News from the Assembly    

In the wee hours of Friday morning, the State Assembly adjourned what could likely be our last floor period of the legislative session. Despite Republicans sending hundreds of bills to the floor in the final weeks, some of the major issues facing our state have not been addressed, including relief for millions of Wisconsinites burdened by substantial student loan debt; help for our struggling schools; addressing stagnant wages, job creation, and economic development; and sustainable means to address crumbling roads and infrastructure.

Here is a snapshot of the legislation the Assembly considered and passed last week:

Anti-Immigration Bills

Republicans pushed through AB 450, which would prohibit cities and counties from setting their own policies about law enforcement inquiries into the immigration status of individuals who have not been convicted of crimes. This anti-immigrant legislation will make undocumented immigrants hesitant to contact law enforcement, even when they are victims or witnesses of a crime, because they fear deportation. Republicans also passed a bill that significantly limits the ability of local government to issue identification cards, a move that will disproportionately impact those immigrants who are ineligible for a driver’s license or state ID card. The bills now await action by the Senate.  

Republican Pass the Buck on ABLE Accounts

AB 731, introduced just one month ago, scraps plans to offer Wisconsin based ABLE accounts for disabled individuals as originally passed in the 2015-17 state budget. ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save up to $14,000 per year tax-free to pay for future expenses, including medical and dental care, education, community based supports, training, assistive technology, housing, and transportation. Money saved in an ABLE account does not count against an individual’s eligibility for federal benefits programs.

Recent changes were made at the federal level to ABLE’s enabling legislation allowing individuals to take advantage of ABLE accounts in states besides their own state of residence. In response, Wisconsin Republicans have now passed a bill that passes the buck by eliminating plans to offer Wisconsin-based ABLE accounts.

To be clear, Wisconsin residents with disabilities will still be able to open ABLE accounts and receive all of the benefits of these accounts, including tax incentives, but they will need to do so through an out-of-state program. The bill authored by Rep. John Macco and passed by the Assembly means that Wisconsin residents will have to navigate offerings by other states and may be subject to additional fees if other states choose to charge out-of-state residents increased rates for opening ABLE accounts in their states.

During the debate on the bill, I offered two amendments. The first would maintain Wisconsin’s authority to offer in-state ABLE accounts while maintaining parts of the bill that codified tax benefits for participants of plans in or out of state. The second amendment would have required that the state develop print and web-based materials to inform residents of ABLE account options available through other states’ programs. Unfortunately, both amendments failed on party-line votes, with all Republicans voting no.

The bill, AB 731, still needs to pass the Senate before heading to the Governor for his signature. It is my hope that the Senate will make changes to the bill to better meet the needs of Wisconsin’s residents with disabilities.

Republican Inaction on Student Loan Debt

Republicans in the State Assembly rushed through their so-called higher education legislative package. Unfortunately, these bills are too little, too late, providing little to no real relief to those already saddled with insurmountable student loan debt. With legislative Republicans and Governor Walker cutting higher education funding by nearly $1 billion dollars since taking office, Wisconsin has gone from having the 10th highest percentage of college graduates with student loan debt in the nation, to the 3rd highest. 

The bills passed by Republicans will do nothing to reduce the monthly payments of the estimated 1 million Wisconsinites burdened by student loan debt. Democrats again offered a plan that would allow Wisconsinites to refinance student loan debt at lower interest rates and decrease their monthly payments, and Republicans again refused to even consider the measure.

A Good Voter Registration Bill Gone Bad

The Assembly passed SB 295, which will make significant voter registration changes. While this bill creates an online voter registration system, something I strongly support, other aspects of the bill raised major concerns, which is why I could not support it.

Unfortunately, the bill prohibits the use of Special Registration Deputies who help voters register during traditional voter registration drives. The impact of this bill is particularly alarming in its impact on Madison’s student population, who will likely not be able to take advantage of the online voter registration system because they hold out-of-state driver’s licenses and may not be included in the DMV database which is used for online registration.

The bill was opposed by non-partisan voting rights organizations like the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, and Common Cause. It is shameful that Republicans have taken advantage of what should be a bi-partisan effort to modernize voter registration by inserting policies that will limit ballot access for some voters.

