Welcome to my e-newsletter. I will use this to update you on issues in the Capitol and around the state, as well as events taking place in our community. I hope you find it interesting and informative. As always, don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance or just to share your thoughts.
Governor Evers Presents First State Budget Proposal
With much anticipation, Governor Tony Evers gave his first Budget Address to a joint convention of the State Legislature, unveiling his proposal for the 2019-2021 state budget. With Republicans in control of the Legislature, it's likely that the budget that is eventually enacted later this year will look quite different. However, there were some items where I think we can all come together. Closing the "dark store" loophole is an issue I've championed and has bipartisan support; Democrats, Republicans and independents all understand that this is a matter of tax fairness, and we need to act now to protect residential property taxpayers. The Governor has proposed increased funding for our neighborhood schools, something that benefits all of our communities, whether we have school aged children or not. Special education funding would get a substantial boost after over a decade without an increase; a recent study found a $1 billion gap between what schools spend on special education and what the state provides. A proposal to address water pollution and the replacement of lead pipes is vital for providing clean, safe drinking water. Increasing transparency at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and ensuring that companies receiving state tax dollars can't ship jobs out of state or overseas are long overdue. The initiatives on homelessness that I have advocated for were included in the Governor's budget; the recommendations came out of a bipartisan committee chaired by then-Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Finally an expansion of programs providing dental services and other health care services to children and lower-income families make sense from an economic and moral standpoint. The next few months will be a whirlwind of activity, with the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee debating and voting on the budget piece by piece, and with divided government, things are sure to be interesting. Watch the full speech, read the transcript, or check out the full Executive Budget document for more information, and keep an eye on future newsletters for budget updates.
Racine Resident Mary McIlvaine Highlighted in Budget Address
McIlvaine with Sen. Wirch
One of the stars of the Governor's budget address comes from right in our own backyard. While visiting friends in northern Wisconsin, Mary McIlvaine experienced firsthand the difficulty that people in many parts of the state have making a simple cell phone call or connecting to the internet. Following the 2018 election, Mary attended a listening session in Milwaukee hosted by Evers and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, where she shared her concern over the lack of broadband access the state's less-populated areas. Governor Evers agreed with Mary and invited her to attend the Budget Address as one of his special guests. He introduced her during his speech, where he announced a plan to increase funding for state broadband grants. You can watch Mary's time in the spotlight on Wisconsin Eye. Congratulation to Mary McIlvaine, and thanks for making your voice heard.
Telemarketers Still Bothering Consumers
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has released its list of Top Ten Consumer Complaints for 2018, with telemarketing once again ranking as the most common complaint. Even more frustrating, the number of telemarketing complaints was actually up 17% over 2017. Overall, more than 40% of the complaints received by DATCP involved telemarketing. Many of these complaints involved calls from scammers, seeking to gain personal information and not abiding by the Do Not Call list. Landlord/tenant issues were the second most frequent complaint. The full list is below, including links to more information. To file a consumer complaint with DATCP, visit their website or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.
Women's History Month originated in 1981, when Congress requested that President Ronald Reagan proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as "Women's History Week". This continued until 1987, when after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress designated the month of March 1987 as "Women's History Month". This designation was made by Congress every year until 1995; since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump have issued a series of proclamations designating March as "Women's History Month". The theme for 2019 is "Visionary Women:Champions of Peace and Nonviolence", honoring women who have led efforts to end war, violence and injustice and promoted societal change. You can find out more about Women's History Month from the National Women's History Museum website.
Kenosha, Racine Libraries Offer a Wealth of Resources Beyond Books (Although Books are Great, Too)
Our communities are blessed by an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the resources and services available through our local libraries. In addition to volumes and volumes of books in every genre imaginable, the multiple locations of both the Kenosha and Racine Public Libraries offer a host of educational and entertainment options. From access to ebooks, newspapers and other periodicals and new and classic movies to meetings, lectures and events for kids, families and people of all ages, the Kenosha and Racine libraries have something for everyone. They aren't just for entertainment and education, though. Their many branches offer computer terminals and wireless internet that can be used for job and career searches and resume building. Free computer classes to help hone your skills are offered from time to time. We are currently in tax season - the libraries will occasionally serve as locations for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, offering income tax preparation assistance. Meeting rooms of various sizes are available for public use. Websites for the Kenosha Public Library and Racine Public Library contain listings of community resources of all types, from local churches and clubs to food pantries or warming shelters. We are lucky to have access to some of the best libraries around, so the next time you are looking for something to do or have a need and don't know where to turn, consider the local library.
Track specific legislation, see the latest bills to be introduced, or found out how your legislators voted on a bill through the Wisconsin State Legislature'slegislation page.
Constituent Services
No responsibility that I have directly affects the lives of the average person, or gives me as much satisfaction, as that of constituent services. These can come in many different forms. Some people contact me because there is a problem with their unemployment benefits; it could be a delay in receiving a tax refund; or maybe someone is having difficulty in getting a state-issued occupational license. These are sometime simple fixes. Then there are more complex problems: things like health care issues; disputes with utility or insurance companies; or problems with a mortgage lender. Whatever the issue is, big or small, I am happy to help or point you in the right direction.
State Senator Bob Wirch 127 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707-7882 (608)267-8979 or (888)769-4724 sen.wirch@legis.wisconsin.gov||