Two key proposals that I helped lead through the legislative process over the past fifteen months were integral in the development of the recently announced Transform Milwaukee Initiative. Transform Milwaukee, which was detailed by Governor Scott Walker earlier this week, is a public-private initiative that will focus on restoring economic vitality to the industrial, residential and transportation areas connecting Milwaukee’s 30th Street Industrial Corridor, Menomonee Valley, Port of Milwaukee and Aerotropolis, which is located south of General Mitchell Airport.
The initiative will complement work that is already underway by Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) to address unemployment in the City of Milwaukee, which is currently at 10.4%.
As a part of the initiative, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) will partner $100 million in WHEDA funds with an estimated $100 million of private resources. Transform Milwaukee will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and additional permanent jobs.
As a part of my legislative “job” focus, I authored Special Session Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 459, two bills that were signed into law by Governor Walker that made some important updates to various WHEDA programs. The changes approved in the bills helped to make Transform Milwaukee a reality. It is important to note that WHEDA programs do not use state tax dollars and enjoy very low default rates; in the case of WHEDA’s successful small business loan guarantee program, in place since 1991, the repayment rate is almost 99%.
While most of my focus is to increase private sector employment in the counties that I specifically represent, I strongly believe we must all do what we can to bring more employment opportunities to people who live in Milwaukee. We must break the entitlement/poverty status that has infested that community for the past couple of generations. The best way we can do that is to help people become employed so that they can earn incomes, support themselves and their families, develop self-worth and be less reliant and controlled by government and taxpayer subsidized entitlement programs. Based on the amount of state tax money we already spend in Milwaukee on entitlement programs, I strongly believe this “jobs” investment is positive for all of us in Wisconsin.
~ Connecting Students with Job Opportunities ~
I am excited to announce that Governor Scott Walker recently asked me to serve as a member of the newly formed Council on College and Workforce Readiness. The Council will work to improve student readiness for college and careers through a variety of measures, including designing shorter and less costly degree programs aimed at filling high-need jobs. In addition, the Council will look at ways to expand dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities for high school students, allowing them to earn college and workforce training credits while in high school.
The Council will be comprised of representatives from small business, the workforce, the State School Superintendent, Cabinet Secretaries and top officials from public and private universities and technical colleges.
The Council shall prioritize improvement in the following areas:
Reducing dropout and remediation rates as well as income and racial achievement gaps therein;
Increasing the overall number of degrees and certificates awarded;
Expanding dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities to middle and high school students statewide;
Designing shorter, less costly degree programs aimed at filling high-need positions while promoting and supporting technical career pathways for students beginning at a young age;
Easing transitions between systems and institutions, specifically through the transfer of credits and the awarding of credit for prior learning, including on the- job training and other experience; and
Any other issues the council deems vital to improving career and college readiness for Wisconsin’s students.
The Council shall provide a strategic plan detailing the progress toward specific goals related to the above priorities and other priorities set by the Council, to the Governor by December 31, 2012.
Again, based on my strong belief that being employed greatly improves an individual’s well-being and in an interest of helping connect tomorrow’s workforce with the jobs that will be available to them, I was glad to accept this responsibility. Any ideas you have to help the Council accomplish our goals would be appreciated.
~ Recall Election Process Begins on Tuesday ~
Next Tuesday, May 8, 2012 will be the day on which a partisan primary election will be held for the recall efforts against Governor Scott Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four State Senators from various Senate districts across the state. Voters will have the chance to pick either the Republican or Democratic candidate for each office. The Republican or Democratic person from each office that garners the majority of votes will move on to the general election that will be held on June 5, 2012.
Following is a listing of the Republican and Democratic candidates for the office of Governor and Lt. Governor. There is not a Senate recall in our area.
Republican Candidates for Governor
Scott Walker
Arthur Kohl-Riggs
Democratic Candidates for Governor
Gladys Huber
Kathleen Vinehout
Doug La Follette
Kathleen Falk
Tom Barrett
Republican Candidates for Lt. Governor
Rebecca Kleefisch
Democratic Candidates for Lt. Governor
Isaac Weix
Mahlon Mitchell
Ira Robins
You can only vote for one person for each office. Due to the fact that the Voter ID law continues to be reviewed in the court system, voters will not be required to prove their identity with a photo ID prior to receiving a ballot. All other election related laws and procedures will be in effect.
As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling 888-295-8750, writing to me at PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at
Sen.Leibham@legis.wi.gov. You can also log on to the 9th Senate District on-line office at
www.leibhamsenate.com.
It is an honor to work for and represent the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate.