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Hello and welcome back to the newest edition
of my E-Update! A lot has happened here at the Capitol since my last
E-update that I would like to share with you.
State of the State Address
Earlier this week, I attended Governor Walker’s State of the
State Address to a joint session of the Wisconsin State
Legislature. Overall, I was pleased with the address and the
progress our state has made over the past year. Unemployment is
at its lowest level since 2001, we have saved the average
taxpayer hundreds of dollars, and new efforts to help the
growing needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
appear promising.
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The Governor’s emphasis on education and
providing student debt assistance was particularly reassuring.
Education continues to be a priority for me, and my proposed
Career Education and Workforce Development program was
referenced in the Governor’s speech. Assisting Wisconsin
students pursue successful careers will be a major focus for us
the rest of this session and over the next year.
Kewaunee also received a moment in the spotlight during the
Governor’s address. Kewaunee High School was recognized as one
of the few high schools in the state to enjoy a 100% graduation
rate. It was exciting to have students and administration from
the Kewaunee School District present and recognized by the
Governor in his speech. Before the address, I had the
opportunity to meet with the group and introduce them to
Governor Walker.
My first year as your representative has been a very rewarding
experience. While there will always be areas in which I wish I
could have done more, I am very proud of what I have been able
to achieve. I am excited to see what can be accomplished before
the next State of the State. |
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Well Compensation
Over the past six
months, high-level DNR personnel have been meeting with leaders
and stakeholders from Kewaunee County to address the groundwater
contamination. The work was divided into five workgroups to
address various aspects of the problem. The groups are:
1. Short-term Solutions: assuring that we provide access to
clean water to those with contaminated wells.
2. Sensitive Areas/Best Management practices: charged with
organizing a set of guidelines for farmers to avoid groundwater
contamination.
3. Compliance: working to assure that the Best Management
Practices are adhered to.
4. Communications: communicating this information to the public
and encouraging cooperation.
5. Alternative technologies: exploring new technologies that
might be part of the solution.
The short-term solutions group dealt with the most urgent
issues. Cleaning our groundwater will take time, but those with
unsafe drinking water cannot afford to wait. The first step
taken was the establishment of a kiosk at Algoma High School to
provide clean water to anyone wishing to use it. Algoma District
Administrator Nick Cochart deserves praise for his leadership in
this area.
Today, I took the next step toward providing a short-term
solution by introducing a bill to expand the Well Compensation
Program. This program provides assistance for owners of wells
that are contaminated by livestock feces to replace, rebuild,
treat or seal their wells. The bill will be sponsored in the
Senate by Senator Rob Cowles of Green Bay. Currently, well
owners must have a household income below $60,000 to be eligible
for assistance and the maximum payment is $9000. This bill would
raise the household income limit to $90,000 and the maximum
payment to $12,000. Additional help is available for applicants
at or near the poverty level.
Please note that this bill is not intended to solve the problem,
but it does provide relief to those who are currently suffering
with contaminated wells. The answer to the groundwater problem
is not to dig deeper wells. The Best Management Practices
recommendations will be released soon, and we will then be able
to attack the root cause.
Groundwater contamination is a complex problem and
unfortunately, there is no easy fix. The solution to this
problem will not come in the form of one simple piece of
legislation, but in a series of steps. I know that it is
difficult to be patient when people cannot feel safe drinking
the water from their taps, but please be assured that many
people are working very hard to deal with our groundwater
problem. I am completely committed to restoring clean water to
our area. With your help and cooperation, I am confident that we
will overcome this.
Rural Wisconsin Initiative
Last week, a
group of legislators and I announced the Rural Wisconsin
Initiative. This is a package of seven pieces of legislation
that we hope will jumpstart a conversation on opportunities in
outstate Wisconsin. The members of this group have a strong
connection to rural areas across the state and wish to address
challenges unique to those areas.
The plan includes bills
that will boost funding for broadband expansion grants, increase
available resources for youth apprenticeship grants and tuition
reimbursement grants for apprenticeships, create rural opportunity
zones, expand a student loan repayment program for rural teachers,
encourage STEM education in rural school districts, and bolster funding
for the Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program.
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Rural areas are
important to our state and have problems that are easily
overlooked. Many in the district have contacted my office
regarding short-comings in rural areas. Better broadband,
education services and assistance to our rural areas will
benefit everyone in the district.
As a longtime school board member, I am very aware of the
challenges our small districts face in attracting and keeping
teachers. I believe that the education items in this initiative
will help to ease that problem. |
To view the plan or offer
suggestions, please visit
www.RuralWisconsinInitiative.com.
HOPE
Agenda
Last week, I voted for a package of bills that will help people
suffering from opioid addiction and provide more tools to fight
Wisconsin’s opioid and heroin epidemic.
My Assembly colleagues and I in the Assembly passed four bills
(AB
364, AB
365, AB
366 and AB
367) that will build on the HOPE Agenda (Heroin, Opiate
Prevention and Education) and continue legislative efforts to
combat addictions through prevention and treatment efforts. From
now on, Wisconsin licensed physicians are required to review the
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program when prescribing a
monitored controlled substance, and pharmacies will report any
prescription painkillers filled within 24 hours.
Many people falsely believe that heroin is a big-city problem
that could never affect our area. Sturgeon Bay Police Chief
Arleigh Porter recently made stemming the heroin epidemic in our
area one of his top priorities for 2016. Prescription
painkillers are frequently the gateway drug to heroin abuse.
Statistics show that 90 percent of overdose cases are caused by
re-prescribed opiates. These changes will help us address the
root of opioid abuse in our state. Stopping opioid abuse and
addiction before they begin will put Wisconsin back on track and
allow us to treat this epidemic.
Eagle
Tower and WISDOT Roundabouts Listening Sessions
There will be two listening sessions in the district next
Monday. In regards to the Eagle Tower listening session, the DNR
conducted new tests earlier this week on the tower's support
beams. They plan to release their findings at the first
listening session on Monday.
Eagle Tower Listening Session
What: Eagle Tower Listening Session
When: Monday, January 25th, 2016
2:30-4:30pm
Where: Old Gibraltar Town Hall
4176 Maple Street
Fish Creek, WI 54212
DOT Public Listening Session
What: DOT Construction-Roundabout Public Listening Session
When: Monday, January 25th, 2016
5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: Door County Government Center (Peninsula Room C112 1st Floor)
421 Nebraska Street
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Blue Books Available
If you would like
a complimentary copy of the 2015-2016 Wisconsin State Blue Book,
please follow the proved link:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/01/kitchens/constituent-services/
The 2015-2016 Blue Book
is also available online:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/publications/wisconsin-blue-book/
In Closing...
Thank you for taking the time to read
over my E-Update. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact
my office.
Representative Joel Kitchens
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