Evers Gives Up on Political Ransom Demand

While the litterbox-liner tries hard to twist this story into "Pubbies Bad, Evers Good", it failed.

In fact, it's "Evers Quits Being a Political Jerk."

Gov. Tony Evers' administration is buying 10,000 ventilators and 1 million protective masks after waiting a week for action from Republican lawmakers who said Saturday the governor already had the power to make the purchase. 

The dispute comes after the Democratic governor gave legislative leaders a sweeping bill a week ago that called for spending more than $700 million to help care for thousands of sick and jobless people in Wisconsin that also imposes a number of measures Republicans oppose like suspending the photo ID requirement for voters....

Tokin'Tony (or Maggie Gau, take your choice) thought he could force the Republicans to give up election integrity by pretending they had to give him "authority" to purchase critical medical supplies.  The Pubbies pointed to Evers' existing authority.

...But top Republican lawmakers said Saturday[that] Evers was the one holding back the state's response by not using authority he already has to make such purchases citing the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau's conclusion, and that they won't act on the bill as is.

"Again, we implore you. Please do not wait any longer to buy ventilators and masks. Do it now," Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester wrote in a letter to Evers. ...

...The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau agreed Saturday with the lawmakers' position.

Evers' authority under the 'emergency powers' law is very clear and extremely broad.  Even if Tony doesn't understand the law, Gau certainly did.  If he has the authority to prevent you from "interacting" with more than 5 people over 30+ days, he has the authority to spend a few bucks on critical medical items.

It's possible that Evers/Gau will not be able to obtain ventilators and masks since every other State in the Union and every country north of the Equator is also trying to get some.

If that happens, you can bet that Gau/Evers will be blaming Republicans.  Only question is whether they'll blame Trump or the Pubbie Legislature or both.