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Duffy praises Ron Johnson as Senator continues to push unsubstantiated claims about COVID vaccines

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Former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy says he’s not running for office, but he hopes fellow Republican, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, does seek a third term. Duffy praised Johnson during a Thursday interview on conservative talk station WISN in Milwaukee.

“You need people who know where the bodies are buried,” Duffy told host Jay Weber. “They know how to use gavel, they know how to fight for people. And Ron Johnson has been a warrior for truth in regard to all the COVID falsehoods. Just bringing stories out. Letting people who have had mishaps and injury from the vaccine. Talking about early treatment.”

Johnson has consistently referenced the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, when talking about adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines.  Anyone can use VAERS, which which is jointly run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, to submit a report of a symptom that occurred following vaccination.

Duffy’s comments Thursday came hours after Johnson once again questioned vaccine policy, during comments to FOX Business.

“I think vaccinations are absolutely appropriate for the vulnerable. I have questions about mass vaccinations into the pandemic, as other medical experts have warned of,” Johnson said. “Where are these variants coming from? These are variants that are avoiding the vaccine. Could the vast vaccination into the vaccine, could that be driving these variants? I don’t know.”

Johnson has yet to announce if he’s running again, after once saying he’d limit himself to two terms. Several Democrats are running to oppose him, including Lieutenant Governor Mandela, Barnes, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.

Duffy also said Thursday that he had no plans to run for governor, but will focus on his family. “We have to raise strong, good, conservative Christian kids, if we’re going to save them from the pressures of this conservative culture,” he said.

The former 7th District Republican is now a lobbyist living in New Jersey. Duffy’s wife Rachel works for FOX News, and he has appeared frequently on the conservative cable channel.

 

Hospitalizations are critical number to watch amid ongoing Omicron surge

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As the more easily transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to put a strain on health care resources, Wisconsin’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard says the number of hospitalized COVID patients is actually more critical than the record setting number of new cases.

“The most important thing to think about right now is what are we seeing in our hospitals and how can we support our hospitals and protect our hospital resources, to be able to give everyone the highest level of care,”Westergaard said Thursday. “But the number of cases tell us an important story, which is that Omicron is spreading faster than anything that we’ve seen before.”

The Department of Health Services on Thursday reported a third straight record of new COVID cases, at 11,547. The Wisconsin Hospital Association reports some two-thousand people hospitalized for COVID-19, including more than 460 in ICU beds.

Republicans propose bills to support Wisconsin law enforcement

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At the Capitol, Republican legislators propose a package of bills they say will help attract and retain law enforcement officers in Wisconsin. West Allis Police Chief Pat Mitchell said it’s a complicated issue, but it’s been a tough couple of years, following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“People who consume the news got it loud and clear,” Mitchell said. “If you’re a responsible parent, you’ve got a 22-year-old child, and you see that law enforcement is no longer honorable because of the actions of one – do you encourage your 22-year-old child to be a police officer? Probably not.”

Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) said the $25 million package of incentives and grants would be paid for from federal pandemic relief

“We’re confident that this is not only a proper use but a smart use of these funds,” Born said, noting that some of the challenges facing law enforcement are related to the COVID-19. Democratic Governor Tony Evers determines how those federal funds are allocated. A spokesperson in Evers’ office said he did not yet have a reaction to the bills.

Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) said Republicans had an opportunity to support an additional an additional $50.2 million in funding for law enforcement which Evers has proposed since taking office.

“Now, Legislative Republicans are proposing using one-time COVID funds to fund local law enforcement at roughly half the amount Governor Evers proposed since he was elected in 2018, and that Republicans voted against,” Hintz said in a statement.

 

DHS reports Wisconsin has exceeded 10,000 COVID-19 deaths

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Wisconsin has exceeded 10,000 coronavirus deaths over the course of in global pandemic. The Department of Health Services reported Wednesday that that the state has recorded 10,014 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, with an additional 1,105 are considered to be probable COVID-19 deaths.

The most recent 1,000 confirmed deaths occurred in less than two months, according to DHS.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported Wednesday that more than 1,700 patients remain hospitalized with COVID-19. All regions of the state, with the exception of the Madison and Milwaukee metro areas, have five or fewer intensive care beds available, according to the Hospital Association dashboard.

