The Assembly Committee on State Affairs, which I chair, has been busy over the course of the last two weeks. On February 15, the committee voted on one bill and held a public hearing on two more pieces of legislation.
We passed Assembly Bill 28 on a 14-0 bipartisan vote. Under current law, concealed carry license renewal dates are not matching permit issue dates, meaning permit holders are paying for a five year permit but only are receiving a license that covers four years and eight or nine months. AB 28 simply fixes this oversight by stating that concealed carry license renewals begin at the end of the previous license, not when a renewal application is approved.
Assembly Bill 28: relating to, expiration dates of renewed licenses to carry a concealed weapon.
Additionally, the committee held a public hearing on Assembly Bill 56 and Assembly Joint Resolution 2.
Assembly Bill 56: relating to, advertising motor fuel prices by the half-gallon.
Assembly Joint Resolution 2: relating to, deleting from the constitution the office of state treasurer (second consideration).
State Affairs Public Hearing
AB 56 will allow a person who sells less than 15,000 gallons of motor fuel in this state per year to advertise motor fuel prices by the half-gallon. Current law requires motor fuel prices to be advertised by the gallon. In tourist areas such as the Northwoods, a number of small businesses, lodges and resorts have utilized the ½ gallon method of selling fuel for their snowmobile, ATV and boat customers before the recent regulations prohibited them from doing so. In many cases, these small business owners do not make enough profit on fuel each year to warrant purchasing a new fuel pumps that are in compliance with advertising by the gallon. Thus, this bill will allow individuals to continue using their 1/2 fuel systems that benefit their customers.
Assembly Joint Resolution 2, which will remove the office of Wisconsin state treasurer, is on its second round of review by the state Legislature. Per state law, the elimination of a constitutional officer has to be passed during two consecutive legislative sessions. Last session, this joint resolution received bipartisan support on its way to passage.
Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry Update
A healthy environment and strong forest products industry are vital to the economic growth in the Northwoods. That is why I am excited to serve as a member on the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry for my third consecutive term.
This week, the committee met for the first time this session for an informational hearing. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) briefed the committee members and provided an overview of the State's Forestry Industry.
17.1 million acres of forests cover nearly half of Wisconsin today. The forest products industry is the number one employer in ten Wisconsin counties and the value of wood products produced by Wisconsin's forest products industry exceeds $24.7 billion annually.
Environment and Forestry Informational Hearing
State Building Commission Update
With the start of the legislative session, the State Building Commission is going to be busy over the next couple of months. Last week, the commission met for the first time this year to approve a number of projects throughout the state.
The full commission discussed and passed projects that were assigned to the Administrative Affairs Subcommittee of the State Building Commission. The Higher Education Subcommittee, which I chair, did not have any items up for discussion this month.
The full commission passed a number of items from the Administrative Affairs Subcommittee including:
Various maintenance and repair projects around the state
Released Stewardship funding to Support Friends groups facility upgrades at 21 parks and recreation facilities around the state
Roof replacement at the Veterans Home at King
Fire sprinkler upgrade project at the state human services building in Madison
Released funds to construct an Agricultural Education Center in Manitowoc County
Construction of expansion project at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at King.
In the upcoming weeks, the state building commission will be reviewing the Capital Budget. Every two years, as part of the biennial budget process, the Building Commission recommends to the legislature a State Building Program, which includes a list of projects and funding sources to meet the state’s capital improvement and maintenance needs over the following two-year budget cycle.
The Building Commission is a bipartisan, eight member body chaired by Governor Walker, along with six legislators and a citizen member. The group's mission is to plan, oversee, and approve building projects around the state.
Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant Presentation for Phelps
Some of my favorite events to attend in the district are Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant presentations coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. I had the opportunity to attend a presentation at the Sunrise Lodge in Land O' Lakes last week where the Phelps Chamber of Commerce received a $7,226 JEM grant for their Maple Syrup Fest event. This year’s Phelps Maple Syrup Fest will take place on April 1st and will feature tours of local sugar bushes, tree-tapping demonstrations, a maple syrup judging contest and a “Maple Café."
The festival will include enhanced educational offerings about maple syrup production, the local history of syrup making and will highlight another segment of local agri-tourism – honey production. The Phelps Chamber of Commerce predicts that this year’s event will attract 2,300 attendees, generating an estimated $157,650 in visitor spending.
This is the 6th year of the event and clearly makes Phelps the Maple Syrup Capitol of Wisconsin.
