Nothing government can do says chair of health committee

What can government do? The answer is nothing. At least in the eyes of one Wisconsin state representative. State Rep. Joe Sanfelippo gave an interesting interview to the Wisconsin Eye Network this week as he discussed governmental response to the coronavirus. In his words, “there is nothing the government can do” to fight Covid-19. Sanfelippo’s comments are even more shocking, given that he is the chairman of the Assembly Health Committee, the very committee that should be leading the charge on fighting the worst pandemic of our lifetimes. One that has taken the lives of more than 1600 Wisconsinites. Instead, Sanfelippo’s committee hasn’t met since February. Not one meeting since the virus took hold.  While it isn’t true there is nothing the government can do, it is true that Wisconsin state government has done next to nothing. Wisconsin has passed just one bill related to the coronavirus. Other states have passed dozens, from ensuring medical workers having the tools they need, to helping struggling businesses stay open to making sure the unemployed get the benefits to which they are entitled.  There are many steps that can be taken, but Wisconsin has taken none. And the chairman of a health committee during a health crisis is perfectly ok with that. Is it any wonder then that Wisconsin remains ground zero for the coronavirus?