Testifying on Bills

I was pleased to join Sen. Robert Cowles this week to testify on three of our bills.

The first two legislative proposals – Assembly Bills 727 and 728 – take a multi-pronged approach to protecting our state’s water from excessive nitrates and other contaminants.

In short, the two bills would do the following: 

• Create a Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program where farmers can receive grants for implementing new and innovative practices that optimize the application of commercial nitrogen
• Provide cover crop insurance premium rebates to help offset the costs of planting cover crops
• Establish a three-year hydrogeologist position within the UW System to develop localized groundwater resource data and to work with local stakeholders on interpreting and using that information
• Update the existing Well Compensation Grant Program so that it can be better utilized by lower income residents
• Allow recipients of Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants to also participate in the competitive Surface Water Grant Program
• Authorize the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to take into account factors with the weather when considering the allocation of County Conservation Department Grants

Because farmers are some of the most responsible stewards and conservationists of our land throughout Wisconsin, it only makes sense to take advantage of their vast knowledge and get them further involved in lessening the levels of contaminants in our water.

These bills are also supported by the majority of our state's environmental groups.

You can read my testimony by clicking here.

Sen. Cowles and I also testified on AB 570, bipartisan legislation that protects basic property rights by building better relationships between condominium associations and unit owners.

If you would like to read that testimony, please click on this link.

Press Conference

I was proud to participate in a press conference with several of my Assembly colleagues to discuss a legislative package that supports our law enforcement agencies and helps them with hiring and retaining personnel.

For the first time in four years, the number of violent crimes in the nation has increased when compared to the previous year. During that same time period, Wisconsin outpaced the rest of the country with a nearly nine percent rise in violent crimes.

Yet, Wisconsin has the lowest number of law enforcement officers working in the state in at least a decade. There are currently 13,576 law enforcement officers in Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, law enforcement graduation rates are also showing the same trend. A total of 766 people entered the profession in Wisconsin last year, which is the fewest in the past 10 years.

We are starting to reach a crisis here in Wisconsin and we can’t wait any longer to do something about it.

The legislative package we are introducing will aid our state in recruiting, retaining and investing in our officers. One of the bills provides bonuses to new and existing staff to support those currently working in the field and to attract new officers from neighboring states.

For more information, please check out this local media report.

Law Enforcement Appreciation

I am honored to be joining Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski and Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Clint Henry on Friday to host a public awareness event to show appreciation toward our law enforcement community. 

The residents of our area overwhelmingly support and value the work of our law enforcement officers. However, these public servants have been confronted with many new challenges over the past few years.

With this upcoming Sunday being National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to express that support. I hope you will join me in showing appreciation for our law enforcement officials in whatever way you think is appropriate.

I also anticipate discussing the obstacles that law enforcement agencies are currently facing, particularly with recruiting and retaining employees.

Please keep an eye out over the weekend for media coverage of the event.