Welcome to my latest e-update. Here is a summary from the past week as your State Representative.
As always, previous updates are available on our website and social media.
I typically hold office hours on the second Friday of every month and would be happy to meet with you! You can sign up for our office hours here,
Please contact my office with any questions or concerns.
Forward together,
Rep. Robyn Vining
Republicans Seek to Arm Teachers
Wisconsin Republicans chose to introduce guns-in-schools legislation on Monday, just two weeks after a school shooting, and hours after a mass shooting. LRB-0471 allows for the arming of teachers. Like many of you have made yourselves loud and clear this week, I oppose this bill and Governor Evers has said he will veto it.
Individuals who have a permit to carry a concealed firearm are currently prohibited (with limited exceptions) from possessing a firearm on school grounds. This bill removes this prohibition for employees of a school with the authorization of the local school board.
Wisconsinites want a place to raise their families without the fear that the next terrible gun-related tragedy will impact them. Adults want to enjoy society. Kids want to feel safe. Gun violence is a public health crisis and I am committed to working toward a safer world for all of us.
When I walk in and out of this building, I think about my constituents, and how the job I’m doing here serves you. I take this job, and my oath, very seriously. I’m here to fight for gun safety, funding the public schools, affordable healthcare, childcare, the environment, and so much more. Thank you for your emails this week, and your engagement in our political process. Your voice matters. Please keep reaching out to your elected officials. We work for you!
Giannis on Mental Healthcare
I really enjoyed reading this article, so I want to share it with you. As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Prevention, I do believe mental health is one of the most pressing, if not the most pressing issue facing Wisconsinites right now. Giannis speaks with vulnerability and wisdom here and I recommend the read.
And thank you, Giannis & Bros for your financial support for mental health access in Milwaukee. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a massive Bucks fan, and that’s because of who these guys are both on AND off the court.
Check out the article from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel here.
Capitol Visits!
Social workers were at the Capitol! I stepped out of a hearing quickly to say hi to Karen—she was here to advocate for:
Paid family leave/ funding for childcare
Raise the age bill (return 17 year-olds to the juvenile justice system)
Oppose guns in schools
Support LGBTQ+ youth
Universal licensure recognition
Increased access to affordable housing
Can’t make it to the Capitol? Come to the Wauwatosa City Hall this weekend! See below!
Join Us This Saturday!
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Rep. Robyn Vining and Rep. Evan Goyke will be hosting a budget presentation and listening session on Saturday, April 15th.
Curious about what's in the state budget? The state budget process? How to advocate for your values? How to advocate for what you'd like to see in the state budget? Have questions about things like school funding? When we better understand the state budget process, we can better advocate for what we need.
This event is open to the constituents of Rep. Robyn Vining & Rep. Evan Goyke. Please be prepared to share your name and address at the registration table. If you sign up ahead of time, that will save you time on the day of the listening session. Children are welcome. We will not have childcare or programming for children, however children are welcome.
Wauwatosa Public Library
7635 W North Ave
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Firefly Room
2-4pm
Sign up here! (You’re welcome to wait to sign up at the door, but this will save you time Saturday!) We are looking forward to seeing you on April 15th!
Child Care Counts!
I was so enthused to visit Ebenezer child care in West Allis! I loved visiting the infant room, the 2 year-olds, the 3 and 4 year-olds and their dance class, and to wave at the 1 year-olds through the door as they prepared for their family style lunch! I even got to meet a constituent who was there reading to her daughter’s class! And I learned about the curriculum for mental health for preschoolers—it was a wonderful visit.
We are hearing voice after voice begging us to continue Child Care Counts in the state budget, and it was wonderful to get to visit a childcare center in my district!
The Child Care Counts program is essential for Wisconsin families, and the future of our state! Child Care Counts is WI’s ongoing child care quality improvement program. Governor Evers included Child Care Counts in his budget proposal–YAY!
Please consider signing this petition to voice your support for making the Child Care Counts program permanent in Wisconsin. “What’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state."
Health Committee Public Hearing
The Committee on Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care met on Wednesday to hold a public hearing on 3 bills.