Attacks on the Environment

Last week, Republicans in the Assembly also passed several bills, including AB 874, AB 561, and SB 459 that put special interests ahead of protecting our water and other natural resources. The legislation passed will allow property owners to restrict access to precious forest lands, further the depletion our state’s water resources, and endanger our lakes and wetlands.

Continued Assault on our Public Schools

Assembly Republicans advanced three bills that would negatively impact public education in Wisconsin. AB 581 drastically reduces required teacher qualifications. AB 602 allows a failed private school accrediting organization to accredit schools receiving public funding through Wisconsin’s private school voucher program. SB 615 cuts even more funds from our already struggling public schools and diverts them to unaccountable private voucher schools.

Combating Human Trafficking

The Assembly also passed a series of bipartisan bills to combat human trafficking, a growing problem in Wisconsin. The legislation will help protect and provide services for victims of sex trafficking, while helping to identify and prosecute the individuals responsible for creating and running sex trafficking rings.

These are just a couple of highlights from last week’s agenda. Please follow the links below to see what else we considered. Please feel free to contact my office if you have questions about specific legislation.

Click here to view the complete agenda from Tuesday February 16.

Click here to view the complete agenda from Thursday February 18.

Governor Puts Politics Ahead of Women’s Health; Signs Anti-Planned Parenthood Bills

On Thursday, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 310 and Senate Bill 238, politically motivated Republican attacks on Planned Parenthood, into law.

SB 238 drastically reduces the dollar amount that the state will reimburse Planned Parenthood for prescription contraceptives. The bill singles out Planned Parenthood while allowing other health care entities to maintain current reimbursement levels. AB 310 takes aim at Planned Parenthood’s federal Title X funding. In 2011, Republicans also passed a bill, enacted by Governor Walker, which barred Planned Parenthood from receiving state Title V funds.

Unfortunately, the Governor and Republicans in the Legislature are so obsessed with their quest to defund Planned Parenthood and limit access to birth control that they are willing to put women’s health and safety in jeopardy.

Enough is Enough, Re-instate the 48

Last week, I stood with other democratic legislators and the family of Caroline Nosal, who was recently shot and killed on the east side of Madison, to demand a reinstatement of the 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases in Wisconsin.

When the 48 hour waiting period was in effect, it saved lives by serving as a critical “cooling off” period to prevent impulsive acts of violence. Our state should not, and cannot, wait any longer to reinstate this law.

Wisconsin families want to know that they and their children are safe whether they are home, at school, at work, or out in the community. Reinstating the 48 hour waiting period is critical to preventing senseless and unpredictable acts of violence.

Disabled Taxicab Loading Bill Update

I have an exciting update to share regarding AB 358/SB 275, a bill I authored to fix a loophole in state law that prohibits a taxicab from pulling into a disabled parking space to load an individual with a disability, even if it is the only good place for the individual to enter the cab. The bill passed by the full Assembly and will now head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Huegel 4^th Graders Visit the Historical Museum

Recently, I met with a group of fourth graders from Huegel Elementary who came to visit the Wisconsin Historical Museum. I enjoyed meeting with the students at the museum and answering all of their questions. The students were able to take a tour of the museum, getting some time to explore the history of our state.

Congratulations to JMM Boys Swim Team

Congratulations to the James Madison Memorial High School boys Swimming team on winning their sixth consecutive state championship! The team scored 314 points in the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving meet. In addition to this being the sixth straight state championship, this was the team’s 16th straight overall title, setting a new state record.

Fun Wisconsin Fact

As February is Black History Month, we recognize and remember African Americans throughout U.S. history like Ezekiel Gillespie. Ezekiel was born in Tennessee as a slave, and purchased his freedom to go north to Wisconsin. Ezekiel sold groceries and operated a local branch of the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of African Americans escape slavery. He helped lead the charge for African−American suffrage in Wisconsin in 1865 by attempting to vote but was denied a ballot. Ezekiel went on to sue for his right to vote in Gillespie v. Palmer which led to the Wisconsin Supreme Court enforcing the 1849 referendum in favor of African−American male suffrage.

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