Wisconsin should look to Minnesota for guidance on how to respond to pandemic

They are finally talking again, but still there has been no action. Lawmakers in Madison are considering a pandemic relief package put forth by Governor Tony Evers. They have yet to schedule debates and votes, but Republican legislative leaders have signaled they likely won’t just call the meeting to order and adjourn with no action as they have in the past. So what should our state government do to help those who are struggling? Perhaps we have to look no further than Minnesota, where the Governor and legislature are offering a series of sweeping proposals to respond to the virus and the economic hardship it has caused. The proposals seek to help those hurting the most, including small businesses, the hospitality industry and health care. There is talk of forgiving sales taxes for businesses selling food and beverages, a grant program for restaurants and tax credits for businesses that donate food to health care workers and homeless shelters. They will also consider extending unemployment benefits, even $500 checks for low-income families. These proposals make sense, providing help where it is most needed. Let’s hope that when Wisconsin lawmakers finally sit down to talk, they will look to our neighbor to the west for ideas that can help and be implemented quickly.