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Evers Promises to Veto "Return to Work" Act
Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are moving yet another doomed piece of legislation.
The Assembly Committee on State Affairs on Tuesday held a public hearing on the Return to Work Act, which would require state of Wisconsin employees to return to state offices.
“This legislation would finally return state employees back to in-person work,” Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie said at Wednesday’s hearing. “It's unfortunate that the legislative branch of this government has to respond to this demand of the people when Governor Evers could easily make this happen without a bill.”
Nedweski said a state audit from last year couldn't answer questions about state employees who were working from home after COVID.
“The resulting reports revealed that most state agencies were unaware of the extent to which telework was being utilized by their employees. Additionally, very few employees had written telework agreements in place at that time as was required by the DOA,” Nedweski added. “And 20 of 38 agencies reported that they did not take cybersecurity concerns into account when permitting employees to work remotely. Pretty scary stuff.”
Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, told the committee that Wisconsin is late to the game in asking workers to report back to work after COVID.
“Returning to work isn't partisan,” Tomczyk said. “Returning to work in person makes sense and forces accountability by being in the office.”
But Democrats have said the plan is political. And Rep. Mike Bare, D-Verona, spoke-out against it.
“I have the privilege of representing a Madison-area district with a higher percentage of state workers, I think, than any of you. And I've not heard from one single state worker who thinks this is a good idea, or that this is workable. Not one who thinks that their workplace would be better off or their work product better because of this bill, either,” Bare said.
The legislation is doomed, however, because Gov. Evers has already promised a veto.
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