MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Friday vetoed a Republican-supported bill that would have required him to submit a plan within three weeks for returning state employees to work out of their offices during the pandemic.
Evers said in his veto message that more state employees are scheduled to return to their offices starting April 5 and the goal is to resume normal operations this summer.
Evers said he was vetoing the bill because it encroaches on his authority as governor to administer and oversee employment policy. Republicans in the Legislature have been pushing for state employees to return to their offices as COVID-19 case counts drop in Wisconsin and vaccinations go up.
Evers. in his veto message, also defended the work being done remotely by state employees, saying they have gone above and beyond to serve during the pandemic.
“This work should not be discounted or demeaned,” Evers said. “These workers deserve our gratitude and respect.”
In addition to pushing for state employees to return to the office, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos this week called on Wisconsin’s business community to “step up” and return workers to offices by the Fourth of July.