Republican lawmakers keep job of Wisconsin's point person on coronavirus in limbo

MADISON - Andrea Palm is leading the state's response to an outbreak of a deadly virus, and among the challenges she faces is the possibility of losing her job in the middle of it. 

That’s because Republicans who control the Senate have refused to confirm her appointment after more than a year on the job.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed Palm to her post as Department of Health Services secretary 14 months ago. But concerns from some Republicans who control the state Senate keep pushing off a vote to confirm her. 

That means Palm's job as leader of the state agency tasked with responding to the coronavirus outbreak is uncertain as the virus spreads and health departments look to her agency for guidance. 

For now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau eliminated the possibility of Palm being removed from her job this month when the state Senate plans to meet for the last time this year. But a spokesman said he didn't know when her confirmation would be taken up, which could mean a confirmation vote could be put off until at least 2021. 

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Palm will continue to work as secretary unless the Senate votes to reject her appointment. Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach of West Point said confirming her appointment now would send a reassuring message to Wisconsin residents looking to the state for guidance. 

"It would send a strong bipartisan message that we are all in this together," Erpenbach said. 

A Senate vote on Palm's appointment has been pushed off after lawmakers who oppose abortion and anti-abortion advocates criticized Palm's hiring of Nicole Safar, a high-ranking staff member within DHS who previously worked for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, a network of women's health care centers that also provide abortions at some locations. 

GOP Sen. André Jacque of De Pere in August voted against Palm's confirmation in the Senate Health Committee — the only vote against. He said at the time he was concerned that Safar, who supervised Planned Parenthood’s legal team, would influence the state's defense of abortion restrictions being challenged in federal court. 

Palm said at the time Safar would not have a role in making legal decisions.  

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out to all 19 Republicans in the state Senate asking about Palm's job status and seven responded as of Friday at noon. Some either didn't comment on whether Palm should be confirmed, or hadn't thought about it yet.

"I’m not sure if she has a strong opinion either way, but we haven’t really talked about it either," Nathan Duerkop, a spokesman for Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, said. 

A spokesman for Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said Nass has concerns with Palm but hasn't made a final decision. He suggested pushing the vote off until after the virus has been contained and is no longer a threat since Palm can continue to work as DHS secretary. 

"A final decision on the appointment can be addressed at a later date after the current public health emergency has subsided," spokesman Mike Mikalsen said. 

Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said Palm has demonstrated her qualifications and called on Fitzgerald to provide a timeline for confirmation amid an ongoing health threat.

"What Wisconsin residents need right now is stability and consistency," Shilling said. "It is extremely risky for the legislature to add more uncertainty to our response efforts. Legislators have had more than a year to vet Andrea and her qualifications and there’s no reason why Sec.-designee Palm shouldn’t have been confirmed by now." 

Palm or the agency's top health officials hold near-daily briefings with reporters providing updates on the spread of the virus and the state's response. Local health agencies also coordinate with DHS and Palm on cases in their area. 

Palm also works with the federal government to distribute funding designated for the coronavirus response and under a new executive order, will purchase and distribute medication statewide. 

As her agency and Evers evaluate how to prepare the state for the virus to spread, Palm could have a significant role in state-level decisions banning large events or closing schools. Without her job confirmed, Republican lawmakers could vote to remove her if she took action they didn't like — or in retaliation against Evers. 

In November, Senate Republicans voted to fire Evers' agriculture secretary, Brad Pfaff, after a series of clashes over funding for mental health services for farmers amid a dairy industry crisis.

A spokesman for Sen. Pat Testin of Stevens Point pointed out Testin voted in favor of Palm's appointment in committee, which he leads, and said Testin has a cordial relationship with Palm and often talks with her about health-related issues. 

Most lawmakers who responded to the Journal Sentinel deferred comment to Fitzgerald's office. None said why Palm's appointment hasn't been taken up by the full Senate for more than a year.

The state Senate plans to adjourn for the year this month. 

Palm and Evers declined to be interviewed for this story. 

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.