Here & Now

Evers Mandates Masks; Washington County Executive Opposes

Frederica Freyberg:

Governor Evers announces a statewide mask mandate to take effect Saturday and through September. But Republican legislative leaders say they are ready to convene to overturn the emergency order that includes the mask rule. Republicans in the legislature as well as some local and county officials around the state say the order, like the administration’s “safer at home” mandate that was struck down by the Supreme Court, is another executive overreach. We will hear from the Washington County executive in a few minutes. But under the order, starting tomorrow, masks are required for anyone five years of age or older while indoors except at a private residence. Students and school staff who return to the classroom are also required to wear masks. Violating the order comes with fines of up to $200.

Tony Evers:

I know there have been those who’ve demanded a piecemeal rather than a statewide approach. They’ve said we do not need a statewide effort to respond to this crisis. Well, we tried their way. Folks, it’s not working. The statewide efforts to combat this virus have worked before and so that’s what we announced here today. So today I declared a new statewide public health emergency as we battle the new surge of COVID-19 across our state. I also announced a new face covering order that will go into effect on August 1 at 12:01 a.m., give folks enough time to get face coverings if they don’t already have them. Although we’re facing new and different circumstances than we were a few months ago, the one thing that hasn’t changed since then is what I’ve said all along. We’re going to listen to the science and public health experts to guide our decision-making. And folks, the science and public health experts are telling us that face coverings and masks can save lives. My mask protects you. Your mask protects me. Our masks work best when we both wear them together. This virus has shown up in every county in the state of Wisconsin, so it’s not like if there’s a county line there that the virus stops, nor is it stopping people from going to work in a different county or whatever. This surge is a statewide surge. One of the counties we had very few cases just exploded with a number of cases that they now have. And so a statewide effort to wear a mask is really important because the virus does not know boundaries, even though we do a lot of looking at data around different counties. But every county in the state of Wisconsin is impacted by this virus. I know folks are worried that the order I’m issuing today keep people — to keep people healthy and safe will immediately be challenged by Republicans in the court. I know folks are worried another ruling could just create more chaos as we respond to this pandemic. I’m worried about that, too. But my job as governor is to put people first, to do what’s best for the people of our state and do everything I can to keep people healthy and safe.

Frederica Freyberg:

As mentioned, Republicans at the State Capitol immediately voiced opposition to the mask order with leaders now saying they are ready to convene the Legislature to overturn the emergency order mandating masks. Meanwhile some local officials are opposed as well. People like the Washington County executive Josh Schoemann. He joins us now from West Bend. And thanks for doing so.

Josh Schoemann:

Thanks for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:

You say the public health emergency and mask mandate is an executive power grab and you call it dangerous. How so?

Josh Schoemann:

Yeah. My major concern is with the emergency order itself. The mask mandate, you know, we’ve been urging people to wear masks for quite some time over the course of the last several weeks out of love for their neighbor and we feel they’ve been doing that. A lot of businesses across Washington County and the state of Wisconsin has done the same. But really this emergency order allows for much, much more than that. If you read the specifics of it, it goes well beyond that, even to the August 11 election and things of that nature. I’m concerned we’re going back to the same place we were in March and I’m not sure that’s appropriate and I hope the legislature steps in.

Frederica Freyberg:

Again, specific to that mask mandate that is part of the emergency order, do you oppose mandating masks?

Josh Schoemann:

Yeah. I think that people really have done a very nice job of getting better at wearing masks, myself included. It’s certainly taking a bit of a change culturally and psychologically. And we’ve seen businesses across the state and across Washington County who have put their own restrictions in place based on what’s best for them. I think that was working. And now having a mandate with a forfeiture tied to it, I really think is not the right approach.

Frederica Freyberg:

Will your county sheriff be among those who will not enforce it?

Josh Schoemann:

Yes. We’ve had conversations with both our district attorney and our county sheriff as well as our public health officer and it will not be enforced by county officials.

Frederica Freyberg:

What about how the governor says that he is following the science and there is uncontrolled community spread of COVID-19 and he just wants to protect people?

Josh Schoemann:

I understand his approach. I think what he’s attempting to do was getting people to wear a mask. I understand. I just don’t think the angle he’s taking works appropriately. And by going ahead with an emergency order, it makes it much broader than just masks and that’s the real problem.

Frederica Freyberg:

Because you say that opening the door to school or business closures leads to economic ruin. But this question, can’t the virus itself, if uncontrolled, lead to its own ruin?

Josh Schoemann:

The virus is certainly dangerous and very serious, not a hoax in any way, shape or form. People should take it seriously. We urge them to follow not just the masking suggestion, but all guidance from the CDC and public health officials. But really shutting things down as we did back in March, April and May can have effects that are long-lasting and far past these months, especially having kids out of school. And the CDC and the American Association of Pediatricians have said exactly that about children in schools. That’s what I’m very concerned about.

Frederica Freyberg:

We need to leave it there. Thanks very much.

Josh Schoemann:

Thanks for having me.