Birth Control Access Bill

I am proud to announce that I have started circulating a bill for co-sponsorship that is designed to increase access to birth control and reduce unplanned pregnancies, which can have a considerable impact on mothers, their families and society as a whole.

My legislation would, under specific conditions, allow a woman to obtain hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives – including common birth control pills – through a prescription from a pharmacist. Under current law, hormonal birth control is only available with a physician’s prescription.

By policy, prescription drugs are so deemed because they either have high abuse potential or potentially harmful side effects that require a physician’s oversight. Neither of these conditions apply to the products covered in this bill. While any pharmaceutical can have undesirable side effects in certain individuals, today’s birth control formulations are as benign as most over-the-counter medications.

I do not believe it is the role of government to put up artificial barriers that prevent women from being able to conveniently obtain birth control.

Plus, prior years of research and a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control show that increasing access to and the use of effective contraceptives can reduce unintended pregnancies.

According to the latest available statistics, nearly half of all pregnancies in Wisconsin and across the nation are unplanned, with state and federal taxpayers spending $21 billion annually on related medical care. Almost 63 percent of unintended births in Wisconsin are publicly-funded and cost taxpayers about $314 million annually.

Under my bill, women who are seeking to obtain birth control from a pharmacy must participate in a self-assessment questionnaire and undergo a blood pressure screening administered by a pharmacist. If there are any red flags, the pharmacist can then refer the patient to their physician. My legislation only applies to woman who are 18 years of age or older. 

Pollution Prevention Partnership

I am beyond ecstatic that the Wisconsin State Senate voted unanimously this week to pass a bill I wrote with Sen. Robert Cowles that aims to reduce the amount of contaminants in state waterways by creating a system for buying and selling pollution credits through a third-party central clearinghouse.

Pollutant trading is a sound strategy that is recognized by the federal Clean Water Act, but unfortunately, our current program is being underutilized because most point and nonpoint pollution sources do not have the resources or relationships to seek out trading partners.

I applaud the Senate for bringing us closer to being the first state in the nation to establish a statewide clearinghouse that serves as a broker and manager of their pollutant trading system. I can’t wait to lead the way and show the rest of the country what solutions our Legislature has to offer regarding the very serious issue of water contamination.

The Pollution Prevention Partnership Act authorizes the state Department of Natural Resources to give a point source permit holder an alternative to marginal EPA-mandated discharge reductions of a pollutant by purchasing credits from a clearinghouse or other third-party brokers certified by the DNR. Those credits come from nonpoint sources that have taken steps to reduce their pollutants. It is important to note that all trades must result in an improvement in water quality in the affected watershed.

I am confident this legislation will provide a tremendous benefit to our state by giving farmers, industries and municipalities the tools and financial incentives they need to work cooperatively toward our common goal of protecting our state’s essential ground and surface water.

The Assembly version of the bill still needs to receive a public hearing and be voted on by the Assembly Committee on Local Government. If the legislation is passed by that committee, it will go to the full Assembly for a vote. If the bill is then passed by the Assembly without any amendments, it can then be sent to the governor to be signed into law.

The legislation is supported by numerous groups representing a wide array of stakeholders, including the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Dairy Business Association, Clean Wisconsin, Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and the Nature Conservancy. 

WDOR Appearance

I am excited to let you know that I will be making my monthly appearance on WDOR this Monday.

Starting at 10:20 a.m., please tune in to 93.9 FM or 910 AM to hear me discuss the bills I'm working on, the state budget and other legislative proposals. If you do not have access to a radio at that time, you can still listen to the show on WDOR's website by clicking here.  

As is the case with all my WDOR segments, I will also be taking calls from listeners who would like to ask questions or share their thoughts with me on state government. 

I look forward to my radio appearance every month because it provides me with another opportunity to speak directly with you, my constituents, so I can best advocate for your priorities down in Madison. I hope you will listen and consider participating.

Upcoming District Events!

What: Family Art Day
Where: Peninsula School of Art, 3900 County Highway F, Fish Creek, WI
When: Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Details: "For families with children ages 3-17. Explore the latest exhibition in the Guenzel Gallery, experiment with new art media, work together as a family, and create a memorable work of art. Free."

What: Civil Air Patrol-Door County Composite Squadron
Where: Door County Cherryland Airport, 3538 Park Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI
When: Saturday, May 18, from 7 to 11:30 a.m.
Details: "Our main missions are Emergency Services, Cadet Programs, and Aerospace Education. Everyone is welcome to attend to check us out.."

What: Algoma Car Show 
Where: Downtown District, Streele Street, Algoma, WI
When: Saturday, May 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Details: "Come see classic and collector cars, trucks and motorcycles on display in downtown Algoma along Steele Street. Participant Registration: 7:30-11:30AM, Armed Forces Day Salute: 11:30AM, Judging starts at 11:30AM, Trophies Awarded: 2:30PM. The show is sponsored by Community Improvement of Algoma ."