Holiday Greetings

The Christmas tree is up in the Capitol and the holiday season is in full swing.  Since this will be my last e-update of 2016, please take a moment to watch my Christmas message and learn about my priorities as I prepare for the 2017-18 legislative session. Happy Holidays!

Above: "Christmas Message" Video

Save The Bay

I have actively participated in and strongly supported Congressman Reid Ribble’s Save The Bay initiative.  Save The Bay is a cooperative effort that has brought together members of the agriculture and conservation communities to clean our water.  Additional stakeholders include representatives from government agencies, industry, and the local universities.  I believe Save The Bay is the right approach to deal with water quality issues, and, as you will see in the video, it is already yielding positive results.  It is important for the citizens of the 1st Assembly District to understand that most of the phosphorous responsible for the algae blooms in Green Bay actually originate in the Fox Valley.  It is vital that we address this problem on a watershed level, rather than just locally.

With Congressman Ribble’s retirement, I was asked to assume a leadership role in order to continue Save The Bay’s mission.  I am happy to accept this role, and I have discussed the future of this program with Representative-elect Mike Gallagher.  He too is anxious to see these efforts continue, and we will work together moving forward.  As a U.S. Representative, he has a larger staff and greater resources, but in the future, I foresee a greater role for state government in this program.

Above: "Water Knows No Boundaries Video"

Birch Creek Visit

While Birch Creek continues to grow and thrive, I am reminded once again of the importance of expanding broadband access in our rural areas.  As I have mentioned in previous e-updates, broadband access is a key element of the Rural Wisconsin Initiative that my colleagues and I will be pursuing during the 2017-18 legislative session.

Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a summer music school for advanced young musicians in Door County.  With a performance emphasis, students are taught by nationally-known performers and educators during the day, and perform alongside them during evening concerts.  Applications are now being accepted by Birch Creek for aspiring young musicians to study and perform in Symphony, Percussion & Steel Band, Jazz, or Vocal Jazz.  To learn more about Birch Creek and their application process, please visit Birch Creek's website for more information:

www.Birchcreek.org/academy
 

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