Water Quality Funding

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of testifying before the Assembly Committee on State Affairs in favor of AB243, a proposal introduced by Sen. Rob Cowles and I, which would allow for a portion of the funds received by way of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to be used toward resolving many of the state’s longstanding water quality issues.

ARPA’s stipulations for use state that allocations for water quality projects are allowable, should a state so choose. Wisconsin will be receiving $3.2 billion overall, and I believe it would be a tremendous waste to pass up such a golden opportunity to finally tackle the numerous initiatives recommended by the bi-partisan Water Quality Taskforce on a much larger scale.

AB243 specifically calls for $61 million of ARPA dollars to be earmarked for the following projects:

$40 million for lead service line replacement

$12 million for the Urban Nonpoint Source Program

$6.5 million for the Rural Nonpoint Source Program

$2 million for the Well Compensation Grant Program

$500K towards grants for well testing and public education

I must admit that I feel that the high level of federal spending on "pandemic relief" is excessive. This is money that is essentially being borrowed from our children and grandchildren. Since I have no say in that, I want to assure that it is spent in a manner that will have a long term impact.

Lack of state financial resources has historically been the biggest barrier to implementing these necessary environmental measures. With this money, we truly have a once in a lifetime chance to take a giant leap forward in providing future generations drinking water free of harmful contaminants.

From my time as a member of the Water Quality Task Force, I am confident that there is enough support for this bill to pass the legislature, and I hope that Governor Evers chooses to sign it into law. Access to clean water for all Wisconsin residents is a goal that I know he shares with the rest of us.

Education Committee Hearing

The Assembly Committee on Education, of which I am the Vice Chairman, held a joint informational hearing with the Senate this week on the topic of federal funding distribution in regards to K-12 education. This hearing was absolutely vital for any law maker interested in addressing the learning loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

As is always the case with these types of hearings, we were given a tremendous wealth of information to absorb. I would like to thank all of the invited speakers, including representatives from the Department of Instruction, the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and many others.

The topics raised during this hearing ranged from research on the emotional and educational impact of the pandemic on our youth to what the safest way to return students to the classroom might be. I was pleased to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle actively engaged and asking the necessary questions.

You can find a recording of the hearing on WisconsinEye.

My position on the massive amount of federal money going to education is much the same as with our environmental issues. We must use the money wisely to assure that we make long term investments that achieve better educational outcomes.

The knowledge and insights brought forward at this hearing will be invaluable going forward as we determine both how best to utilize the federal aid and also what educational priorities should be emphasized in the state budget.

Legislative Audit Bureau

If you have been reading my E-updates regularly, you are already familiar with my way of dedicating a section, whenever possible, on how to stay informed and empowered with your state government. This week, I would like to discuss the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB).

For those who may be unfamiliar, the LAB investigates misleading, fraudulent, or deceitful mismanagement and waste in government agencies. If you feel you have witnessed an example of inappropriate spending by an employee of a state agency, I would strongly urge you to call it in. Some examples of the types of issues the LAB investigates are:

*Manipulation, falsification, or alteration of accounting records or supporting documents to conceal theft or an entity's true financial condition.

*Submitting false vouchers for reimbursement.

*Intentionally misrepresenting the costs of goods or services provided.

*Bid rigging.

*Failing to administer programs according to state or federal laws and regulations.

*Purchasing unnecessary supplies or equipment.

*Purchasing goods at inflated prices.

*Abuse of the travel reimbursement system.

Please be assured that should you ever feel the need to file a complaint, your identity will remain anonymous.

The LAB website also maintains a public record of all of their reports, which can be accessed HERE. This is an incredibly valuable accountability resource for constituents looking to see if their taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately.

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee has advisory responsibilities for the LAB. You can find more information on this committee and its legislative members HERE. I encourage anyone with an interest in government oversight to take a moment to familiarize yourself with the LAB website, as it is an incredibly useful tool for maintaining government transparency.