The Joint Finance Committee Meeting earlier this week.
The Joint Finance Committee continued its deliberations on the state budget this week taking up several important portions of the budget including Health Services and Transportation. I am encouraged to see JFC propose a fiscally responsible budget that addresses the issues without putting unnecessary strain on our hard-working taxpayers or forcing future generations to foot the bill.
Health Services
JFC approved an additional $588 million in state funding for Medicaid and related health care programs. This investment will increase funding for hospitals, nursing homes, personal care workers and direct care givers and aids. I am happy to see the following initiatives included in the investment:
Increase funding for nursing homes by $30 million resulting in an approximately 7% increase in nursing home reimbursement rates.
Increase funding for Personal Care Workers by $37 million. Personal Care Workers will see an increase in their hourly wage from $16.37 per hour to $18.24 starting July 1, 2019.
Increase funding for Direct Caregivers in Family Care by $27 million.
Increase Disproportionate Share Hospital payments by $60 million which will help hospitals that serve a higher share of Medicaid patients.
Transportation
JFC approved a $484 million transportation plan ensuring that our roadways and infrastructure are adequately funded. The plan has the lowest level of transportation bonding in decades and calls for raising fees on hybrid electric vehicle registration, car and light truck registration, and the vehicle title fee. The initiative is funded without raising our already high gas tax.
JFC’s plan invests $155 million to help local governments fix roads and potholes. More than $66 million will come in the form of general transportation aids, a 10% increase over current funding levels. An additional one-time $90 million initiative will go to help local governments further repair and replace roads.
Broadband
JFC agreed to utilize $44 million in federal funds for Rural Broadband Expansion Grants. $22 million in grants will be able to be awarded per year over the biennium. Broadband expansion in the Northwoods remains a top priority of mine, and I am confident that this investment will have a tremendous impact in rural and urban areas of the state alike.
Fab Labs
JFC directed the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to spend $500,000 on fab labs around the state. I have been a huge proponent of fab labs as they provide students with the opportunity to learn real world marketable skills. My district is fortunate to have several fab labs, and I always walk away impressed by the work being done by our students.
Children and Families
JFC also approved an additional $30.5 million increase in Children and Family Aids which will help provide resources to assist vulnerable children. An increase of $77 million for Wisconsin Share Child Care Subsidies will help low-income families afford child care.
Commemorating D-Day
Yesterday, June 6th marked the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. We honor all those who stormed the beaches of Normandy to liberate Europe from the tyranny of fascism. The words of General Eisenhower remain a powerful reminder of what was at stake in that pivotal moment in history. We will never forget the selfless acts of valor of our soldiers on that fateful day. Their bravery and courage will live on forever.
The jam packed schedule of events for this Saturday.
Rhinelander District Library Event
Summer Reading is coming with a Universe of Stories! And Rhinelander District Library has Professor James Lattis from the University of Wisconsin--Madison to help everyone see stars on June 17.
First, Professor Lattis will be at the library at 6pm to talk about Wisconsin at the Frontiers of Astronomy: The History of Astronomy in Wisconsin. At 8pm, head out to Newbold Town Hall for his Eyes on the Skies: The Current Night Sky, What to Watch For, and How to Observe It, a discussion on constellations, planets, and other heavenly sights available with the naked eye, binoculars, and telescope. The evening wraps up with an after sunset star sight seeing party behind Newbold Town Hall
For more information, please call the Rhinelander District Library, 715-365 1070, www.rhinelanderlibrary.org
Temperature and humidity are on the rise following some very cold nights with some central and northern areas even experiencing frost. People are out enjoying the summer-like weather camping, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. While warmer days are making the water more attractive, swimmers and paddlers are being cautioned that many lakes and rivers are still cold and at higher than normal summer water levels.
Some municipalities have enacted slow no wake ordinances on river systems, including the Wolf, Wisconsin and Rock. Take time to read and learn about these ordinances at boat landings.
The water is slowly warming up and that means that fishing is also starting to pick up on many lakes. Bass have been seen on beds and crappies are still biting off and on in shallow water related to weeds, downed trees and docks. Bluegill and other panfish are in their pre-spawn stage, with some nests beginning to be made in the shallow, warmer water.
There was high angler effort at most launches along the west shore of Green Bay as many people were pre-fishing for a walleye tournament. Anglers on the east shore were fishing from Little Sturgeon Bay up to Ephraim. Smallmouth bass fishing was hit and miss but walleye anglers were doing okay with some averaging only one or two while others averaged five to seven. The only lakeside port where there was fishing effort was Rowley Bay where smallmouth bass fishing was slower than what most would've preferred, but still on average 10 fish boated in an all-day trip.
Fishing on Lake Michigan out of Port Washington started to pick up during the weekend with many anglers out targeting lake trout or coho, and a few targeting chinook. Anglers fishing out of Milwaukee's McKinley Marina had limited success catching a few coho and lake trout. The south shore ramps saw better success with anglers reaching bag limits with coho and steelheads. One party came in with some good sized chinook - the biggest being 24 pounds.
Fishing activity at Racine and Kenosha has picked up and success has also begun to improve. Coho continues to be the most targeted fish species, but fishermen are having luck catching steelhead, lake trout and chinook salmon.
Fawns and other young wildlife critters from young bunnies and squirrels to bird chicks are spotted regularly now. It's great to look from a distance but remember to keep wildlife wild.
Mosquitoes and ticks are out in large numbers in some areas, especially the Northwoods where the was a big hatch this week, and are virtually non-existent in others. A beautiful Cecropia moth was seen drying its large, spotted wings outside the Flambeau River State Forest office this week.
Bird migration is still going on across the north, where warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and vireos continue to pass through about 7-10 days later than usual. The breeding season has really taken center stage, with some birds singing to declare a territory and attract a mate, others already paired up and building nests, sitting on eggs, feeding nestlings, or even caring for young already fledged.
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
