This week, the Assembly wrapped up months of deliberation on the 2017-19 biennial budget, approving the proposal fifty-seven-to-thirty-nine. Members of the Wisconsin State Senate will now have the opportunity to amend, debate and ultimately, approve this proposal. At this writing, the budget is two-months past due and deliberations remain ongoing.

Assembly Bill 64, as the budget is otherwise known, exceeds $76 billion and 1,087 pages in length. As readers can discern, a budget of this magnitude is laden with innumerable provisions, making it difficult to summarize in a few paragraphs. To provide readers with more information on Assembly Bill 364, I have attached three documents: A state budget summary, an overview of reforms contained in the proposal, and a table listing all funds appropriated by agency. One documents covers new programs and substantial changes to your previous budgets, another summarizes conservative reforms contained in the budget, and the third, as mentioned, is an agency appropriations breakdown.

While I am satisfied with the final product, there is still more work to be done in order to ensure the state is responsive to your needs and provide necessary services in a timely, cost-effective manner.

Despite disagreements over budget priorities and appropriate funding levels, I appreciate your feedback and input. The 2017-19 biennial budget, despite including tax cuts and many reforms I have been championing for the last two sessions, is not perfect. In fact, the budget continues to increase spending and does not fully address the state's priorities. I remain dedicated to fighting for less government, lower taxes, a more responsive government, and the protection of civil liberties.

Interstate-43 repair project

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, on Monday, September 25, 2017, is scheduled to commence with a maintenance project on Interestate-43 from the Milwaukee/Ozaukee County line to Wisconsin Highway 32. Lane closures will take place in the overnight hours from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., during weekdays, with possible lane and ramp closures during the weekends. During these late-evening closures, a single lane of mainline traffic will remain open in each direction at all times. Consecutive ramp closures will not be occurring. Please note that work restrictions will be in place during special events such as Green Bay Packers home games.

The project will route and seal this ten-mile stretch of freeway, along with interchange ramps. The contractor, Fahner Asphalt Sealers, plans on completing this $494,000 project this fall. This is a routine maintenance project following up on the 2014 resurfacing of the corridor and a continuation of the 2016 route and seal project in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties.

More information on this project can be found on 511 Wisconsin at: https://projects.511wi.gov/43ozauk/

A section of Interstate-43 in Ozaukee County that will be subject to repair

Wisconsin State Capitol Centennial Essay and Art contest

The Wisconsin State Capitol Centennial Commission is seeking student entries for an art and essay contest celebrating the Wisconsin State Capitol's 100th birthday. Students in grades K-12 are encouraged to submit either an essay or piece of artwork, which details or symbolizes the Wisconsin State Capitol and the role it plays in fostering democracy. Essays should be no longer than one-page in length and either typed or legibly written. Art projects should be two-dimensional, constructed using non-breakable material, and no larger than twenty-four-by-thirty inches. Furthermore, art projects must be mountable to a board or on canvass that is already attached to a wooden frame for display on an easel.

The Commission will select from among all entries, one essay and one art project from each grade. Winning essays and art projects will be displayed on the first floor of the Wisconsin State Capitol, this fall, from November 9th-30th. What is more, winning entries will be recognized by Governor Walker and retained by the Wisconsin State Historical Society. All entries will receive a certificate acknowledging submission. Projects not selected or retained by the Wisconsin State Historical Society, will be returned to students.

Wisconsin's State Capitol Centennial Commission began accepting entries September 1, 2017. All entries must be received by October 13, 2017. Please include for each contest submission: the participant's name and grade level, name of the participant's primary educator and educational institution, and contact information for the educational institution in which the entrant is enrolled.

Submissions should be sent to the following:

Wisconsin State Senate Chief Clerk, Post Office Box 7882 Madison, Wisconsin 53707.

For more information about the State Capitol Combative Commission and the Wisconsin Capitol Building, please visit: http://capitol100th.wisconsin.gov

Have a great week,

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