Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has created three new bipartisan task forces, appointing several northeast Wisconsin representatives to the committees.The goal is for the committees to recommend changes to the law.
Bipartisanship and Wisconsin politics don’t always go hand in hand but Speaker Vos wants lawmakers to work together in each group.
The first task force will focus on bringing awareness to Alzheimer’s Disease and recommend ways to ensure quality of care for patients in the future.
The goal of the second another task force is to enhance youth workforce readiness by exposing kids to careers in technical, manufacturing and trade work.
The last committee will focus on how to improve urban education.
Local representatives say they’ll work to help students who are struggling at low performing schools. The task forces will tap into the community for information and ideas.
Green Bay school leaders say they hope to have a voice in this effort.
“We’ve engaged our community in this effort,” says Green Bay Area Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld, “and we’d like to engage our policy makers to align their work with the work that we’re currently doing.”
Rep. André Jacque, (R) De Pere, will take part in the youth workforce readiness task force. He says getting both sides to work together is important and can be done.
“There are going to be things that you don’t agree on, but I think many times you can at least come to a common understanding what the problem is even if the solutions are different, and many times there are ways that you can work together to accomplish steps in the right direction,” says Rep. Jacque.
Here is who will serve on each task force from Speaker Vos’ office:
Members of Speaker’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, roughly 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, with two-thirds of those being women. It’s reportedly the 6th leading cause of death in our country and the only one in the top ten that can’t be prevented, slowed or cured. With the increasing population of older adults and increasing cost of care, this task force will determine ways to ensure future quality of care while bending the cost curve of long-term care downward. The task force members also will look to improve and promote community-based resources and raise awareness, as well as address legal issues and determine possible state participation in treatment and research.
Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah), Chair
Rep. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), Vice Chair
Rep. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls)
Rep. John Jagler (R-Watertown)
Rep. Terry Katsma (R-Oostburg)
Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville)
Rep. Mary Czaja (R-Irma)
Rep. Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc)
Rep. Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield)
Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee)
Minority Appointment
Speaker’s Task Force on Urban Education
Wisconsin’s urban school districts have unique challenges and opportunities to meet the needs of their students. The goal of the task force is to provide tangible solutions to help improve educational outcomes. Task force members will study teacher recruitment and retention, discuss best practices to address truancy, below-average academic performance and low graduation rates, and explore ways to improve access to technology in high poverty urban areas.
Member of Speaker’s Task Force on Urban Education
Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Franklin), Chair
Rep. Sondy Pope (D-Cross Plains), Vice Chair
Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin)
Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac)
Rep. Thomas Weatherston (R-Caledonia)
Rep. Mary Czaja (R-Irma)
Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha)
Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Wausau)
Rep. John Macco (R-Ledgeview)
Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee)
Rep. Jill Billings (D-LaCrosse)
Rep. Eric Genrich (D-Green Bay)
Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee)
Speaker’s Task Force on Youth Workforce Readiness
Wisconsin is one of the top states for manufacturing in the country. Despite our efforts to bridge the skills gap in the past few years, there are manufacturing positions that remain unfilled. The task force will come up with new strategies to encourage Wisconsin youth to pursue careers in the trades, manufacturing industry and technical fields. Members will explore ways to improve collaboration between schools, technical colleges and local employers; increase awareness of apprenticeships and internships in these fields; and examine future industry needs and challenges facing our state.
Members of Speaker’s Task Force on Youth Workforce Readiness
Rep. Bob Kulp (R-Stratford), Chair
Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point), Vice Chair
Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan)
Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton)
Rep. André Jacque (R-DePere)
Rep. Warren Petryk (R-Eleva)
Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield)
Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander)
Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine)
Rep. Mandela Barnes (D-Milwaukee)
Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit)