Wisconsin's state Senate voted 18-3 Tuesday to repeal Democrat Governor Tony Evers' statewide coronavirus mask mandate. The mandate was issued in August 2020 and is not due to expire until March 2021.
The Senate just passed a resolution to revoke @GovEvers' public health orders, including the mask mandate.
— Senator Julian Bradley (@SenBradley) January 26, 2021
For too long, the governor has acted like a dictator, illegally and unilaterally enacting health policy for the entire state. pic.twitter.com/a9b7FFmwJB
Republican critics argued that Evers went beyond the authority of his emergency powers by repeatedly extending the mandate and said Evers was required to obtain approval from the legislature to extend an emergency order past 60 days.
The mask mandate is also facing a challenge in Wisconsin's Supreme Court. All of the legislatures Democrats and two Republicans tried to vote down the resolution.
Do you want a governor who doesn't follow the law? @GovEvers is allowed 60 days on an executive order, & we're on day 320. SJR3 isn't about revoking masks, it's about Gov Evers ignoring & overstepping his statutory authority. This cannot be tolerated no matter who is in charge! pic.twitter.com/wqgDsIFAUx
— Sen. Dan Feyen (@SenDanFeyen) January 25, 2021
Republican state Senator Steve Nass who wrote the resolution said, "This is not about whether face masks are good or bad. This is about repeatedly issuing emergency orders contrary to what the law allows. It's about the rule of law."
Evers' mandate, is expected to also be voted down in the Republican controlled state Assembly. If both chambers reject the mandate, the governor's signature is not necessary for the repeal to take effect.