Republicans defy Evers, put Christmas tree in closed Capitol
An artificial Christmas tree that Republican lawmakers set up stands in the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Madison, Wis. GOP Reps. Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell erected the tree without a permit after Gov. Tony Evers' administration decided to forego the state's annual tradition of placing a towering evergreen in the rotunda since the building is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.[AP Photo/Todd Richmond]
Republican lawmakers have erected their own Christmas tree in the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda in defiance of Gov. Tony Evers’ administration.
The Department of Administration typically places a towering evergreen in the rotunda to celebrate winter holidays, but Evers decided not to do so this year because the building is closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Republican Reps. Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell asked the DOA on Dec. 1 for a permit to erect a “historical display” in the rotunda from Dec. 1 through Jan. 6.
The DOA denied the permit.
The lawmakers set up a Christmas tree in the rotunda anyway, complete with a sign saying the tree is theirs and no one should remove it.