A bill that could make it tougher for schools to enforce vaccine laws and big money for Kleefisch

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·3 min read

GOP lawmakers advance bill barring schools from excluding students based on vaccine status

  • Republican lawmakers are advancing legislation that could set up legal battles for school districts in their enforcement of longstanding vaccine requirements for Wisconsin school children, including immunizations against polio, Hepatitis B, measles and other diseases.

  • The bill does not repeal provisions in state law that require children enrolling in school to first get vaccinations against diseases like Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Hepatitis B and Pneumococcal diseases, or obtain a waiver on the basis of religious beliefs or personal convictions. But the bill, if enacted, would create a separate provision in state law that bans district officials from denying admission or participation to classes and school activities on the basis of vaccine status.

  • A spokeswoman for Gov. Evers said the governor would veto the legislation but it's likely the legislation would become law under a Republican governor. Evers is up for re-election this year. A spokesman for the former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who is currently the only prominent Republican in the governor's race, said Kleefisch "is opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates" when asked if Kleefisch would sign the bill into law.

Billionaire GOP benefactor Liz Uihlein spends $220K on Rebecca Kleefisch in governor's race

  • As Delafield's Kevin Nicholson gears up a run for governor, a billionaire GOP benefactor who is the wife of one of Nicholson's top supporters is also spending money to send former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch to the state Capitol's east wing. Liz Uihlein, co-founder of the Pleasant Prairie-based shipping supply giant Uline, donated $200,000 in October to a Republican super PAC working to elect Kleefisch, according to campaign fundraising reports filed Monday. The donation to Freedom Wisconsin PAC came after Uihlein donated $20,000 to Kleefisch's campaign in September — the maximum individual contribution allowed under state law.

  • In 2018, the Uihleins spent $10.7 million in support of Nicholson during the GOP primary in the 2018 U.S. Senate race challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Nicholson was defeated in the primary by the then-state Sen. Leah Vukmir of Brookfield. Now, Nicholson in the coming days will announce his decision to enter the Republican primary to challenge Democratic incumbent Evers.

  • Liz Uihlein was an outspoken critic of Gov. Tony Evers' stay-at-home order in 2020 and urged her employees that year to sign a petition to recall the governor. Kleefisch framed her September campaign announcement around criticism of COVID-19 restrictions.

Did someone share this newsletter with you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

The Money

GREEN BAY: Green Bay-area businesses are eager for the return of full Packers playoff experience.

JOBS: Businesses will continue to struggle to attract and retain workers as the pandemic wears on in 2022.

The Games

PACKERS: Here's a look at the 20 Packers playoff games during the Aaron Rodgers era.

PACKERS-NINERS: Here are 11 memorable Packers-49ers clashes in the past 50 years.

FROZEN TUNDRA: Temperatures are expected to dip into the teens well before the NFC divisional game kicks off at 7:15 p.m. at Lambeau Field, with wind chills near zero.

BUCKS: Should we be worried yet? Atlanta stages second-half rally to topple the Bucks.

Around Wisconsin

NEENAH: The discovery of Starkie Swenson's remains renews questions and concerns with the 1983 Neenah case.

THEDACARE: Non-urgent, elective surgeries are being put on hold as ThedaCare sees record numbers of COVID-19 patients and increased staff absences at its seven hospitals.

Today's Weather

Before we go back into the deep freeze, we get a nice one today: Partly sunny and a high of 37.

Not yet a Journal Sentinel subscriber? Please consider signing up at jsonline.com/deal.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A bill that could make it tougher for schools to enforce vaccine laws