Kewaunee Breakfast on the Farm

Last weekend I attended the Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm in celebration of June being Dairy Month in Wisconsin. Thousands of residents from our area came to Wallace Dairy Farm to have a delicious dairy brunch and take part in the many family-fun activities offered on the farm.

I had the privilege of serving breakfast that morning and I had a great time meeting with many of you. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or questions you have. I look forward to attending and seeing you at this great event next year!

A photo from the first Breakfast on the Farm in 1982. What a wonderful tradition!

Children and Families Committee Meeting
 

This week, the Assembly Committee on Children and Families met to vote on legislation making its way through the Assembly. Assembly Bill 208, authored by Representative Rob Hutton (R- Brookfield ) and Senator Devin LeMahieu (R- Oostburg ), provides a tax credit to adoptive families, and passed with broad bipartisan support.

During the public hearing on AB 208, it became apparent how dramatic the costs are for parents who are looking to adopt a child. Numerous adoptive parents came to testify on the financial struggle that comes along with wanting to adopt a child. Costs can run up well past $20,000 to adopt a child, which can be quite a burden on most families who are just looking to give a child a better life and opportunities. AB 208 addresses changing the individual income tax deduction eligibility requirements for certain adoption-related expenses. Under this bill, an adoptive parent may claim the state income tax deduction for certain adoption expenses if a final adoption order has been entered by a court in this state related to a foreign adoption or by a courts of any other state. Currently, the deduction may be claimed only for expenses related to the domestic adoption of a child for whom a final order of adoption is entered by a Wisconsin court.

I am happy to report that this bill was passed with broad bipartisan support and I look forward to voting for this on the floor of the Assembly sometime in the future! Adoptive parents looking to give a vulnerable child a better life deserve our help.

Clean Water Access Bill Passes Assembly Committee

This week, the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry held an executive session on Assembly Bill 226 which I co-authored with Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay). I am happy to report that AB 226 was passed out of committee with bipartisan support and now heads to the floor of the Assembly for passage. 

 

Last week, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy voted unanimously to advance this bill's Senate companion to the floor. This crucial piece of legislation will provide relief and access to clean water, a basic right most of us take for granted.

 

The karst geo-region of Wisconsin is characterized by shallow soils over limestone bedrock. Underground streams flow within the bedrock, and sinkholes and fractures in the bedrock act as conduits to the surface, allowing pollutants to flow freely into the groundwater. The karst region forms a “V” on the map of Wisconsin and includes all of Eastern Wisconsin. It is particularly problematic in Northeastern Wisconsin where there is a very high concentration of dairy cattle and very little soil to act as a filter to remove fecal contaminants before they reach the groundwater. Additionally, recent testing has shown that a high number of wells in Kewaunee County are contaminated by human feces.

 

I would like to thank Senator Cowles and his staff for their partnership and dedication on this issue which is so important to our area. Additionally, I would like to recognize the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters for their support and enthusiasm for this bill.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly to pass the Assembly version of this bill so we can start providing the relief people deserve.

Here is a photo of me voting on the bill in committee this past Wednesday: