The Special Session That Wasn't
Last night, in an empty chamber, the Senate Majority Leader gaveled in and out of the Special Session on gun violence in less than one minute.
Following a nearly 9 hour Regular Session in the Assembly, the Speaker Pro Tempore in the Assembly adjourned, then gaveled in and out of the Special Session in less than 20 seconds.
We never got a chance to debate, or vote, on these important pieces of legislation.
Pictured above are the men, children, moms (and students and babies and grandmothers) patiently waiting for the legislature to take action. Many are a part of Moms Demand Action, a nonpartisan group advocating for gun safety.
WSJ: Senate, Assembly adjourn special sessions on gun control immediately after they begin
Regular Session
Yesterday, the State Assembly was in session to vote on these bills.
Some of the bills yesterday that were voted on and passed included:
- Assembly Bill 70, entering into the Interstate Medical Compact
- Assembly Bill 178, providing loan assistance to health care providers who practice in free & charitable clinics
- Assembly Bill 304, enabling pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives
- Assembly Bill 410, expanding Medicaid coverage to telehealth services
- Assembly Bills 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, all of which were part of a bill package from the Suicide Prevention Task Force. I supported all of these bills except AB 526, because it creates a precedent where the legislature dictates how doctors train doctors, something with which I fundamentally disagree. I had originally co-sponsored the bill, heard the bill in my committee and grew concerned, withdrew my co-sponsorship (took my name off the bill), and voted against it.
At the end of session, members are allowed to "adjourn" in honor of whomever they choose. With Veteran's Day on Monday, I adjourned in honor of my father, an Air Force Veteran, and thanked him for his service and for teaching me the importance of service.
Session next week
The Assembly will be back in Session on Tuesday at 1pm. Watch on WisconsinEye. Linked here are the bills we will be voting on.
Millennial Action Project - Red & Blue Dialogue
Thanks to the Millennial Action Project for coming to BROOKFIELD this week! I appreciate MAP for working to cultivate dialogue across party lines. Dissent doesn’t have to divide- healthy dissent can and should be a building block toward a more perfect union. I was honored to participate with Rep. Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee).
MAP hosted their 10th "Red & Blue Dialogue" at Biloba Brewing Company in Brookfield (14th District!), and the topic was "Energy, the Grid, and the Environment." Rep. Neylon and I discussed the future of green energy jobs and the opportunity for bipartisanship moving forward on this topic. After our panel, the discussion turned to small groups for participants to share their own views on the topic, facilitated by the Zeidler Center. Each group had a mix of folks of different political affiliations, backgrounds, and professions.
Financial Institutions Committee
A quick unanimous vote in Financial Institutions Committee on a couple of bills (AB 489 & AB 504) this week. Sometimes we have hours of discussion in a committee’s executive sessions, sometimes we vote unanimously in 5 mins. Sometimes government is quick, and unanimous! Looks like these bills were fast-tracked so they can be on the floor for a vote on Tuesday.
DONUTS DURING DEPLOYMENT
DONUTS DURING DEPLOYMENT
TOMORROW!
Saturday November 9th
11am-12:30pm
Cranky Al's
6901 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Donuts will be provided!
RSVP @ Rep.Vining@legis.wisconsin.gov
or on Facebook
Share this graphic with your military friends, family, neighbors, including those in reserves!
PELVIC HEALTH - TOPICAL TOWN HALL
Our first Topical Town Hall will be on Pelvic Health!
Free Pelvic Health Seminar
Saturday, 11/16 @ 3:00PM
Legacy Gym MKE
1535 Underwood Ave
Wauwatosa, WI
Facebook event
Have you had a baby? Did your body change as a result? Do you experience pain in your back, hips or pelvis? Do you leak urine when you cough or sneeze? Do you have bladder urgency? Women of any age can experience pain, urine leaking, bowel dysfunction and other physical changes with their bodies. You may consider these changes COMMON, but they are NOT NORMAL.
I announced a new initiative called "Topical Town Halls" - neighborhood educational opportunities about five different topics, hosted around the district throughout the winter and spring -- November, January, February, March, April, and May.
Read my press release here to see the topics, announcing our Topical Town Halls.
