“It is the way it is.”
The words of Governor Tony Evers on WTMJ Friday morning showed both a sense of resignation about the Supreme Court ending the administration’s Safer-at-Home orders, and a sense that his administration still has a role to play in keeping people safe from the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have a hand that’s been dealt to us, and we’re moving forward,” said Evers on the Steve Scaffidi Show.
“Though Safer-at-Home is gone and a more reasonable way of opening up the economy is gone, we will continue to do the stuff making sure we are testing people at a high number, and contact tracing, and making sure we can corral any surges that might happen.”
He says he believes many, but not all individual Wisconsin citizens will continue to follow the original Safer-at-Home directives as their behavior to help stop the spread of the virus that has killed more than 430 people and infected more than 11,000.
“I feel strongly that the people of Wisconsin get it and are going to do the right thing,” said Evers in a general sense, but he believes some people’s behavior will lead to spikes in cases.
“When the state is unable to set expectations and things are happening that we know are going to increase the number of people that are infected, it’s frustrating.”
The frustration to him also involves what he believes was a change in tone and a pivot in goal by Republican legislators including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. He accused Vos of desiring a bipartisan agreement early in May, and then choosing a plan of simply letting localities create a “patchwork” of differing coronavirus-related safety policies for businesses.
“They (were) looking for a safe and gradual opening of the economy, which is exactly what we were doing,” Evers said about the GOP’s tone in saying they wanted negotiation.
“They made it very clear they would not accept any restrictions on local businesses. They believe they’re just fine with local people taking care of this. That’s their position.”
However, Evers said he would meet with Vos, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and other leaders next week.