The Tools You Need to
Succeed |
Wisconsin employers desperately need
skilled workers. Apprenticeships have been successful in helping
meet the demand, but the road to complete them is long and paved
with financial challenges that can discourage even the most
motivated individuals.
This bipartisan bill, which passed the
State Assembly last session by a vote of 95-0, expands the Tools
of the Trade apprenticeship grant program by providing the
Wisconsin Technical College System Board with an additional
$100,000 per academic year to assist technical college students
who have undertaken apprenticeship training courses in
conjunction with instruction at their schools.
Each individual student who qualifies is
eligible to receive up to $1,000, which must be used to assist
in paying for materials and expenses associated with the
apprenticeship training program, including tools, clothing,
equipment, and supplies.
Watch my testimony on the bill to the
Assembly Workforce Development Committee by clicking here.
|
Getting I-41 the Attention
it Deserves |
I’ve been pushing hard to get I-41 safety
improvements on the radar of the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation. A study order by Governor Walker will be
released soon detailing the need for fixing the interstate on
the north side of Appleton. When I meet with Governor Evers, it
will be the first, and most important, thing I speak to him
about.
I’m also pushing for work to begin on the
Highway 15 bypass, which is critical to maintaining safe roads
throughout our community.
Check out the Fox 11 news coverage of this
issue by watching the video below:
|
Waste Starts at the Top |
Governor Evers’ cabinet members will be
paid up to twenty percent more than their immediate
predecessors. Some of these “public servants” are going to be
making more than two and half times the median Wisconsin
household income.
These agency leaders are not only making more
than their predecessors but they are also making significantly
more than in the jobs they left to join the Evers team. For
example, Caleb Frostman, who earned $50,950 as a State Senator,
will now be paid $140,000 a year as Department of Workforce
Development Secretary.
Handing out unearned raises is the sort of
management practice that signals a lack of respect for taxpayer
dollars. I’m concerned that this tax and spend mentality will
quickly spread throughout our state agencies. I’ll be keeping a
close eye on state agencies for additional wasteful spending.
|
Life... No Matter How
Small |
A baby weighing just nine ounces,
born via c-section at only 24 weeks was recently declared
healthy enough to leave the hospital after five months of care,
officially becoming the world’s tiniest baby. Incredible medical
improvements mean that a baby’s life is viable outside of the
womb as early as twenty weeks. I’m proud to have been a a leader
in Wisconsin adopting a ban on
abortions after this twenty week benchmark, ensuring that no
child risks having their life snuffed out after they can feel
pain and survive outside the womb. The average fetus at 20 weeks
weighs 10.58 ounces.
|
Capitol Visitors |
Outagamie County Officers visited on Tuesday. Pictured left
to right: Treasurer Trenten Woelfel, me, Register of Deeds Sarah
Van Camp, and Clerk Lori O'Bright.
Jackie from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
visited on Thursday.
Wisconsin Right to Life Executive Director Heather Weininger
and Legislative Director Kristen Nupson stopped by on Thursday.
We had great conversation about legislation for the 2019-20
session.
UW-Eau Claire student leaders stopped by Thursday to discuss
higher education.
On Friday, my Research Assistant Diane Handrick helped
provide Wisconsin Technical College System employees with
training as part of their annual Wisconsin Leadership
Development Institute and then my Legislative Assistant Michael
Moscicke took them on a special tour of the State Capitol,
including the Assembly chamber pictured above.
|
New Legislation |
Here is the legislation I've
co-sponsored since my last update. Click on the links to learn more about each bill
or resolution:
Assembly Bill 63 Bringing contraband into a jail
or prison and providing a penalty.
Assembly Bill 75 Local regulation of honorary
firearm discharges.
Assembly Bill 70 The Interstate Medical Licensure
Compact.
Assembly Bill 72 Requiring certain occupational
areas to be included in the youth apprenticeship program.
Assembly Bill 73 Ending the Milwaukee Brewers’
Miller Park sales tax.
Assembly Bill 59 Service of certain pleadings and
other papers by electronic mail.
Assembly Bill 57 Youth apprenticeship programs
and making an appropriation.
|
Upcoming Events |
Check out upcoming events near us by visiting the
Wisconsin Tourism website or
https://appletondowntown.org/upcoming-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.
|
"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.
|
|