I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read through my newsletter. Each week, I'll include information to keep you up to date with what's happening in Madison and the 1st Assembly District.
Biennial Budget
Earlier this week, the 2021-23 state budget was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and it now heads to the desk of Gov. Tony Evers.
If you are interested in reviewing the entire bipartisan-supported spending plan, please click on this link.
Some of the highlights of the budget include:
$3.4 billion in property and income tax relief; Gov. Evers was seeking to raise taxes by $1 billion
Getting the state to two-thirds funding for public schools
Reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
$125 million to improve broadband access across the state
Significant investments in long-term care and assistance living facilities and considerable increases in nursing home and dental reimbursement rates
$100 million for the Local Roads Improvement Program
Now that the budget has been sent to the governor, he has the choice of either passing it as is, using his line-item veto authority and signing it or vetoing the whole thing. No Wisconsin governor has vetoed an entire budget. However, Gov. Evers, who has the strongest veto power of nearly any governor in the country, did veto some parts of the previous budget before signing it into law.
In the coming weeks, I will discuss different sections of the budget in further detail.
Unemployment Letter
In response to the governor claiming that he has seen no evidence to support the notion that eliminating the enhanced federal unemployment supplement would bring more individuals back into the workplace, I sent a letter to his office providing him with that data.
I am pleased that the governor has signed into law my bill that helps to ensure local municipalities are receiving the correct amount of room tax revenue from short-term rental companies.
Thank you for taking the time to read my e-update. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff members, Adam and Henry, look forward to working with you. Also, if you would like a 2019-20 Wisconsin Blue Book or 2019-20 state highway map free of charge, just send us an email!