E-Update Banner.jpg

In This Edition...


Button_WI-JobCenter.jpgButton_WI-Eye.jpg
CONNECT WITH ME:

Toll-Free: (888) 534-0087
Email:

Rep.Edming@legis.wi.gov
Website: www.repedming.com

Facebook Button.jpg

A Note from Rep. Edming

10.29.19 - First Snowfall.jpg

Thank you for taking the time to read my e-update. I'm looking forward to sharing a bit about my week with you.

It was another busy week in Madison, representing the people of the 87th Assembly District, and it was a cold one too. This coming week, November 4th - 8th, is Winter Awareness Week in Wisconsin. As you and I both know, Wisconsin winters can be brutal. Click here to read the press release from the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs and to find resources located at the bottom of the page to help you prepare for the winter weather.

Also, earlier this week Governor Evers signed Executive Order #56, which created a 30-day exemption for licensed commercial drivers transporting propane to be exempt from hours of service restrictions.  While Wisconsin is not experiencing a propane shortage, this exemption helps when long wait times at propane terminals cause delays. Drivers have to spend their hours of service waiting at propane terminals, instead of delivering the propane. 

If you rely on propane to heat your home, make sure you monitor the propane levels in your tank and contact your provider before your tank is close to empty. This will help you to avoid running empty if winter weather or supply issues cause any delays in deliveries.

As always, if you would like to share your thoughts or concerns on any state issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I look forward to hearing from you.

Signature

Eliminating Red Tape for Camps

Did you ever have the opportunity to attend summer camp in Wisconsin as a kid? Or do you have kids or grandkids that attend some type of summer camp in Wisconsin? Thanks to our state's many lakes, streams, and forests, Wisconsin offers some of the best outdoor recreational opportunities in the world and is the perfect place to spend some time away at camp.  Camps in Wisconsin attract campers from around the world and are an important part of the local and state economy. Unfortunately, a number of camps in our state have run into some issues with government red tape that is causing headaches for their operators and making it more difficult to compete with camps in other states.

With this in mind, earlier this session, my colleagues and I introduced the Summer Camp Regulatory Reform Package aimed at eliminating some of the red tape for summer camps. I was happy to see four of these proposals receive a public hearing on Wednesday this week. I was there to testify on one of the bills, Assembly Bill (AB) 428, which I authored.

Summer camps often rely on volunteer physicians to staff their facilities while they are in operation. Although they are likely at the camp for only a few weeks, many of these doctors are licensed in another state and must obtain a temporary license from the State of Wisconsin's Department of Safety and Professional Services. It is a tedious and time-consuming process, making it harder and harder for camps to find volunteer doctors. AB 428 would allow physicians who are licensed in another state or territory of the U.S. or a foreign country or province to practice at a camp in Wisconsin for up to 90 working days per year. To qualify, the licensure standards where the physician is licensed must be substantially equivalent to Wisconsin's standards. Along with that, the doctor would only be allowed to treat campers and staff.  If you would like to read my testimony you can do so by clicking here.

The other three bills heard at the hearing were AB 435, AB 437, and AB 458. AB 458 aims to find a solution to the same problem as my bill, AB 428, but with nurses, instead of doctors. AB 435 works to create separate standards in the state's commercial building code for recreational and educational camps, due to their unique uses. Lastly, AB 437 allows health services staff at camps to maintain medical records, such as each time medication or treatment is administered, electronically. Currently, it is being recorded in a bound book with preprinted pages. I am also a co-author of these other three bills, and I look forward to seeing the entire package continue to gain support as they move through the legislative process.

The entire hearing was carried by Wisconsin Eye. You can click here to watch the hearing.  My testimony on AB 428 begins at 15:20.

Camp Doctor Bill Hearing.jpg

Rep. Edming testifies in support of AB 428. 

Camp Doctor Bill Hearing2.jpg

Rep. Edming and Rep. Milroy with Camp Directors Andy Shlensky, Gabe Chernov, Cliff Lissner.

Protecting Our Beef and Dairy Industries

I often hear from folks around the 87th Assembly District about the issues facing our beef and dairy producers in the state. Many of my legislative colleagues have been hearing similar things from their constituents, as well. One of these issues involves the false labeling of food and beverage products. Things like the "Impossible Burger" or Almond or Cashew "Milk". These products are marketed like meat or dairy, but they are not and it further hurts our state's producers.

Last week, my legislative colleagues and I gathered in the State Senate parlor to introduce a bill package that will keep all these products on an even playing field and keep the marketing campaigns truthful. This bill package, known as Truth in Food Labeling, includes three bills (AB 515, AB 516, and AB 518) that would prohibit products from being labeled as meat, dairy, or milk products unless it contained such ingredients. I am proud to have signed on as a co-author to all three bills and hope to see them pass through the legislature with bipartisan support.

10.24.19 - Truth in Food Labeling Laws (Press Conference).jpgClick on the photo above to watch the press conference.

County Ambassadors

During my busy day on Wednesday, I was pleased to meet with representatives from Sawyer County, along with Senator Petrowski. County Ambassadors from around the state were visiting the Capitol to meet with their legislators and discuss issues that are important to their counties. Senator Petrowski and I had the chance to talk with leaders from Sawyer County and hear about the issues impacting them. While I was in committee hearings earlier that day, my staff met with leaders from Taylor and Marathon Counties, as well.

10.29.19 - Sawyer County Ambassadors.jpg

Military Flag Folding

Last Saturday, I attended a training in Philips on how to properly fold the American flag, hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. While this isn't a skill that most people use on a daily basis, it is important to know that there is a right way to care for the symbol of our country.

10.26.19 - Flag Folding (Philips).jpg

 

Good Luck Lady Canes!

Congratulations to the Hayward Girls Cross Country team on qualifying for tomorrow's WIAA State Cross Country Meet. Good luck Lady Canes!

Good Luck Lady Canes!.jpg

Stay Up to Date

One of the best ways to stay up to date with what is going on in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking service. This service allows you to follow legislative activity in Madison. Once you create a free account you can sign up to receive notifications about specific bills or committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject area (i.e. agriculture, veterans). You can sign up for this service at notify.legis.wisconsin.gov.