Two weeks have passed since the inauguration of Gov. Tony Evers, and while UW-Madison students rested over winter break, he traveled across the state trying to check goals off his tenure to-do list.
Hours after being sworn into his new position, Evers released four executive orders. The first two established anti-discrimination policies within state agencies, while the latter two addressed health care and insurance.
For his first official public visit as governor, Evers was welcomed by Gundersen Health in La Crosse. Later, he released his third and fourth orders directing the Department of Health Services to develop a plan to expand Medicaid eligibility, especially for patients with pre-existing conditions.
Previously Wisconsin’s school superintendent, Evers visited Mendota Elementary School on Jan. 9. This allowed him to highlight the Star Student program, furthering his steadfast commitment to the belief: “What is best for the kids is what is best for our state.”
From there, the governor took trips to other agencies like the Department of Transportation, Department of Administration, many business corporations and, as promised, a juvenile detention center.
Evers, accompanied by Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr, toured the Lincoln Hills and Cooper Lake Schools in Irma on Jan. 11. After, Evers took to Twitter to address the unfinished work regarding Wisconsin’s criminal justice system.
“I promised to make criminal justice reform a priority in my administration,” Evers tweeted. “I look forward to working with staff and community leaders to rebuild trust, improve transparency, and ensure fair treatment for all within Wisconsin’s criminal justice system.”
On Jan. 15, one of Evers’ biggest campaign platforms gained bipartisan support from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other representatives. That day, the Assembly Committee on Health held a public hearing to discuss the first assembly bill, which intends to create insurance coverage for those with pre-existing condition.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight percent of Wisconsinites are diagnosed with some form of diabetes, and 28 percent of Wisconsinites have diabetes and don’t even know it,” said Rep. Tyler Vorpagel, R-Plymouth. “No matter what party they belong to, Wisconsinites can count on me to do all I can to work with my colleagues so they can get personalized and affordable health care.”
Following many committee and cabinet appointments, Evers nominated the previous Captain of the Northeast region Major Anthony Burrell to the position of State Patrol Superintendent.
To celebrate America’s record surplus of $1.4 billion pounds of cheese, Evers proclaimed Jan. 20 as Cheese Lover’s Day, acknowledging the 1,200 cheesemakers and 600 varieties of cheese crafted in Wisconsin.
Finally, two Mondays after his induction into the governor’s office, Evers commemorated the state’s 39th Martin Luther King Jr. day by joining a day of service facilitated by City Year Milwaukee at H.W. Longfellow School.
