Amid outbreak, Wisconsin lawmakers continue their vacation

The current pandemic has disrupted the lives of most Americans. We are working from home, or for businesses considered essential, still coming to work, but taking lots of precautions. But it remains business as usual for members of the Wisconsin Legislature. Our state lawmakers haven’t been in session for a month, and their calendar calls for them to be away from Madison for the remainder of this year. Even the coronavirus outbreak hasn’t disrupted those plans. Our state representatives haven’t called for a special session to bring them back to oversee the state’s response to Covid-19. Legislative leaders say they want to see what the federal government’s $2 trillion economic stimulus package contains before deciding what action the state needs to take. Apparently, they don’t think this is an emergency, or that they have a role in dealing with it. One action they could take is to waive the current week-long waiting period before people who have been laid off before they can apply for unemployment benefits. That one week could make a big difference to those out of work. While the rest of the world makes dealing with the coronavirus their number one priority, our elected officials in Madison simply continue their nearly year-long vacation.