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(608)266-5780 | State Capitol, Room 307 West, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 | rep.billings@legis.wi.gov
COMMUNITY
EVENTS:
Memorial Day Parade
May 25th, 9:00 am
Corner of King and 5th St.
17th Annual Walk MS
May 25th, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
La Crosse Center South Hall
When you participate in Walk MS, the funds you raise give hope to the
more than 10,000 children, women and men in Wisconsin living with
multiple sclerosis.
Register at www.WalkWisconsinMS.org or 800-242-3358.
Ice: Ambigous Clarity
Exhibit
May 30th, 12:00 pm
Pump House Regional Arts Center
Photographer Lee Jackson takes abstract images found in nature to evoke a feeling of mysterious familiarity.
Noon Tunes: Bill Miller
June 14th, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Riverside Park
Noon Tunes is a free, weekly live music series that will take place on
Thursdays in Riverside Park from June 14th through September 27th.
The Chamber Concert at
the Weber Center
June 25th, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Weber Center for the Performing Arts
Milwaukee Symphony Concertmaster Frank Almond will make his LSO debut
with a complete performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s timeless masterpiece,
"The Four Seasons."
CONTACT ME:
State Capitol
Room 307 West
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
Phone:
(608) 266-5780
Toll Free:
(888) 534-0095
rep.billings@legis.wi.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
This week, the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) took up two major issue
for members of our community: education and healthcare. I've heard from
so many of my constituents over the past few months about how cuts to
these programs will negatively impact their families.
Republican legislators proposed and passed a highly controversial public
instruction omnibus motion, which included an expansion of the school
choice voucher program at the cost of public schools. The proposal
siphons approximately $48 million from public schools to fund voucher
programs over the next two years. This creates an educational system
which forces public and private schools to compete against each other
for state tax dollars, rather than create an education system that
provides an equal education to all kids as our state constitution calls
for.
Republican legislators also refused the commonsense proposal to accept
federal funding for BadgerCare. Despite continued attempts by JFC
Democrats, Republicans refused to expand the state's BadgerCare program,
allowing for Wisconsin to take approximately $400 million in federal
funds over the next two years.
Continue reading this week's newsletter for a more in-depth update on
JFC's budget actions, in addition to important information from our
community and state.
Best Wishes,
Jill Billings
State Representative
95th Assembly District
BUDGET UPDATE: JOINT FINANCE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
This week, the Joint Committee on Finance met to vote on proposals for
education funding and
health care for seniors and struggling families.
Education
The most controversial subject up for discussion was education funding.
Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee introduced an omnibus motion
on education, lumping together significant issues like overall school
funding and voucher expansion, thereby failing to give each proposal
significant individual consideration. Gov. Walker's budget proposed
cutting funding to K-12 public education by $127 million over the
biennium. Instead of completely restoring funding, Republican JFC
members voted to divert funding that would normally go to public school
students, and give it to unaccountable voucher schools.
As part of this proposal, Republicans voted to gradually eliminate the cap on voucher enrollment over a period of 10 years. This year, the enrollment total can increase to 1 percent of the student population in each district. The allowed enrollment percentage would increase annually until it would be removed entirely. In the next two years, approximately $48 million could be diverted from public schools to go to private unaccountable voucher schools. A different choice was offered by Joint Finance Democrats that would have provided an additional $300 per pupil, fully restoring funding taken in previous budgets to our public schools.
In addition to increases on traditional voucher spending, special needs
students could also receive taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend a private
school, which is estimated to cost approximately $12,000 per student.
Although this seems like a good idea, Disability Rights groups oppose
this measure. First, because private schools don’t have to comply with
the same standards of care as public schools. Second, special needs
programming funding to private schools not only reduces resources a
public school can provide to its students, but leaves students
vulnerable to attending a charter or voucher school that doesn’t have
the training or proper resources to educate them.
Republicans' actions in the JFC go against Wisconsinites' opinions on
public education spending. According to a recent Marquette Poll, 70
percent of Wisconsinites oppose more cuts to public schools. Not only
are cuts to public schools harmful and unnecessary for our economy, but
they don’t represent the views of our constituents.
Medicaid Funding
Repeatedly over the past year, Democrats have been calling for our state
to accept federal funding for BadgerCare. Wisconsin is one of the only
Midwestern states that has not accepted federal funding for its state
Medicaid program. States with Republican governors -- like Indiana,
Michigan, and Iowa -- all put aside political differences and expanded
Medicaid for the health of their state.
Estimates indicate that, if Wisconsin accepted federal funds, it could
save the state $400 million over the next two years. This should be a
welcome move to all legislators in a state that faces a $2.2 billion
budget deficit. Not only would federal funds help to avoid a number of
budget cuts and offset a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, but it
would allow our state to restore BadgerCare coverage for our struggling
low-income families. During JFC debate, Democrats once again called for
Republicans to accept federal funding, and were repeatedly shot down.
Accepting federal BadgerCare funding is a commonsense proposal that
could only serve to benefit our state. Rejecting these funds
demonstrates yet another irresponsible and senseless move by Republican
legislators, and a continued move by our Governor to put his
presidential ambitions before our people.
We urge Republican legislators to accept Medicaid funding and bring our federal tax dollars back to the state of Wisconsin.
SeniorCare
Over the past few months, thousands from the La Crosse area alone signed
on to the Democrats' "Save SeniorCare" petition. That petition, combined
with voices from around the state that stood up against SeniorCare cuts,
was heard by the Republicans.
As you may know, Gov. Walker initially proposed a reduction of $15
million to SeniorCare, thereby forcing seniors to enroll in the costly
Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Thankfully, due to the actions of informed community members like you,
funding for our valuable SeniorCare program was restored.
SCHOOL GROUPS VISIT THE CAPITOL
This week, two school groups from the La Crosse area visited the State Capitol! 4th grade students in Wisconsin traditionally learn about the country and state's governmental structure.
It is great to see Wisconsin's 4th grade students learning about our
state's political history.
MAY 25 IS MEMORIAL DAY
On Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day -- a time to remember and honor the many servicemen and women who gave their lives protecting our freedoms.
There are many events going on around our state to celebrate Memorial
Day, including the Memorial Day parade right here in La Crosse:
La Crosse Memorial Day Parade
Date: May 25, 2015
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Intersection of King and 5th St, La Crosse
I look forward to seeing members of the La Crosse community at the
parade next week!
