June 14, 2019

Working for you!

A Budget Wisconsin Really Wants

This week, the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance wrapped up its work revising the state budget into a version that real Wisconsinites will support and be able to afford. Over 40,000 people from around the state responded to legislative budget surveys, and the overwhelming majority of people (86%) wanted a responsible budget that doesn’t raise taxes by over a $1 billion, as the governor proposed.

We’ve used proven principles of fiscal responsibility, economic development, and investment in infrastructure and children to craft a budget that all the people of Wisconsin, regardless of political party, can get behind. Our budget:

• Cuts taxes by half a billion dollars

• Continues the tuition freeze while providing UW System with the largest budget it’s ever received

• Invests more than $600 per student in K-12 classrooms

• Provides continued state funding for the Healthcare Stability Plan, which helped decrease private health insurance premiums by 4.2% in 2019

• Increases local road aids by 10% and state highway rehabilitation funding by 19% while reducing the level of borrowing for road to the lowest level since 2001

Governor Evers has recklessly threatened to veto a budget that we worked hard to build in a bipartisan manner. Many components of the budget are items that he has applauded in the past and I’m hopeful that the governor will consider this budget bill with an open mind.

If the governor does not sign the budget by July 1, Wisconsin will continue to operate under the funding levels authorized by Governor Walker in 2017.

Adoption Task Force Website

The website for the adoption task force I serve on is now live. Click on image above to visit it. If you have a story about adoption that you’d like to share please consider sending task force members a message via the website.

Transportation Committee

On Tuesday, the Assembly Committee on Transportation met to hold public hearings on multiple bills, including one that addresses local ordinances for transportation projects. You can watch the hearing by clicking on the image above.

Family Impact Seminar Office Hours at the Capitol

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to chat with Professors Ken Genskow and Morgan Robertson as part of an ongoing event coordinated by the Wisconsin Family Impact Seminars and the UW–Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs.

Professor Genskow, of the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture & Division of Extension, was there to discuss watershed management, farmer nutrient practices, and phosphorus. Professor Robertson, of the Department of Geography & Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies was discussing market-based environmental policies, federal policies and regulations.

In the District

On Saturday I presented Sgt. Cheexeng Lee with a U.S. flag from the State Capitol as part of his welcome home reception.  

On behalf of the Greenville Lions Club, Sheriff Clint Kriewaldt and I presented citizenship awards to individuals involved in apprehending the Grand Chute man who led police on a chase with children in the vehicle.

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 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.