There will be an increase in legislative committee meetings in the coming months as the 2017-2018 legislative session winds down. This district dialogue highlights four different committees that met this week.
The Committee on State Affairs, which I chair, met last week to hold a public hearing on Assembly Bill 576 which seeks to address identification cards issued by a federally recognized American Indian Tribe in Wisconsin being used as a valid form of identification for a variety of purposes. The committee also held an executive sessionto vote on Assembly Bill 548 and Assembly Bill 675 respectively. AB 548 makes changes to the requirements for claims for state compensation by wrongfully imprisoned persons and provides health care coverage and other assistance for such persons. AB 675 states that the Building Commission may authorize money from the state building trust fund to be available for any project costing $1,000,000 or less, and the Building Commission may authorize the design and construction of any building, the acquisition of land, or the repair or improvement of any building, structure, or facility that costs more than $1,000,000 only if the project is enumerated in the state building program.
Rep. Swearingen chairing the Committee on State Affairs
Public Hearing:
Assembly Bill 576: Relating to: using a tribal identification card for various purposes.
Executive Session:
Assembly Bill 548: Relating to: claims by and treatment of wrongfully imprisoned persons and making appropriations.
Assembly Bill 675: Relating to: projects included in the Authorized State Building Program, project approvals by the Building Commission, and selection of project architects and engineers.
Committee on Environment and Forestry Update
The Committee on Environment and Forestry, which I am a sitting member of, met Tuesday for a public hearing and an executive session on the following five pieces of legislation:
Public Hearing:
Assembly Bill 649:Relating to: hunting with a high-powered air rifle or an airbow and providing a criminal penalty.
Assembly Bill 720:Relating to: the responsibility of a property owner for discharge of a hazardous substance by another.
Assembly Bill 789:Relating to: exempting certain facilities from solid waste facility regulations.
Assembly Bill 599: Relating to: determinations of navigability of a stream.
Rep. Swearingen during the Committee on Environment and Forestry meeting.
Committee on Tourism Update
The Committee on Tourism, of which I am the vice-chair, held a public hearing this Wednesday to discuss the following two bills:
Assembly Bill 668: Relating to: modifying rules related to lighting requirements for bicycles and motor bicycles operating on certain trails designated by the Department of Natural Resources.
Assembly Bill 795: Relating to: membership of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission technical committee.
Rep. Swearingen during the Committee on Tourism meeting.
Committee on Small Business Development Update
The Committee on Small Business Development held an executive session this Thursday to vote on the following two pieces of legislation. Both bills were passed out of the committee.
Assembly Bill 498: Relating to: the fee for filing limited liability company articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions.
Assembly Bill 640: Relating to: creating the innovation fund and economic development programs funded by that fund, establishing the Innovation Fund Council, authorizing the State of Wisconsin Investment Board to provide certain advice and services to state agencies and others, and making appropriations.
Rep. Swearingen during the Committee on Small Business Development Executive Session.
Student Success: Governor Walker Champions Sparsity Aid and Low Revenue Ceiling Increase for Rural Schools
January 8, 2018
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker will visit Coleman High School in Coleman today to announce his support for legislation authored by Representative John Nygren (R—Marinette) that will provide additional Sparsity Aid and a Low Revenue Ceiling increase for rural schools. The increased aid for rural schools is in addition to the historic $11.5 billion investment in K-12 funding, increased support for High-Cost Transportation Aid in rural areas, new support for mental health services and expanded efforts to provide broadband access statewide included in the state budget.
“Our top priority is driving student success and ensuring our children receive a quality education, regardless of where they live,” said Governor Walker. “This legislation provides additional support for our rural school districts to address their unique circumstances.”
Representative Nygren is authoring legislation that increases Sparsity Aid by $6.4 million for the 2018-19 school year. The bill provides an increase from $300 per pupil to $400 per pupil for districts that currently qualify for Sparsity Aid. Additionally, the bill includes an increase to the Low Revenue Ceiling from $9,100 to $9,400 for the 2018-19 school year, with the Low Revenue Ceiling rising by $100 per year thereafter up to $9,800 by the 2022-23 school year. In order to ensure accountability to local voters, districts where a referendum to raise the revenue limit was rejected by the voters within the past three years would not be allowed to raise their revenue limit.
The Sparsity Aid Program aims to offset the challenges faced by low-population school districts through providing $300 in per-pupil funding for school districts with 745 students or less and a population density of less than 10 students per square mile.
Current initiatives supporting rural school districts include increased funding for High-Cost Transportation Aid to help offset the increased cost of transporting students to schools in rural areas; Broadband Expansion grants providing schools and students access to fast, reliable internet service in underserved areas, as well as mobile hotspots for school buses; and $6.65 million to address students’ mental health needs. These initiatives are in addition to the historically-high $11.5 billion investment in K-12 education included the 2017-19 state budget that provides a $200 per student funding increase for every student in every school in the state this year and, on top of that, an additional increase of $204 per student next year.
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TV White Space Press Conference
I had the pleasure to join Rep. Mary Felzkowsi (R-Irma) and Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) for a press conference on Wednesday to announce a Joint Resolution focusing on utilizing TV Whitespace technology that will help our citizens throughout rural Wisconsin access reliable broadband. You can read the full press release by Rep. Felzkowski and Sen. Marklein below:
Rep. Felzkowski and Sen. Marklein Seek TV White Space Technology for Wisconsin
Republicans Continue Fight for the Expansion of Rural Broadband
Madison, WI – State Representative Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) and State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), along with several other Republicans, unveiled a Joint Resolution Wednesday morning that focuses on TV White Space technology and how it may help connect Wisconsinites, especially those in rural areas, to affordable and reliable broadband.
