Empower Wisconsin | March 23, 2020
MADISON — The Legislature needs to act and will act on measures to lessen the health and financial hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, state Sen. Dale Kooyenga says.
The Senate session originally scheduled for this week was postponed. Kooyenga said Senate leadership will decide when and how to meet.
“I do think we should meet. There are things we can do,” said the Brookfield Republican in a conversation with Empower Wisconsin Friday, on the Dan O’Donnell Show on NewsTalk 1130 WISN.
Kooyenga said his office is working on as many as a dozen bills, including legislation that would expand the duties of medical professionals to more readily assist in combatting coronavirus
State Rep. John Jagler (R-Watertown) said the Legislature must act, but within the realities of a balanced state budget.
“We don’t operate like the federal government,” Jagler told Empower Wisconsin. “Our budget is set. We were counting on a surplus. Much of that surplus we were counting on, I’m sure, is gone because of this.”
“We just need to do what we can within the confines of what we have right now,” the lawmaker added.
Sen. Kooyenga and Rep. Jagler are our guests today on PowerUp, Empower Wisconsin’s podcast.