JEM Grant Presentation for Phelps Maple Syrup Fest
JEM grant funds are available to non-profit organizations for the promotion of Wisconsin tourism events and destinations. The state can fund up to 75 percent of a project's first-year advertising and marketing costs, and provide support for second- and third-year projects with decreasing amounts for funding until projects become self-sustaining. For information on the JEM Program and application materials, visit http://industry.travelwisconsin.com.
Northwoods Fab Lab Tour Video
In my previous e-update, I highlighted the Northwoods Fab Lab Tour that the 34th Assembly District hosted in early February. On Thursday, February 2, rural and urban legislators, school district superintendents and Milwaukee School District officials gathered in the 34th Assembly District to tour several Fab Labs and discuss rural and urban educational issues. The group started the tour at the Three Lakes school district and followed with visits to the Northland Pines school district in Eagle River and the Florence school district.
We have received a lot of comments from people throughout the district since the Fab Lab tour and I thought that you might enjoy watching a short video of it. Please click on the image below to watch.
Library Legislative Day
Libraries continue to be an integral part of our communities where they serve a key role in helping people on a daily basis. I am happy that I had a chance to meet with local librarians in the Northwoods this week to discuss their priories for the upcoming legislative session.
Sarah, Virginia, Kris, Rep. Swearingen, and Mary
I am proud to say that there is a great network of libraries and librarians in the 34th Assembly District that are dedicated to helping individuals in the Northwoods.
I look forward to continuing my work with the Wisconsin Library Association this session and would like to thank Kris Adams Wendt (Wisconsin Valley Library Services), Virginia Roberts (Rhinelander District Library Director), Sarah Steinbacher (Rhinelander District Library Adult Services Supervisor) and Mary Dunn (Tomahawk Public Library Director) for stopping by my office in the Capitol!
Badger State Sheriffs' Association Legislative Day
I always enjoy meeting with the local sheriffs in the 34th Assembly District during their annual legislative day at the state Capitol. I had the chance to sit down with Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman and Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath last week to discuss a number of their legislative priorities during this upcoming session. Among some of the topics that we discussed were modernizing 911 services, civil asset forfeiture and a bill that would extend benefits to the families of those killed in the line of duty to include all law enforcement.
I would like to thank Grady and Joe for the productive conversation and making the trip to Madison.
Grady Hartman, Rep. Swearingen, and Joe Fath
Nicolet College Visits Madison
Students from Nicolet College in Rhinelander visited the Capitol in Madison this week. We had a chance to discuss the Governor’s budget proposal for technical colleges as well as the great programs that Nicolet has to offer for career training and preparation. I also had an opportunity to test out the welding simulator from Nicolet College. Thanks for sharing your stories!
Rep. Swearingen meeting with Nicolet Students
Rep. Swearingen with Nicolet Students and Faculty in the Capitol Rotunda
Rep. Swearingen Speaks to American Institute of Architects
I was invited to speak to members of the American Institute of Architects this past week. We had a great discussion on the upcoming biennial budget as well as the State Building Commission. I had the opportunity to discuss my experience as a member of the commission the past two years and updated the group on some of the projects that we have worked on.
Rep. Swearingen and members of the American Institute of Architects
YMCA Representative Visits the Capitol
During the warmer months of the year, the Northwoods is fortunate to showcase a number of youth and summer camps. Anne Derber, Chief Executive of Camp Manito-wish YMCA in Manitowish Waters, stopped by my office to share her story, discuss updates and provide information on the great programs that they have to offer. Camp Manito-wish YMCA was established in 1919 as a summer camp for boys and expanded by establishing a girl’s camp starting in 1941. It was exiting to hear about all of the leadership opportunities that Camp Manito-wish offers to their youth campers.
Camp Manito-wish YMCA will be having their 100th year celebration during Labor Day weekend in 2018. Throughout their history, the camp has served over 100,000 youth.
Rep. Swearingen and Anne Derber
Passing of former Representative Tom Larson
The Wisconsin State Legislature received sad news of the passing of Tom Larson, former Representative of the 67th Assembly District. Tom fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. I had the privilege of serving with Tom my last two terms. Tom was a true gentlemen, a hard working Representative, and a guy with a big heart and a great sense of humor. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with Mary Larson and family as they mourn the loss of Tom.
Weather around the state has and will continue its fickle behavior as we close out an exceptionally warm week and move toward a significantly cooler weekend. Rain and snow are predicted across the state, with temperatures expected to fall rapidly Friday into Saturday, leading many to wonder if any of this precipitation will stick around long enough to revitalize the snowmobile and ski trails. Currently snowmobile trails remain open in a few northern counties, but conditions are very poor with bear spots and some standing water according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Ski trails have similar conditions where they remain open.