The majority of hospitalizations and deaths due to coronavirus continue to be among the unvaccinated, even as health care systems and public health agencies urge people to get vaccinated. The DHS COVID-19 site showed only a little over 58 percent of the state’s population has completed the vaccine series. COVID-19 vaccines are free and have been widely available for months.

The new milestone in COVID deaths comes amid the latest surge in new cases, as the more easily transmissible Omicron variant has become the dominant strain in Wisconsin.

‘It’s horrible’ – Evers calls for end to Gableman elections probe

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Michael Gableman

Saying it’s only fueling distrust in Wisconsin elections, Governor Tony Evers wants Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and former state Supreme Court Justice Mike Gableman to wrap up their review of the 2020 presidential results in the state.

“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Evers said during a year-end interview with WRN. “They keep saying ‘well we have to make sure that people have confidence in the election.’ Well we’re not going to have confidence in the election if this circus continues on.”

President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by some 20,000 votes in 2020, a result that has been confirmed by numerous court cases, audits, recounts and reviews. The Gableman review was ordered by state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and $675,000 was initially allocated for it.

But Gableman is vowing to continue the taxpayer funded effort into the new year. And he’s calling for the resignation of state Senator Kathy Bernier, the Lake Hallie Republican who’s been a vocal critic of the partisan probe.

“They are accomplishing nothing except fulfilling their prophecy that people don’t trust the election,” Evers said. What a legacy for those two. It’s horrible, they should end it.”

 

‘We’re in a very dangerous place’ – DHS issues statewide COVID-19 advisory          

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Wisconsinites are again being urged to take action to slow the spread of COVID-19. Health Services Secretary designee Karen Timberlake on Monday issued a statewide advisory in the face of rising new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

“We each have a role to play, and we are at a point where, whatever you thought you were doing to make COVID-19 better, we need everyone to do a little bit more,” Timberlake said.

That means getting vaccinated, getting a booster shot, wearing a mask in public spaces, and getting a COVID test before gathering for the holidays.

“We’re in a very dangerous place, and we need people to contribute in any way that they can to save the lives that we are in grave danger of not being able to save,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ryan Westergaard.

The state is averaging over 3200 new daily cases, still mostly the Delta variant, although Omicron has been confirmed here.

Marshfield Clinic Health System Chief Medical Officer, Dr. William Melms joined Westergaard and Timberlake on Monday’s DHS media briefing.

“Greater than 90 percent of the COVID deaths in our facilities have been among the unvaccinated. We just went through a four week period at our main hospital in Marshfield, where we had 35 patients die of COVID,” said Melms.

“Something’s got to give. The message that I have is to strongly urge people to get vaccinated. If you’ve had your two shot series, please get the booster. We know that that helps provide additional protection against not only Delta but also against Omicron.”

Melms and Westergaard also stressed the importance of wearing a facemask in public spaces, something that’s widely practiced in Madison and Milwaukee, but which is far less common in the rest of the state.

“I have to say that I’ve grown weary of being in our local home improvement store, and I’m the only one wearing a mask,” Melms said.

“If you’re someone who’s decided or declined to wear a mask in public, please hear this message,” Westergaard said.

 

 

 

Kaul calls for end of Gableman elections probe

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AG Josh Kaul

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says it’s time to shut down an investigation into the 2020 presidential election. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says that’s not going to happen.

The Democratic AG commented Tuesday, the day after Republican state Senator Kathy Bernier called on former state Supreme Court justice Mike Gableman to conclude the taxpayer funded election review “sooner rather than later.”

“I agree with Senator Bernier, I think that this investigation should be shut down as quickly as possible.” Kaul said.

Kaul said the Gableman probe is premised on the “big lie” that the election was somehow stolen. “We’ve got to push back on these allegations and tell the truth about what happened. I hope we hear that from other Republicans as well.”

Michael Gableman

During a weekend campaign event with Republican candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch in Beloit, Gableman asked for support to keep his partisan effort going.

