December 21, 2020

Working for you!

Concrete Steps to Restore Election Integrity

My colleagues and I have spent the last month reviewing the significant structural failures of the November 3^rd election. From the over 7,000 messages my office has received about election concerns, I’m know that we have a great deal of work ahead of us to restore the nation’s faith in our election systems. I’m still examining every failure, large and small, to ensure we repair our broken system. So far, these are the areas that I feel need to be addressed by the legislature as soon as possible:

• The rules for absentee early voting need to be tightened up and uniformly enforced.

• Absentee ballot counting should begin before Election Day, to allow accurate results the night of the election.

• The rights and powers of election observers need to be strengthened, to protect them from election officials who would otherwise bully them or conceal elections processes from them.

• An outside authority should be given the power to oversee Milwaukee elections to ensure all appropriate laws and procedures are followed the same way they are across the rest of Wisconsin.

• Strict guidelines for electronic voting machines need to be established to prevent any manipulation.

This list isn’t final, but it’s a strong start to restoring faith in our elections.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my family to yours. My annual video Christmas message can be watched by clicking on the image below:

Reappointed Colleges and Universities Chair

I'm honored to have been reappointed by Speaker Vos to chair the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities in the upcoming 2021-22 session.

Wisconsin’s public and private colleges and universities have been on the forefront of addressing challenges raised by COVID-19. I’m looking forward to once again working closely with UW System President Tommy Thompson, Wisconsin Technical College System President Morna Foy, and Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President Rolf Wegenke.

Committees of the legislature offer the most direct route for constituents to weigh in on bills and issues as they work their way through the government. Keep an eye on future e-updates for regular news on my committee activities.

Vaccination: You Decide

As multiple COVID-19 vaccines enter the market with emergency FDA approval due to the incredible work by President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, many people will soon be faced with an important decision: whether or not to get the vaccine.

I firmly believe that individual medical decisions must be between a doctor and patient, with no room for big government to mandate treatment. No one should be forced to get this or any other vaccine.

That being said, the COVID-19 vaccinations offer an incredible opportunity for us to turn around the damage done to our state and nation. As soon as the vaccine is available to the general public, I plan on getting the shot and I encourage anyone who is able to also get vaccinated.

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 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.