The Joint Committee on Finance had their first executive session this week. The committee voted to remove, among others, the following:

• Over $1 billion in tax increases.
• 71 non-fiscal policy items, as identified by LFB.
• Capping the school choice program.
• Tuition breaks & drivers licenses for undocumented individuals.
• The expansion of welfare programs and lengthening time limits for welfare.
• The reinstatement of prevailing wage laws that were recently repealed. 

However, the Committee agreed with the Governor on several provisions including, among others: 

• Providing $1M to the Medical College of WI to expand their family residency training programs. 
• Fiscally responsible policies that replace 110 limited term employees with 46.5 permanent positions for the Wisconsin Historical Society, which will save taxpayers $271,400 over the biennium. 
• Supporting new positions at Winnebago Mental Health Institute.
• Funding for the operation of a 20-bed unit at the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center.
• Providing financial support for youth crisis stabilization grants.
• Increasing funds for the Conservation Fund, which was previously funded through the Forestry Mill Tax.

The Joint-Finance Committee will have their next executive session on Tuesday; you can view the agenda here.    

Wisconsin Public Television

I am appreciative of a new documentary called Not Enough Apologies: Trauma Stories, which discusses child welfare in Wisconsin and tells the stories of young people that are often overlooked in society. I was honored to be featured in the documentary because of my work on the Speaker's Task Force on Foster Care last session.

Wisconsin Public Television's production team has built a website for Not Enough Apologies: Trauma Stories, which is being published in anticipation of the WPT broadcast premiere on May 13 at 8 p.m. The website features the full documentary and other helpful resources! The link to the site is: https://wpt.org/trauma

Milwaukee Public Television will also broadcast the program sometime in June--stay posted for more details to be released!

I will be holding office hours Monday, May 20th from 9:00-10:30am in Wausau.  The specific location is to be determined, so keep an eye out for more information! You can stay tuned by following my social media pages or looking at the "office hours" section of my website, located here. 

Spring Survey

You may have seen one of these show up in your mailbox in the past week, because my 2019 Spring Survey is out! If you didn’t receive it, or to save a stamp, you can fill out the survey online by clicking here. Questions cover several topics including transportation, gun control, tax cuts, education and others. I'd love to hear from you today!

2017-2018 Blue Books & maps (paper highway maps or laminated maps) are still available in my office! The Wisconsin Blue Book contains information on all things Wisconsin: your elected officials; census information; the official state dog, tree, flower, etc.; government processes; and so much more! Contact me for your free copy today!