This week, the Committee on State Affairs held a public hearing on the following two bills:
Assembly Bill 548: Relating to creating a task force on missing and murdered tribal women and girls and making an appropriation.
This bill would create a task force to study the issue of violence directed against tribal women and girls in Wisconsin. The taskforce would be established by the Attorney General and consist of experts who are knowledgeable in crime victims’ rights or violence protection. The task force would then present their findings to the legislature.
Assembly Bill 634: Relating to designating the spring peeper as the state amphibian.
This bill will designate the Spring Peeper as Wisconsin’s state amphibian. I appreciated the almost fifty 4th graders from Summit Environmental Elementary School of La Crosse who came down to the Capitol to testify on the bill.
Rep. Swearingen chairing the Committee on State Affairs Pubic Hearing.
Rep. Swearingen with 4th graders who provided expert testimony on AB 634.
Governor Evers Ignores Rural Roads
The Evers administration recently awarded $75 million to local and tribal governments for multimodal transportation projects. I am deeply disappointed that, with the exception of a small project in Eagle River, the entire 34th Assembly District was ignored. Legislative Republicans created this $90 million program to help fund local road repairs, however Governor Evers cut the program by $15 million and diverted some of the funds for unintended projects, such as bike trails and buses. This coming from the Governor who promised to "fix the damn roads." Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the Governor ignoring the Northwoods and prioritizing Madison and Milwaukee.
The map of awarded projects. Please click the above picture to learn more about the DOT's Multimodal Local Supplement program.
Corona Virus Update
This week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services held a briefing on COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. It was stressed that Wisconsin does NOT have a public health emergency. There has only been one confirmed case of Coronavirus in our state and that person has fully recovered.
It is important to remember, many more people are subject to the regular flu than this new virus. We want to be safe and prepared, but we also don’t want to overreact and have public hysteria that causes more harm than good.
Below are links to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that provide precautions you can take to stay healthy. Experts continually say the best way to avoid contracting the virus is to wash your hands.
Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Legislative Day
I had a meeting with members of the Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators this week during their annual legislative day in the Capitol. We had a great conversation regarding the opportunities that schools like Nicolet College provide our communities across the state. Thanks again for stopping by.
Great to speak with Patrick Burns and Casey Lehmann of Nicolet College. Thanks again for stopping by!
Northland Pines Hockey
Congratulations to the Northland Pines Boys Hockey Team who advanced to the WIAA Division 2 State Hockey Final this week. The championship game will be played this Saturday in Madison against St. Mary’s Springs.
Best of luck this weekend!
Spring Forward
Don’t forget to set your clocks 1 hour ahead Sunday morning.
Travel Wisconsin Snow Report
To keep up to date with the snow conditions and trail openings around the state for snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, check out Travel Wisconsin's Snow Report.
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
