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  • Mining Bill Unveiled
    A mining bill was unveiled today at a State Capitol news conference. It would streamline Wisconsin’s mine permitting process and was written specifically for an out-of-state mining company that wants to build an open pit iron mine in Northern Wisconsin.
  • Meeting Tuesday night about Hoan Bridge bike lane
    "There is a great deal of support for a bike lane over the Hoan Bridge. It's something we've been talking about for more than a decade," said Rep. Richards.
  • Rep. Richards to host meeting Aug. 23 on Hoan Bridge bike lane
    Prospects for a bike and pedestrian lane on the Hoan Bridge have shifted from no to maybe, and residents have been invited to share their views at a neighborhood meeting in Bay View on Aug. 23.
  • Same rules for all
    The state Supreme Court has said it cannot enforce the open meetings law against the Legislature. So let's change the state constitution to give the courts the necessary authority.
  • Amendment would hold state Legislature to open meetings law
    Madison - The Legislature would be subject to the state's open meetings law under a proposed amendment to the state constitution unveiled by Assembly Democrats on Thursday.
 
Dear Neighbor,
 
Republicans jeopardize extended unemployment benefits
Last night, Assembly Republicans jeopardized extended unemployment benefits for struggling Wisconsin families after voting to pay private partisan attorneys $395 an hour in taxpayer money to gerrymander legislative districts behind closed doors.  See below for more. 
 
Hoan Bridge Town Hall Meeting Tonight
Don’t forget tonight’s neighborhood meeting on the current status of the Hoan Bridge and future reconstruction plans.  State transportation officials will be available to answer any of your questions about the Hoan.  The meeting will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Beulah Brinton Cafeteria Room, 2555 South Bay Street, in Bay View.  I hope to see you there!
 
Unemployment benefits jeopardized cont…
The recently passed state budget included a provision that would require workers who have lost their jobs to wait for a week before they are eligible for unemployment compensation.
Thankfully the Senate reversed course on this mean-spirited proposal and voted to eliminate the waiting period for unemployment compensation, providing struggling families the immediate help they need to pay for groceries, rent, gas and other basic necessities. 
 
All the Assembly had to do to extend federal unemployment benefits for 13 weeks to tens of thousands of out-of-work Wisconsinites was pass the Senate bill, which was adopted on a strong bipartisan 30-3 vote.
Unfortunately, Assembly Republicans chose to play political games instead by reinserting the one-week waiting period back into the unemployment extension bill.  As a result, the bill has been slowed down and may well be permanently stalled in the Legislature.  Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Wisconsin job seekers have either seen their benefits expire or soon will. 
 
On the same day Assembly Republicans voted to make it harder for workers to receive unemployment benefits, they fought to preserve funding for private lawyers who are being paid $395 an hour to draw political maps to protect their GOP colleagues. 
 
These partisan attorneys are being paid more per hour in taxpayer money than the maximum amount a displaced worker can receive in unemployment benefits in an entire week. 
 
The actions of Assembly Republican yesterday were unconscionable and only further my resolve to continue our fight against their seemingly endless and divisive attack on Wisconsin families.
 
Sincerely,
 
JON RICHARDS
State Representative
19th Assembly District