WMC asks lawmakers to take up its reopening plan

The state’s chamber of commerce asked lawmakers on Thursday to take up and pass its plan for a regional reopening of Wisconsin, which it couched as a replacement for Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide approach.

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce joined nearly 80 business groups in a Thursday letter to lawmakers asking them to enact the plan. Scott Manley, executive vice president of government relations, said the economic impact of shutting down the state and keeping it closed has been “absolutely devastating.”

“Unfortunately, it’s getting worse every single day,” he told the Assembly Committee of State Affairs. “That’s why we thought it was so important to put a plan together to allow us to reopen our economy in a safe way, and we think now is the time to do it.”

He said the association sees its plan as working in parallel with efforts by Evers’ administration to grow contact tracing and COVID-19 testing.

WMC’s plan would reopen businesses on Monday. Evers’ statewide safer-at-home order runs through May 26.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Missy Hughes cautioned lawmakers against the regional approach as many rural communities in the state have an aging population that are more vulnerable.

She said the governor is open to “healthy conversations that are productive” when it comes to potentially incorporating the WMC plan into their own.

But she noted that the administration is in a “difficult position” right now given the lawsuit filed by the Legislature.

“Finding a way out of that situation and a way into productive conversations would be the moment of leadership we all deserve,” she said.

Wisconsin Health News is removing the password on all stories related to the coronavirus. For the latest developments follow us on Twitter at @wihealthnews or check out our website. For complete healthcare coverage, sign up for a free trial to our daily email newsletter.