Violence in Our
Nation's Capitol |
Democracy will never be won, preserved, or
nurtured through acts of violence. The acts of insurrection
committed Wednesday in our nation’s capital have no place in the
America I believe in.
Damage has been done to our institutions of
democracy and our republican form of government. In addition to
the physical destruction in our Capitol Building and the breach
of our national security, five people have died, including a law
enforcement officer. The individuals who committed and incited
these acts must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
We have a daunting but essential duty to
restore the confidence that has been lost in our political
systems. I have faith in the American people to do the hard work
that faces us now to peacefully restore a political system in
which we can trust election results and rely on our elected
leaders to debate contentious issues in a civil way. This work
will be done in town halls, courts of law, and legislatures—it
cannot be done in the street or at the end of a gun.
Riots in cities across the nation demanding
political change have continued to grow in number and frequency.
Allowing this sort of lawlessness across the county to persist
has been a grave failure. However, we cannot meet violence with
violence, nor should we allow destruction to proliferate as a
form of legitimate political protest.
I understand the anger and frustration felt
when elections and laws appear to be implemented fraudulently.
However, if you believe in democracy and love this nation as I
do, I implore you to channel those emotions into lawful actions
that will result in real improvements to our system. Tearing
down institutions like Congress will help no one but anarchists
and our enemies abroad.
I will continue to fight for democracy and
cleaner elections in my role as your representative. Civil
dialogue, education, and laws are the weapons we must use in
this battle. The moment we resort to violence is the moment we
lose the soul of our nation.
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The Legislature’s
Inauguration |
Last week I renewed my oath of office at a
ceremony in the Assembly chambers in the State Capitol.
I’m honored and deeply thankful that the
people of the Fox Valley have reelected me. As we begin a new
year and a new session, I will continue to stand up for my
constituents’ individual freedoms, particularly their voice and
vote.
In the 2021-22 legislative session, my top
priorities will be to address the economic, educational, and
health damage done by COVID-19, keep property taxes in check,
restore freedom of expression and freedom of religion on public
property, and, most importantly, prevent election fraud and
manipulation across Wisconsin.
There’s nothing I value more than hearing
from citizens about what they want from their government. The
people have spoken loud and clear that they are fed up with
statewide shutdowns and elections vulnerable to fraud. I will
continue to spend every day representing the people of our
district and their concerns, whether I’m on the floor of the
Assembly, in committee, or hard at work in our community.
In addition to continuing on as chair of
the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, I will also
be serving on the Committees on Campaigns and Elections,
Constitution and Ethics, Health, Financial Institutions, Housing
and Real Estate, and Workforce Development.
|
Assembly Adopts COVID Relief
Bill |
The 2021-22 legislative session began last
week and the first item we took up on the Assembly floor was our
COVID-19 bill. This critical piece of legislation was quickly
adopted with broad support. It ensures equal access to medical
care, provides stability for school children and their parents,
and it limits government overreach.
Assembly Bill 1 contains 44 provisions to help fight the
virus and reopen our economy. Here are some of the highlights:
-
Coverage of vaccinations under
SeniorCare
-
Continued collection and reporting of
public health emergency data
-
Civil liability exemption for schools,
local governments and nonprofits relating to COVID-19 claims
-
Full-time open enrollment application
extension
-
School board reports on and
requirements for virtual instruction
-
Prohibiting employers and health
departments from mandating a vaccine
-
Limiting state and local governments'
powers to shut down businesses without oversight
-
Prohibiting government agents from
closing places of worship
-
Legislative oversight of federal
COVID-19 funds
-
Requiring an Unemployment Insurance
plan to address claims backlog
-
Allowing nursing home and assisted
living facility visitation by an essential visitor
-
Extending prescription orders
-
Permitting the practice of emergency
medical services personnel and health care providers with
credentials from outside the state
-
Coverage of COVID-19 testing and
vaccination without cost sharing
-
Access to $100 million for the state's
coronavirus response
-
Authorization of first- and second-year
pharmacy students to administer vaccines
-
Authorization of dentists to administer
COVID-19 and flu vaccines
-
Optional registration of third-party
logistics providers
We will continue to work closely with the
Senate and Governor to advance these important provisions.
|
Around the District |
I was invited to join owners Brent and
Melonie Balken at
the recent grand opening of their new Pizza Ranch location in
Grand Chute. I can’t imagine a more difficult time to open a new
business, let alone a restaurant. I applaud their courage, hard
work, and investment in our community.
|
Upcoming Events |
Check out upcoming events near us by visiting the
Wisconsin Tourism website,
https://appletondowntown.org/upcoming-events/, or
https://www.foxcities.org/events/
and if you run into me while
you’re out and about be sure to stop and say hi! |
"Like" Representative
Murphy's Facebook Page
|
I have a Facebook page so I can continually engage with you on
important topics facing the state. Please like it by
clicking here! I use Facebook to update constituents more frequently on
my work in Madison and the 56th Assembly District. I look forward to
using this as another way to connect with constituents and encourage you to follow it and watch for
regular updates.
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"Like" Representative Murphy's
Official Facebook Page
|
Welcome!
I live in Greenville, but have an
office at the State Capitol in Madison. If you are in
downtown Madison, please feel free to stop by and say
hello! Just go to the information desk in the rotunda,
and they can direct you on how to find my office, 318
North. At the bottom of each e-update, you'll see my
office contact information.
If your school or group plans to tour the Capitol
building, please let me know in advance. I'd
love to visit with you for a few minutes and take a
group photo.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
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