Businesses, public health agencies at odds over virus bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's business community on Tuesday came out in support of a Republican-authored coronavirus response bill moving quickly through the Legislature that is opposed by public health officials and Democrats.

The measure, introduced on Monday and slated to pass as soon as Thursday, appears likely to be vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers. The governor said he hasn't read the bill or decided what he will do, but “the likelihood of a veto is pretty strong” if it contains provisions he can't support.

Evers said he was disappointed that Republicans weren't offering the bill he put forward that he said included items that had bipartisan support.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who sponsored the bill, testified that it was a “good faith effort to compromise with Gov. Evers.” But the proposal is not the compromise Evers or Democrats had been looking for and far from what Evers had put forward last month.

Democrats did not attend the hearing in person. Republicans who were there, including Vos, did not wear masks when speaking. Democratic state Rep. Lisa Subek, of Madison, called the hearing nothing more than “political theater” for a bill that does nothing but appease Republican special interests.

The Wisconsin Restaurant Association, the state and Milwaukee chambers of commerce, the Wisconsin Grocers Association and others were among those in support of the measure that gives immunity to businesses from civil liability claims related to COVID-19. The bill would also bar local health officials or the state from closing businesses for more than two weeks at a time if the virus spikes — a restriction businesses support.

Kristine Hillmer, president of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, said restaurants across the state had become “major fall guys” during the pandemic and many face...