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Serving the Northwoods Communities of Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua, Phelps, Florence and Forest County. |
District Dialogue |
March, 20 2015 |
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State Affairs and Government Operations Committee Update |
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On March 10, the State Affairs and Government Operations Committee held an executive session on three bills and a public hearing on three additional bills. All three of the bills received bipartisan support during the executive session and were voted out of the committee. For information on the three bills, please see the links below.
Assembly Bill 37: Relating to: requiring certain persons to hold certificates of food protection practices in order to operate certain school lunchrooms participating in the National School Lunch Program.
Assembly Bill 38: Relating to: the issuance of retail alcohol beverage licenses for premises on which another business is conducted and the presence of underage persons on premises operating under a retail alcohol beverage license.
Assembly Bill 46: Relating to: off-duty law enforcement officers and former law enforcement officers going armed with firearms on or near school grounds.
The public hearing directly followed the Executive Session and Assembly Bills 80, 81, and 82 were discussed. All three of these bills focused on the Red Tape Review effort that Assembly Republicans introduced this session. Red Tape Review creates a streamlines process to eliminate outdated and burdensome rules that no longer serve a purpose in state government. Red Tape Review is chaired by Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) who is also the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR). Below are the bills discussed during the public hearing.
Assembly Bill 80: Relating to: review by state agencies of administrative rules and enactments and an expedited process for repealing rules an agency no longer has the authority to promulgate. (FE)
Assembly Bill 81: Relating to: modifying and repealing rules promulgated by the Department of Financial Institutions and the Department of Revenue relating to documents filed with county registers of deeds.
Assembly Bill 82: Relating to: instruments filed or recorded with, and fees charged by, the register of deeds. (FE)
An executive session was held later in the week on Assembly Bills 80, 81, and 82. All of the proposals were voted out of the Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations.
Additionally, on March 17, Assembly Bills 37, 38, 80, 81, and 82 were debated and discussed by the full Assembly. Each of these bills were passed last Tuesday. |
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Joint Finance Committee to Hold Public Hearings |
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The Joint Finance Committee will be traveling around the state to discuss the Governor's proposed state budget with Wisconsin residents. Please see the schedule below.
If you have
questions, comments, or concerns regarding the state budget, feel free
to provide them with the following email address:
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Assembly Bill 27 Passes Assembly |
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On Tuesday March 17, a bill that would raise the maximum speed limit to 70 miles per hour, also known as Assembly Bill 27 (AB27), passed the Assembly with a strong bi-partisan vote. This legislation was introduced by Senator Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Representative Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc).
Assembly Bill 27 gives the Department of Transportation (DOT) the discretion to raise the speed limit to a maximum limit of 70 miles per hour on roads they deem safe. According to a Wisconsin DOT study, the department recommended the consideration that the state raise its maximum speed limits on certain Wisconsin highways. As you can see in the graph above, Wisconsin is the only state in the Midwest that has not implemented a maximum speed limit of 70 miles per hour. Additionally, prior to the 1973 fuel shortages, most speed limits for rural highways were set at 70 miles per hour.
As a member of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, I supported this measure in the committee and during an Assembly floor period. |
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Rhinelander School Board Visits Madison |
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On Wednesday March 18, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, an advocacy group which represents schools boards across Wisconsin, held its annual Legislative Day in the Capitol. Members of the Rhinelander School Board scheduled a meeting to discuss their concerns in regards to the Governor's proposed budget. We had a great discussion and I greatly appreciate having a line of communication with my local school board to help address any concerns. Thank you for visiting my office in Madison!
Left to Right: Ron Counter, Rep. Swearingen, Marta Kwiatkowski, and Judy Conlin |
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Low-Income Heating Assistance |
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(Green Bay, WI) Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
reminds customers who think they might qualify for low-income heating
assistance to apply now. Customers need not be behind in paying their
heating bills to qualify for the assistance. Customers who may be
eligible are advised to call 1-866-432-8947 or check the
Home Energy Plus web site
to learn where to apply in or near their community. http://www.integrysgroup.com/news/view_article.aspx?reckey=02655 |
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DNR Report |
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Outdoor Report: March 20
Warm weather in the last week has continued to melt snow and ice on
lakes and rivers. Only the far northern tier of counties are reporting
any measurable snow remaining, with up to 8 inches still some shaded
woody areas of the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest, but
even there most south facing slopes are bare.
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ON WISCONSIN! | |
I want to congratulate the Wisconsin Badgers Men's Basketball team for winning both the Big Ten Regular Season Title and Big Ten Tournament Title. As a result, the Badgers earned one of the four #1 seeds! Go Bucky! |
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Upcoming Community Events | |
Please click the following links for upcoming community events! Lakeland Art League "Featured Artist" Helen Wolk: March 21, Minocqua Late Night Luau For Kids: March 21, Eagle River Casino Night: March 21, Rhinelander Eagle River Farmers' Market - Winter: March 21, Eagle River Lotto's Log Cabin Outdoor School - Twiggy Welcome Sign: March 21, Eagle River 19th Annual Minocqua Gun Club Youth Fundraiser: March 21, Minocqua YMCA Father Daughter Dance: March 21, Rhinelander Winter Farmer's Market: March 21, Rhinelander Hodag Home Show: March 21, Rhinelander The Dead Pigeons/Live Music: March 21, Minocqua The Broken Arrow Band: March 21, Minocqua Lakeland Art League - Open Painting & Critique: March 25, Woodruff Open Mic: March 25, Minocqua Family Night: March 26, Eagle River YMCA Girl's Night Out: March 26, Rhinelander Exhibition and annual opening at the ArtStart Galleries: March 26, Rhinelander The Dead Pigeons: March 28, Minocqua Ice Golf Tourney: March 28, Rhinelander Easter Bunny Sunday: March 29, Eagle River Music Garden at Head Start: March 30, Rhinelander Library - Spring Break Special – Popcorn & a Movie: March 31, Rhinelander Lakeland Art League - Open Painting & Critique: April 1, Woodruff Coffee and Company: April 1, Rhinelander VFW BINGO: April 1, Rhinelander Library: Spring Break Special – Spring Fling Celebration: April 1, Rhinelander Brown Bag Series - Mysterious Wetlands of the Northwoods: April 1, Manitowish Waters UW Alumni/Science On Tap/The Great Lakes: April 1, Minocqua Date with Dad: April 1, Eagle River Eagle River Farmers' Market - Winter: April 1, Eagle River Trig's Riverwalk Centre Blood Drives: April 1, Rhinelander Northwoods Children's Museum: Date with Dad: April 2, Eagle River Parent Tot Time / Story Time: April 2, Rhinelander |
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Please contact me at Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov if you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE from my E-Updates |
Office of Representative Rob Swearingen Room 123 West PO Box 8953, Madison WI 53708 Office: 608-266-7141 Toll Free: 888-534-0034 |