And, in an interview with the Associated Press, Vos said the partisan probe will go longer and cost more. “My goal always was to conclude the investigation by the end of the year,” Vos told the AP. “I never in my wildest dreams predicted the level that Democrats would go to try to block and throw up roadblocks to everything that we’re doing.”

Evers calls on lawmakers to urge COVID-19 vaccinations

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Amid the latest surge in new cases and hospitalizations, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers wants state lawmakers to urge their constituents to get vaccinated against COVDID-19. Some have done so, others have not.

“They should be encouraging local people to get vaccinated. They are leaders, people do listen to them, whether Republicans or Democrats,” the governor said this week during a briefing with public health officials on the status of the pandemic in the state.

“Get on the media, talk about the importance of vaccines” the governor said. “We just can’t let our hospitals go into crisis mode here folks. And we need everybody to do that encouraging.”

WRN reached out to leaders in the legislature, and heard back from Oshkosh Democrat, Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz.

“It’s just more important than ever to be vigilant and encourage people to get vaccinated, explain why it makes a difference, not just to their own health but to everyone else,” Hintz said.

Republican Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke of Kaukauna wrote a September newspaper editorial, in which he said getting vaccinated is a personal choice, but he strongly urges people to do it.

Republican Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke wrote a September newspaper editorial in which he said getting vaccinated is a personal choice, but he strongly urges people to do it.

“When given the opportunity to roll up my sleeve and get my COVID-19 vaccine, I jumped at the chance,” Steinke wrote. “It was quick, it was painless, it was easy, and above all else: It was one big step towards helping to restore normalcy in the lives of those I love.”

The office of Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley provided links to social media posts where the Ashland Democrat urged people to get vaccinated.

“I agree with the governor, because the best way to get this over with and contained is to vaccinate as many people as possible,” Hintz said.

Politicians of both parties, including former governors Scott Walker and Jim Doyle, have urged Wisconsinites to get vaccinated. Others have remained silent. The offices of Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu did not respond to emails seeking comment on Evers’ request.

State requests FEMA teams to help staff Wisconsin hospitals

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Federal support is being requested for Wisconsin hospitals inundated with COVID-19 patients. With barely over 56 percent of the state fully vaccinated for COVID-19, hospitals are critically short of beds, and are also contending with staffing shortages.

Health Services Secretary designee Karen Timberlake says they’re requesting support teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“At the moment we’re looking at regional FEMA teams, as many as five,” Timberlake said during a Wednesday conference call to update the status of COVID-19 in the state. She said that could put up to 100 additional people into Wisconsin hospitals. “The real strategy here is to use those staff strategically to free up capacity in our ICUs.”

The Department of Health Services on Wednesday reported 3,519 new COVID-19 cases, a seven-day average of 3,155 new cases, and an additional 33 deaths due to the virus. With 1,630 COVID patients hospitalized statewide, 97 percent of ICU beds and 98 percent of intermediate care beds are in use, with most patients being unvaccinated.

Timberlake said other states are also requesting assistance from FEMA. “Obviously FEMA resources have some limits to them as well. So what we need to do is ask for what we think is in the best interest of our state, and then work obviously with federal partners to make sure that we can get what we need across our state.”

 

Evers provides pandemic relief grants to movie theaters

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Miner Theater marquee Ladysmith

Wisconsin’s movie theatres, which have struggled through the coronavirus pandemic, have received a financial shot in the arm.

Governor Tony Evers on Tuesday announced more than $10 million in pandemic relief grants to theaters.

“We were shut down immediately. We are one of the last sectors of the economy, if not the last, to get back to full recovery, whatever that is,” said theater owner George Rouman of Rhinelander, who heads the National Association of Theater Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. “We’re nowhere near back to pre-pandemic levels right now. But today’s announcement was huge.”

The Movie Theater Assistance Grant Program provides approximately $15,000 per screen to 49 theater companies. This is the second pandemic relief program to assist the movie theater industry in Wisconsin, bringing the total investment in Wisconsin’s movie theaters to $20 million.

“This governor’s office has proven to us that he cares about arts and entertainment and culture, and what we bring to communities,” Rouman said.

Minor league sports teams and summer camps were also part of this latest round of Evers’ more than $140 million investment to help the tourism and entertainment industries recover from the effects of the pandemic.