Eagles are congregating along the Mississippi River just in time for Bald Eagle Appreciation Days at Prairie du Chien this weekend.
The warm front has also strongly effected ice-cover on state water bodies and anglers are also eagerly waiting to see what the weekend's cold front will provide. The ice on southern lakes is deteriorating fast and is unsafe to fish. Even in the Northwoods some waters are breaking up and where the ice is still thick there is plenty of water on it, and areas of open water have started to show up along shorelines and in marshes and especially around beaver lodges.
As a result, many anglers have taken advantage of warm temperatures for open water fishing. This past weekend 100 plus boats were fishing the Fox River from the 172 Bridge to the dam at Voyageur Park. Anglers in boats have been having mixed results catching coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout in the Milwaukee Harbor and in Oak Creek. Anglers were open water fishing the Rock River for walleye and sauger, where the bite was on at the Indianford Dam.
Sauger and walleye were biting on Lake Wisconsin. Warm temperatures and rain will have the Wisconsin River back above flood stage this weekend.
Anglers at Geano Beach in Oconto reported several pike and 30 fish were registered at a tournament on Saturday. Along Door County, anglers fishing in Little Sturgeon were reporting about 14-16 inches of ice on Saturday with many inches of standing water on top, but some decent success for whitefish.
The Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season has also been affected by poor ice conditions. The season had been running on a one-fish per day harvest for the last two days, but on Feb. 23 there were no fish registered on the Upriver Lakes or Lake Winnebago, so harvest numbers remain at 552 on Lake Winnebago; 295 on Upriver Lakes; system total 847. There were reports of some folks walking out with portable shanties today, but effort remains low. Three more days remain for the 2017 season.
The stretch of record-breaking warm temperatures have also thrown normal Wisconsin phenology a bit off kilter. Sightings this week included painted turtles sunbathing, leopard frogs calling, big brown bats actively flying, eastern comma butterflies, honeybees, grasshoppers, splendid tiger beetles, woolly bear caterpillars and other insects active, the first ticks, pussy willows budding and sap running even as far north as Lake Superior. A black bear was seen snoozing in the sun next to its den and a young bear was up and walking in the farm fields surrounding Antigo.
Spring migration is in full swing for many species. Thousands of Canada geese have returned to Horicon Marsh and sandhill cranes are also making a strong appearance, along with numerous waterfowl species. Eagles are hunting open water and sheltering in early-budding trees. Red-winged and rusty blackbirds have been spotted, as well as killdeer, American woodcock and song sparrows in the southern region. Some winter fliers remain in the north, with pine and evening grosbeaks, red and white-winged crossbills and pine siskins continuing to hang on.
Candlelight hikes are winding down with two scheduled this Saturday at the Hank Aaron State Trail and at Yellowstone Lake State Park. And this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24 and 25, is Prairie du Chien Bald Eagle Appreciation Days, with reports that eagles are starting to gather near the river in greater numbers.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Oneida County - Bald eagles are building nests in Woodruff. Geese have showed up in the county. Trumpeter swans are bumping around the open water. Large flocks of Bohemian waxwings have been seen in the Rhinelander area. The area lost about half its snow with yesterday's rain. Bare ground is being seen under thick conifer cover. - Michele Woodford, wildlife biologist, Woodruff
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - Green grass in February? There are bare spots everywhere as well as a lot of standing water in the frozen swamps and mud puddles. Conditions will certainly be different this weekend, depending on how the upcoming storm tracks. Snowmobile trails are bare, cross-country ski trails are soft and covered with debris and not groomable at the moment. The recent warm spell has taken its toll on the trail base. The forecast calls for a good amount of snow on Friday - Saturday. We will try to get the trails groomed on Saturday if conditions permit. Standing water on the trail or excess moisture in the snow may delay grooming until conditions improve. Chickadees are singing their "cheeseburger" song and trumpeter swans have returned to the Northwoods. Eagles are watching the open waters and feeding on road kills. Raccoons are out looking for love and everything in general has a case of spring fever. - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate
Rhinelander DNR Service Center area
Oneida County - Birds are noticeably starting to sing. Noted singers have been chickadees and northern cardinals. Canada geese, pileated woodpeckers, and white-breasted nuthatches are also calling. The snow is rapidly melting, and with the warm weather the smell of the spring microbiome warming up has been noticeable. - Diane Ten Pas, water supply specialist, Rhinelander.
Community Events
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