January 12, 2018

Working for you!

Happy MLK Jr. Day

Monday January 15 marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Planning for Long-term Care

The Wisconsin State Journal recently published an article about a bill I have authored to address long-tem care issues.

Funding long-term care is a struggle, because many people cannot afford premiums for this type of insurance. Even if they have a policy for long-term care, if they can’t pay for significantly increasing premiums in the future, they could lose the coverage they were trying to secure. In addition, long term care insurance policies frequently lack coverage of essential long-term care costs, are being phased out, or are no longer being offered. Some insurance holders have been left with no long term care insurance when their insurance company dissolves. 

This bill allows individuals to invest in their own long-term care account, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Similar to EdVest, authorized parties (such as family members and friends) may also contribute to an account. There would be a tax benefit for contributions. Money can be withdrawn from the accountOnce a medical professional deems an account holder meets the criteria of needing long-term care. It would also be exempt from taxation if used for a qualified use.

Account holders would be required to spend the money in their account before qualifying for medical assistance. Any balance in the account after the death of an account holder can be transferred to a beneficiary for the purpose of using it as another long-term care account.

The full bill can be found online here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/proposals/ab596

Center for Suicide Awareness Leader Awarded

On Thursday, First Lady Tonette Walker presented Barb Bigalke, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Suicide Awareness, with the Wisconsin Heroes Award. Recognition is given each month to one outstanding Wisconsin resident who takes a stand for the cause they believe in and uses their time, effort, and ideas to make Wisconsin a better place.

The Center for Suicide Awareness, a non-profit based in Kaukauna, is a state-wide organization providing education, training, support services, and resources to individuals, families, schools, businesses, veterans, and community agencies. All efforts play a vital role in preventing the tragedy of suicide and are aligned with the Center's mission of suicide prevention throughout our communities. The Center for Suicide Awareness also operates HOPELINE 741741, which is Wisconsin’s only text based emotional support service serving all of Wisconsin.

Senator Lena Taylor (in green) and I joined First Lady Tonette Walker (in red) in presenting the award to Barb Bigalke.

Attracting Research Start-ups

Anyone who has started a business understands just how important it is to act quickly, especially when patents are involved. Unfortunately, Wisconsin delays the ability for a University of Wisconsin (UW) System employee to enter into a research contract with the university by up to 45 days. These delays don’t occur elsewhere and drive research opportunities out of the state. In 2015 alone, UW–Madison saw nearly $100 million less in private and non-profit research funding than other comparable universities around the country. AB 758 eliminates this unnecessary bureaucratic delay in the UW System research contracting process.

Our bill improves Wisconsin’s ability to compete for private and non-profit research funding. Current law generally prohibits state employees from participating in state contracts where they have a private financial interest and the ability to influence that contract. The law has a specific exemption for university employees when such contracts are between a UW System entity and a research company. This exemption allows UW faculty and research-focused employees who spin-off companies to engage in activity that benefits the interests of the public, the university, and the newly created business. The current exemption requires all contracts to be reviewed by the Board of Regents through a 45 day passive review process, which by default has become a 45 day delay in executing research contracts involving UW employees.

Managing conflicts of interest is something best done on the ground by people who are familiar with the individuals involved and engaged in the work being done. Every UW institution already has in place an efficient and effective means of managing conflicts of interest at the campus level. Our bill simply eliminates the 45 day delay and allows the institution to move forward with a contract when any interest that an employee has in the research company has been evaluated and addressed in a management plan. The Board of Regents will still maintain authority to override these decisions under statute if it ever becomes necessary to do so.

Current law also defines “research company” far too narrowly as only those engaged in “commercial activity.” Our bill opens up the definition to encompass non-profit organizations in addition to commercial entities.

I’m proud to put forward this bill to address an out of date law that will advance modern research entrepreneurship in Wisconsin.

Rep. Allen (R-Waukesha), pictured on the left, chairs the Constitution and Ethics Committee that I testified to about the bill.

Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison), helped present this bipartisan bill to the committee with me.

Thanks for Visiting, Assistant Chief Potter

On Tuesday, Appleton Police Department Assistant Chief Larry Potter stopped by our State Capitol Office as part of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association day at the Capitol. You can learn more about their organization by visiting http://www.wichiefs.org/

Free Fishing

Winter Free Fishing Weekend is Jan. 20-21, 2018: More than 20 DNR sites offer loaner ice fishing equipment.

Wisconsin's winter Free Fishing Weekend is set for Jan. 20-21, 2018, and free loaner equipment and ice fishing clinics make it a great time for open water anglers to discover the fun of ice fishing or to introduce family and friends to this hard-water recreation.

Fishing is free for Wisconsin residents and visitors alike on these days. No fishing license or Great Lakes salmon stamp or Inland Trout Stamp is needed to fish all inland waters and Wisconsin's side of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River and other boundary waters. Spring trout ponds are not open, however. All other fishing rules apply, such as limits on the number and size of fish anglers can keep and any seasons when anglers must release certain fish species.

"Free Fishing Weekend is a great way to get outside during the winter and have fun with family and friends," says Theresa Stabo, Department of Natural Resources R 3 coordinator who is working on angling recruitment, retention and reactivation.

It's also a chance for anglers to try the early catch and release trout season for free. That season opened Jan. 6 and normally requires anglers to have a fishing license and an inland trout stamp to join in.

Stabo says that people interested in ice fishing or trying the early catch-and-release trout season shouldn't let a lack of equipment stop them. More than 20 DNR tackle loaner sites have ice fishing gear for loan that groups and individuals can use. Ice augurs are not available through DNR but fellow anglers are usually willing to drill a hole in the ice for newcomers or they can use an abandoned ice fishing hole, she says.

So far, DNR is aware of free fishing clinics during Free Fishing Weekend at these locations: Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo; Straight Lake State Park in Polk County; Mauthe Lake State Recreation Area in Fond du Lac County; Perch Lake County Park and Maple Lake Public Beach in Oneida County; Glen Lock in Chippewa Falls; Brittingham Park in Madison and Fireman's Park in Marshall.

More information on the free fishing clinics, on how and where to borrow ice fishing equipment from DNR offices and parks, and on the weekend itself can be found on DNR's Free Fishing Weekend webpage. Go to dnr.wi.gov and search "Free Fishing Weekend."

Fishing groups, local chambers of commerce, outing organizations, recreation departments and others hosting their own Free Fishing Weekend events can fill out an electronic form with their event details so DNR can help publicize events that are open to the public.

Check out other upcoming events near us by visiting the Wisconsin Tourism website, 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 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.