The first two bills are nearly the same bill, and I am a co-sponsor of both. Assembly Bill 9/ Senate Bill 7 make epinephrine, which is used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, more accessible. I am a co-sponsor of both these bills because one of the biggest areas of focus for me is to expand access to affordable, accessible healthcare, and access to epinephrine is an important part of that mission.
We also heard testimony on Assembly Bill 148, which is very similar to, or exactly the same as (we are trying to determine which), a bill that I voted against last session and was vetoed by Governor Evers. It was vetoed for various reasons, including that it jeopardizes the health insurance of low-income Wisconsinites on BadgerCare Plus–many of whom are working. In other words, this bill does not expand access to affordable healthcare, but instead does the exact opposite.
I recapped this hearing in a tweet thread that you can see here.
Committee on Family Law Hearing on Foster Care
First of all, a quick update and announcement! Last week I was named the Ranking Member of the Committee on Family Law. So I now serve as Ranking Member both on the Committees on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Prevention, and Family Law.
Our hearing this week focused on the legislation that was enacted from the 2017 Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care. We heard updates on the time period since this legislation was enacted. Testifying were the Department of Children and Families, The Wisconsin State Bar Association, Children’s Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Mifepristone Ruling
Last Friday a Trump-appointed judge issued a nationwide injunction that paused the approval of Mifepristone by the Food and Drug Administration. The lawsuit, filed by several anti-abortion groups and doctors against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, aims to undo the decades-old government approval of mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion.
The FDA has approved Mifepristone as safe and effective for more than 20 years, but an extreme Republican judge is ignoring the advice of the American Medical Association and American College of Obstetricians because of Republicans’ political mission to ban abortion nationwide.
This Republican plan will also hurt millions of Americans that have relied on Mifepristone to manage an early miscarriage. Republicans are using the court system to enact radical policies. This ruling is rooted in politics, not medicine, and will create nationwide confusion and fear for people who need abortions and medical providers.
I will fight it at every step because I remain committed to fighting for the rights, and health, of my constituents.
Hunger Task Force–BIG NEWS!
The Hunger Task Force has its first SEMI truck thanks to a partnership with Anthem and a $900K check—this semi will allow Hunger Task Force to travel the state with food, and park places that don’t have a loading dock. For example, next week they can park in a school parking lot to deliver food.
No person should go hungry, so I am thankful for their work. I know first hand what it's like to be in need of food assistance, and I will spend my life working to ensure food security.
BONUS: I got to see a school group packing boxes when I toured the facility.
A Discussion on Mental Health, and Domestic Violence with the Wauwatosa Police Chief
Last week Senator Hutton and I met with Wauwatosa Police Chief McGillis. We discussed mental health and domestic violence. Senator Hutton asked in February if we could work together on domestic violence legislation, and we are working through the process to do just that. I will keep you posted on that process!
Office Hours in West Allis
We have our first day of office hours in West Allis today! Here is the sign-up form if you’d like to sign up for future dates (I typically hold office hours on the second Friday of every month). This provides constituents with the opportunity to meet with me and my staff, and is otherwise private. Our office hours are very popular, and we are so excited to bring them to West Allis this month!
We are always looking for fun spots in the district, so send us your ideas for future months!
Co-Sponsored Bills
Here are the bills I co-sponsored this week:
Commemorating the Bay View Labor Strike and Tragedy: Commemorates the anniversary of the 1886 Bay View Labor Strike and Tragedy and affirms Wisconsin’s longstanding commitment to remembering and recognizing our proud, pro-worker history. (LRB-0262)
Proclaiming May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month: Proclaims May 2023 to be Jewish American Heritage Month in Wisconsin, and recognizes the more than 360 year history of Jewish contributions to our nation’s civic, social, economic, and cultural life. (LRB-2744)
Congratulating the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Women’s Gymnastics team on winning the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Championship: I am joining my Oshkosh-area colleagues in congratulating the UW-Oshkosh Women’s Gymnastic team–this is the team’s second consecutive national championship win! (LRB-2790)
