Hunger Task Force workers distribute food at McGovern Park in Milwaukee on Thursday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
MADISON, Wis. (CN) Wisconsin Republicans on Thursday abruptly dropped plans to terminate a public health emergency the Democratic governor declared over the coronavirus pandemic when it came to light that millions of dollars in federal food stamp funds would be jeopardized if they went through with it.
After the GOP-majority Wisconsin Senate voted on Tuesday in favor of a joint resolution to end Governor Tony Evers’ latest public health emergency order and subsequent mask mandate, the Assembly also controlled by Republicans was slated to do the same Thursday morning. Evers would not have been able to veto the resolution if it passed.
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The Republican-led Wisconsin state assembly halted a vote Thursday that would have repealed the state’s mask requirement because of concerns the move would jeopardize nearly $50 million in food assistance to low-income people.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the assembly was “hitting the pause button” on the vote and would likely return to the issue as soon as next week, according to the Star Tribune.
“We don’t want to rush into anything,” Vos said, according to the report. Vos reportedly wasn’t aware that rescinding the mask mandate could strip the state of $49 million in federal aid until he read reports about it.
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