Sen. Tom Tiffany calls for resignation of DHS secretary-designee; Gov. Evers calls request 'insane'
MADISON — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers chided a Republican lawmaker Thursday, May 14 who called for the resignation of the state's health secretary-designee, saying it was an “insane statement.”
Sen. Tom Tiffany, who was elected to Congress in a special election on Tuesday, said Palm should step down as leader of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services because of how she handled the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, which Tiffany referred to as the “Wuhan virus.”
The state Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 4-3 that Palm exceeded her authority with an order that closed most nonessential businesses to slow the spread of the virus. Palm was appointed by Evers but has not been confirmed by the Republican-controlled state Senate.
Tiffany said Palm's approach led to the collapse of the state's economy and health care system and “devastated our way of life.”
“Ms. Palm came here as Governor Evers’ hired gun, and she will leave with Wisconsin’s corpse if she continues," Tiffany said in a statement.
Evers stopped a news conference on the virus to speak about Tiffany's statement about 20 minutes after he released it.
“Senator Tiffany please, you just won an election. Just relax,” Evers said. "This is an insane statement. We talk about trying to tone down the rhetoric and I've done everything I can do to that. To make a statement like that about someone who has dedicated her life to saving lives, please sir give us a break. You're headed to Washington, D.C. I know you're better than this.”
Tiffany defeated Democrat Tricia Zunker on Tuesday and will replace retired Republican U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy in Congress.
Sen. Tiffany's full statement:
"Secretary-designee Andrea Palm must immediately resign from her appointment as Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary.
"The recent Supreme Court ruling confirmed that Ms. Palm's power grab exceeded her authority. Her shotgun approach to lock down Wisconsin has produced disastrous consequences.
"Wisconsin's economy and health care system are collapsing. Small businesses are closing their doors for good. Tens of thousands of people are struggling to apply for unemployment in an attempt to survive the storm she caused.
"New data shows us how we can make a targeted response to the Wuhan virus, but Ms. Palm will hear none of it. A native New Yorker, ally of Hillary Clinton's, and Washington, D.C. insider, Ms. Palm understands very little of our Midwestern values or how her decisions have devastated our way of life.
"Ms. Palm came here as Governor Evers' hired gun, and she will leave with Wisconsin's corpse if she continues."