      
Committee Action
Ways and Means
Executive Session 4/7/15
AB
45-authorizing towns to participate in
multijurisdictional tax
incremental financing districts. Passed Committee 11:0, passed
full Assembly on April 14, 2015
Public Hearing 4/15/15
AB 31: setoffs against tax refunds for
debts related to providing ambulance services.
AB 123: limited authorization for the town
of Rome in Adams County to make cash grants or loan subsidies to
owners, lessees, or developers of land located in a TID.
Urban and Local Affairs
Public Hearing Scheduled 4/21/15:
AB 93: bonding, spending, taxation
authority and auditing of local professional baseball park
districts
AB 156: coverage for new participating
employers under the Wisconsin Retirement System
AB 161: limitations on town expenditures
for certain highway purposes.
|
|
Capitol Highlights
Assembly Floor Session
This
week the Assembly held its first floor session
for the month of April. A number of bills with
strong bipartisan support passed through our chamber that focused on
empowering consumers and protecting our
environment. Here are some highlights:
AB
15 prohibits the manufacturing and sales of microbead pollutants.
AB 24 allows
Wisconsin based banks and credit unions to offer
promotional discounts on variable-rate loans as
is allowable at the federal level.
AB
74 will allow drivers education instruction to
be done online by schools listened by DOT.
AB
114 penalizes falsely claiming military service
or honors to gain benefits (Stolen Valor).
AB
143 regulates and creates state standards for
ride-sharing companies by creating a framework
for Transportation Network Companies, like Uber
or Lyft to operate statewide.
2015-2017
Budget
Since the Governor released his budget proposal
in February, I have received an incredible
amount of input from constituents. I am
impressed by the level of feedback I have
received through emails, calls, letters and
listening sessions and encourage you to remain
engaged throughout this process. As your voice
in the Legislature, I have been in continual
communication with members of the
Joint Finance
Committee in order to communicate your concerns.
We are now in the Executive Session stage of the
budget review process, during which the JFC
discusses and votes on each individual issue in
the budget proposal. Notices of Executive
Sessions are provided on JFC's webpage and you
can watch live on
WisconsinEye.
During this week's Executive Session, the JFC
removed 14 non-fiscal policy items from the
budget. Items removed included:
-
Making the DATCP and DNR Boards advisory,
both boards will maintain policymaking
authority.
-
Exempting UW System research and studies
from public inspection.
-
Proposal to change local property tax
assessment program to a county-wide program.
The
input you provide allows me to better represent
the needs and concerns of the district. Please
complete my budget survey online and mark your
calendar to attend my next budget listening
session scheduled for May 21, 2015 at 5:30 PM at
the Allouez Village Hall.
|
Congratulations Kimps Ace Hardware!
I recently had the opportunity to
recognize Kimp's Ace Hardware for
achieving 75 years of business. Since
1940 this family-owned business has been
providing quality products and
outstanding customer service throughout
our community. Congratulations on the 75
years of business, and best wishes for
many more years of success!
 |
|
Here's What I've Been Working On:
I recently
introduced the Get Youth Moving (GYM)
bill, which would promote physical
fitness and healthy choices by ensuring
elementary students get 30 minutes of
gym time everyday. Today, one in every
four Wisconsin adolescents is overweight
or obese. Numerous studies have shown
that physical education not only
improves kids' physical health, but
enhances their academic performance as
well. This week, parents, teachers, and
advocates stopped by the capitol to show
their support and advocate for this
legislation.
Law and Order
Co-Sponsored:
AB 5:
Protecting witnesses from intimidation.
AB 8:
Creates a felony charge for taking
pictures or videos of another's private
areas without consent, "upskirting."
AB 10:
Empower victims of domestic abuse to
file restraining orders against
perpetrators who live in another state.
AB 147:
Creates a felony charge for a
intentionally causing bodily harm to a
judge, prosecutor or law enforcement
officer. |
|
Protecting the Environment
Co-Sponsored:
AB 15:
Protect our Great Lakes through the
phasing out of harmful microbeads used
in manufacturing personal care and
cosmetic items. |
|
Supporting Our Businesses and Consumers
Co-Sponsored:
AB 11:
Eliminates an outdated mandate for
recycled content of newsprint in
newspapers.
AB 18:
Allowing liquor taste testing at certain
retailers, levels the playing field with
beer/wine tasting.
AB 143:
Regulating transportation network
companies, allowing expansion of
ride-share options. |
|
|
