obvious abuse of power. Wisconsinites deserve certainty, transparency, and a plan to end the constant stream of executive orders that are eroding both the economy and their liberty even as the state is clearly seeing a decline in COVID infections," said Vos and Fitzgerald.
To read the full legal action, click here.
