The State of the State is
Strong |
The state of Wisconsin is strong. Reliable
Republican leadership of our state has ensured a strong economy,
with unemployment at record lows, incomes increasing, poverty
decreasing, and UW tuition frozen for the longest period ever.
There is still work that needs to be done
by the political leaders of our state, and I’m hopeful it can
begin with bipartisan issues that both Republicans and Democrats
across Wisconsin campaigned on. This week, the State Assembly
adopted a bill by a vote of 76-19 to ensure health care coverage for individuals
with pre-existing conditions. Sixteen Assembly Democrats joined
us in adopting this bill and I’m hopeful that this will be the
first act signed into law by our new governor.
I’m looking forward to working with
Governor Evers on a middle class tax cut, which he campaigned
on, that we can fund with the $588 million budget surplus
created under Republican leadership.
The most important issue to me, however,
is ensuring safe roads in our community, which is why I will be
making the same request of Governor Evers that I made to
Governor Walker, to fix Highways 41 and 15 in our district.
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My Take on Covington
Catholic Coverage |
I recently reviewed a
full video of
the Covington Catholic High School students interacting with
Black Hebrew Israelites protestors and a Native American
protestor who marched in between them.
To me, the student approached by the drum beating Native
American protestor appeared cornered and uncomfortable. I
witnessed a young man struggling to handle a confrontation
without escalation, his uneasy smile clearly an attempt to
defuse the situation. The media, seeing only his white skin, red
MAGA hat, and young friends around him, immediately painted him
as an antagonizer, filled with contempt for the man beating the
drum in his face.
Video clips and viral social media posts are seldom what they
first appear to be. News media carried far and wide the
incorrect story of Catholic high school students chanting “build
the wall” surrounding the elderly Native American man; however,
a review of an extended video of the
event shows the man walking into the
center of the high school students in an apparent attempt to
stir the pot.
These interactions should be recognized for what they are, three
different groups crossing paths in our nation’s capital.
Instead, they were painted as some sort of intentional act of
hate. The rhetoric of division does a huge disservice to our
country and I was disappointed in our new Lieutenant Governor
Mandela Barnes when he perpetuated this false characterization
of events, going so far as to call the high school students a “mob
surrounding and taunting a Native American Vietnam War veteran.”
I sincerely hope that this event helps high school students,
protestors, the media, and our Lieutenant Governor learn that we
gain nothing from perpetuating our divisions, especially by
weaving false narratives that discourage future interaction
across lines of diversity.”
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When Bias Harms UW Learning |
Yesterday, I sent a letter to UW-Madison
Professor Ken Mayer regarding a syllabus he wrote for his course
"The American Presidency" that begins by painting a very
negative picture of the Trump administration. This sort of bias
at the beginning of a course serves only to stifle critical
thinking and it doesn't meet the high academic standards I
expect of our state's flagship public university.
You can read my letter to Prof. Mayer and his syllabus in the
Wisconsin State Journal by clicking here.
Here is an excerpt from Prof. Mayer's
syllabus:
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Capitol Visitors |
If you’re planning a trip to Madison,
consider scheduling a visit to my office or feel free to just
pop in. You just might end up in my e-update!
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank and I had a good
chat about the university and the upcoming state budget.
Members of the Credit Union League braved the snowy
roads on Thursday to turn out in great numbers, including Cheryl
Ellis, Ryleigh Nelson and Shannon Palm from Prospera Credit
Union, Brandon Fleenor and Lynn Marie Hopfensperger from Fox
Communities Credit Union, and Ryan Didreckson and Karrie
Drobnick from Verve Credit Union.
Matthew Albert and Christopher
LaFreniere, from Grand Chute, were my guests at the State of the
State address on Tuesday. We had a chance to catch up over
dinner across from the Capitol before the speech.
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Apply to Serve Wisconsin on
a Board or Commission |
As the transition from one governor to
another progresses, the new administration is looking for
Wisconsin citizens to serve on advisory and governance bodies.
Please consider applying for and serving on
a state board or commission. You can view the
application process online here.
You can find a description of the various
state boards, committees, commissions, and councils in the
Wisconsin Blue Book.
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Eagle Days Along the Fox
River |
Once a year we have a wonderful
opportunity to observe and learn about our national bird right
here in our community. This year, Eagle Days on the Fox River is
Saturday, January 26 with events in Kaukauna and Appleton. For
more information,
visit
their Facebook page.
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
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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
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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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