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VP Pence in Madison
VP Pence in Madison
Vice President Mike Pence visits GE Healthcare manufacturing facility in Madison
MADISON — Vice President Mike Pence visited Madison on Tuesday, April 21 to highlight the manufacturing of ventilators at a GE Healthcare manufacturing facility.
The Pence visit comes a day after Gov. Tony Evers unveiled his state plan for reopening Wisconsin, which is modeled after federal guidelines issued by the Trump administration. One key component of the plan is ensuring there is enough testing available to determine the spread of the virus and then trace contacts of people who are infected.
Vice President Mike Pence visits GE Healthcare manufacturing facility in Madison
The vice president toured the plant which is now working 24/7 to make ventilators. Pence said 300 Wisconsinites are on ventilators -- and has 1,400 ready.
Inside the factory, the workers of GE Healthcare have doubled production. Overall, GE is partnering with Ford -- and they will build 50,000 ventilators by July. After that, another 30,000 will be made each month. It is all part of the federal government's goal of 100,000 ventilators in 100 days.
"Because of all of your efforts, no American who has required a ventilator has been denied a ventilator. Thank you for what you've done here," the vice president said.
Vice President Mike Pence visits GE Healthcare manufacturing facility in Madison
Democrats blame the Trump administration for not doing enough to help Wisconsin. Congressman Mark Pocan said the state asked for 60,000 plastic tips for tests -- and only received 2,800.
"Where the hell is the federal response for places like Wisconsin? If we can't test, we can't open," Pocan said.
FEMA's regional administrator said the global demand outpaces supply. Still, the White House coronavirus task force says it helped coordinate delivers for Wisconsin -- including 371,000 N95 masks and 1.7 million surgical and procedural masks.
Democrats say the White House is taking credit for things the state bought from the private sector.
In addition, the American Federation of Teachers is up with new ads in Wisconsin. Those ads say the Trump administration has not done enough to get personal protective equipment to health care workers.
Statement from International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)