Experts at Microsoft has stated that through its development, TV White Space technology has reached the capability to deliver high speed internet that operates four times faster and reaches sixteen time farther than current Wi-Fi. This technology uses frequency that allows for it to move through objects like hills and foliage. It is currently estimated that TV White Space may be able to reach 80% of the rural population not currently receiving any broadband access.
“We hear from constituents every week asking us when broadband will finally reach their doors,” Felzkowski said. “It is often a frustrating process for them and for us because we cannot always do something to help. With this joint resolution, we continue to prioritize broadband connectivity by pursuing yet another option that may have the ability to deliver internet faster and further than current technology allows.”
“Broadband expansion in rural southwest Wisconsin is one of my top priorities,” Sen. Marklein said. “I am encouraged by the potential of this technology and I want to do everything I can to remove obstacles for possible solutions. When we passed the state budget, we fine-tuned the grant program so that new technology would be eligible for state support. The white space opportunity demonstrates exactly why we must be nimble and willing to try new technology to meet the needs of rural families.
” Last fall, several elected officials, including Rep. Felzkowski, wrote letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calling on them to do everything in their power to make TV White Space a reality so that those in the most need can have the tools they need to succeed. The FCC would need to create regulatory certainty to stabilize the market for equipment development and manufacturing.
The joint resolution co-sponsorship is being circulated today. It is expected to be discussed within both houses this spring.
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Rep. Swearingen and other legislators at the TV White Space Press Conference.
Eagle River Ice Castle
Construction of the Eagle River Ice Castle, a tradition that spans back decades, was completed last week with the help of the Eagle River Area Fire Department and volunteers from around the community. The castle features more than 2,000 blocks of ice, stands 32 feet tall, and lights up at night. I encourage everyone to go see this impressive community feat. The castle is located next to the Eagle River Depot Museum and will be around as long as the weather permits.
The Ice Castle Lit Up, Photo Credit: Vilas County News-Review
DNR Outdoor Report
Published January 11, 2018 by the Central Office
The warm temperatures the last few days gave wildlife and people a short break from the bitter cold we had been experiencing last week. Snow was falling Thursday in the north, with forecasts for some areas to possible get up to 8 or 9 inches. Unfortunately the precipitation in the south was rain and freezing rain. What little snow the south we had on the ground is all but gone. A candlelight ski at Lake Kegonsa scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled, but Wildcat Mountain will go ahead with a candlelight hike and astronomy program Saturday night.
Snowmobile trails remained open or partially open in just the norther tier of counties with conditions from fair to good. Cross-country ski conditions remained fair to good across roughly the northern third of the state. The additional snow falling Thursday and this weekend could improve conditions, so check the Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR) for updates.
Ice depth on the northern lakes is reported to be between 16- 20 inches and 10 to 12 inches on central and southern lakes. More and more ice fisherman are being seen on lakes and the warmer weather has been great for folks wanting to get outside. Anglers report fish are starting to bite in the afternoon to evening, with crappie, perch and bluegill being caught.
Wolf River anglers near New London have been catching walleyes through the ice. Anglers are having luck catching a mixed bag of walleye, white bass, perch, and crappie through the ice on Lake Poygan. On Lake Winnebago, anglers are having some luck catching walleye and finding intermittent schools of white bass and perch. The 2018 lake sturgeon spearing season on the Winnebago Pool Lakes starts on Saturday, Feb. 10. DNR staff checked water clarity at a few locations on Lake Winnebago on Jan. 8 with clarity ranging from 7.5-10.5 feet.
Anglers are experiencing good ice on Green Bay with the primary target species of whitefish, walleye and perch. In Milwaukee the River Front ramp is open but access to the outer harbor is limited due to floating ice. Lake Shore lagoon is ice covered at the South end with people fishing browns and panfish. McKinley Marina is ice covered with catches of brown trout but the warmer temperatures had water coming over the ice.
Late season archery effort found some hunters able to arrow that elusive big buck they may have been chasing all fall. Deer have been seen in large numbers moving freely and taking advantage of harvested and unharvested corn fields and pawing through snow to get to alfalfa. Snowshoe hare and coyotes are abundant this year throughout the north.
Many animal species have been active recently with the warmer temperatures bringing raccoons, opossums and skunks out of their dens. Turkeys are moving around in large groups and feeding backyard bird feeders and in agricultural fields.
A midwinter waterfowl survey found more than 600 trumpeter swans and 5,000 Canada geese in the rivers and other open water areas. Healthy numbers of scaup, common goldeneye, and common merganser, as well as a handful of hooded merganser along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Reports of common redpolls surging to feeders statewide have been prevalent. Now is good time to look for flocks of horned larks, snow buntings, and Lapland longspurs along roadsides in open habitats across southern and central Wisconsin.
Bald eagles will take center stage with a variety of exciting events in the months ahead. Sauk Prairie's Eagle Watching Days kicks things off this weekend Jan 12-13. For more details search the DNR website for "eagle watching."
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - The Forest still has a pretty good snow cover base for the silent sports at least. More and more ice fisherman are being seen on area lakes and the warmer weather has been great for folks wanting to get outside. Bird feeders are enjoying many of the different winter visitors. The track of this next storm may greatly change the conditions so all one can do is wait and see! - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate
2017-2018 Blue Books
The 2017-2018 Wisconsin Blue Books are now available upon request. If you would like to request a copy of the 2017-18 Wisconsin Blue Book, please reply to this email with your name and full mailing address. Additional requests can be made by emailing Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov or calling my office at 608-266-7141 or toll free at 888-534-0034. My office will be processing the requests over the next couple of weeks prior to shipping them across the 34th Assembly District.
You can view previous versions of the Wisconsin Blue Book online by clicking here.
Community Events
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