Update (2/4/21 2:45 p.m.): Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has issued a new statewide mask order an hour after the Republican-controlled Legislature voted to repeal his previous mandate.
The Democrat Evers said in a video message Thursday that his priority is keeping people safe and that wearing a mask was the most basic way to do that.
Republicans who voted to repeal the order said Evers was exceeding his authority by issuing new public health emergencies rather than having the Legislature approve extensions.
Original Post: Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature has repealed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate.
Health experts have warned against repealing the mandate, saying masks are probably the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Assembly vote Thursday came a week after the Senate also voted to kill the resolution.
Wisconsin is one of only 10 states without a mask mandate, although businesses, schools, health clinics, churches and other places still require people to wear masks.
And the repeal doesn’t affect mask mandates imposed by local governments.
Evers could defy the Legislature by issuing a new order, forcing them to vote again to repeal that.
