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Weekly E-Update

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my latest e-update. Here is a summary from the past week as your State Representative. 

A BIG NEW THING is that as of April 15th,  state legislators are prohibited from sending out 50 or more pieces of identical materials from our office, including the e-update. 

Our weekly e-update will be posted on our legislative website and social media, but cannot be sent directly to your inbox. If you have any questions regarding this rule, please let us know!

As always, previous updates are available on our website and social media. 

Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.

Forward together,

 Robyn Vining 

Supreme Court of Wisconsin (SCOWIS) Redistricting Decision

 On Friday, April 15th, the State Supreme Court of Wisconsin’s conservative majority released its ruling on the legislative maps to be used for elections this fall 2022, and it is one of the worst partisan gerrymanders, possibly the worst, in the country.
 
The maps approved by SCOWIS bake in the gerrymander of a decade ago, but are much, much worse. These are the very same maps I voted against in November, and the same maps Governor Evers vetoed the same month.

There is concern these maps approved by SCOWIS violate the Voting Rights Act, reducing the majority Black districts from 6 to 5.

When faced with the opportunity to make the maps less gerrymandered, the conservative SCOWIS instead decided to make them more gerrymandered. Instead of being more fair, they chose less fair. And baffling leaders across Wisconsin, Justice Hagedorn who sided against this map just a couple of months ago, switched his opinion to this map in this most recent decision.

Wauwatosa is at the heart of this gerrymander, feeling the impact of not just a messy drawing of new maps on old ward lines, but Wauwatosa, a city that has shifted from being a GOP stronghold to a Democratic city, is being split up into 4 Assembly districts + 3 Senate districts. That means your Fire Chief or your school district superintendent or your mayor has to call 7 people to talk to their state government for every one issue. That’s outrageous. And the reason it’s being done is to gerrymander the 5th Senate District seat.

Also problematic is that the new maps were drawn with the old municipal wards. I’ve included a graphic showing how wards in the new Assembly District 14, comprised of the people of Wauwatosa and West Allis, now have wards split with some people in a particular ward in not just two different Assembly Districts, but two entirely different State Senate districts! This messy partisan gerrymander puts local municipalities in the position to solve how wards will vote— possibly dividing wards into even smaller sections (Ward 6a, Ward 6b.)

Below are some graphics to help you understand the new 5th Senate District, and the new 14th Assembly District. And linked
HERE you can find your home on the new maps.

Universal Changing Station in the Capitol Approved!
WE HAVE BIG, EXCITING NEWS at the State Capitol!!!

Earlier this week, the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board (SCERB) voted unanimously to install universal changing stations into the Wisconsin State Capitol!

The Wisconsin State Capitol is "The People’s House," and The People’s House must be accessible for all the people. Senator Agard and I are celebrating one more important step in that direction. When the buildings don't work for the people, the people cannot enjoy the buildings, and for a long time in Wisconsin, that’s included the State Capitol. 

The lack of a universal changing station in the State Capitol has meant students and families are unable to visit, and the People’s House has not been accessible to everyBODY. But this is going to change, and I am so excited, and so thankful for this decision by SCERB!
 
I want to thank Brookfield mother Sarah Knowles for her tenacious advocacy, Senator Melissa Agard for her partnership in the state Senate, DOA for their hard work designing the changes, and the SCERB board for their unanimous support
 
Universal Changing Station accessibility is both a public health, and a human dignity issue. May we continue to work forward toward a world that is accessible for, as my friend Damien Buchman says,  “everyBODY.”

I Am For the Child Day 2022

As part of National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention month, the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Association organized the 5th Annual “I Am For the Child Day” on Wednesday, April 19th.  
 
We wore blue, the official color representing child abuse prevention, to raise awareness on this issue.
 
I was at the Capitol on Wednesday because once a year the Committee on Children and Families in both the Senate and Assembly come together for the annual Act 78 hearing, where the Department of Children and Families details cases of child abuse and neglect in Wisconsin and the patterns that emerge when looking at the data. The annual Act 78 hearing is heartbreaking for everyone involved. However, it also helps us as legislators to learn about what steps we can take to ensure every child in Wisconsin is safe from harm. This includes legislative changes, as well as budget items as we prepare for the next budget cycle.
 
I look forward to continuing to find ways that I can advocate for children and families.
 

#iamforthechild
Denim Day

WEDNESDAY, April 27

Today I wear denim and stand with survivors of sexual violence, and against victim and survivor blaming.

Today we wear denim and loudly declare that every Wisconsinite deserves freedom from sexual violence. 

#denimday

Tuesday Meetings & a Seminar
Protecting those with disabilities from abuse:
My first meeting of the day focused on what can be done to best support individuals living with developmental disabilities. In particular, we talked about the Safer Wisconsin package we introduced this winter, an advocate expressed a need to  expand the Elder Abuse Hotline to also include calls related to those with developmental disabilities, regardless of age, and more!
 
Independence First Living Centers:
We spoke about the important role that living centers play in the lives of those who are differently-abled, and what can be done to better support them – things like Medicaid expansion, increasing the number of Certified Peer Specialists by improving the capacity to provide them with licensures, and supporting increased options for transportation in line with the Coordinated Transportation Model, which would ensure that individuals are able to more easily access non-emergency (but incredibly important things!) like going to the pharmacy, or visiting the doctor’s office. 
 
Supporting Families Together Association and United Way Advocacy Day: 

 We discussed the important role that The Parenting Network plays in supporting parents by providing parental education. We touched on the role that the COVID-19 pandemic has played in increasing stress and anxiety for parents, and the assistance the COVID-19 pandemic relief has played in mitigating this. 
 
Race & Education, Neurodiversity and Early Childhood Development where the speakers focused on supporting children and parents. This was a very interesting seminar. I’m investing a fair amount of time in education right now, particularly in the areas of children, families, mental health, and racial disparities in healthcar
e.
Drug Take Back Day

This spring, encourage loved ones to dispose of unused prescriptions at a Drug Take Back Day location near them on April 30. Find a drug disposal location: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/drug-take-back-day.htm

#DoseofRealityWI 

GUIDELINES:

All waste pharmaceuticals must be generated by a household – no businesses are allowed.

Bring: Prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, inhalers, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials and pet medications. Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices (batteries removed).

Do Not Bring: Illegal drugs, needles/sharps, acids, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreens), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, gas), mercury thermometers.

Participants may dispose of solid, non-liquid medication(s) by removing the label or blacking out personal information on the label of the plastic pill container or by putting the medication into a clear sealable plastic bag. Blister packages without the medications being removed are also acceptable.

Liquids will be accepted during this initiative. However, the liquids, creams and sprays must be in their original packaging. Liquids without the original packaging will not be accepted.

Last Little Library Trip

 In compliance with the Rule of 49, Blue Books deliveries have concluded until after the November election. But don’t worry, we set aside 20 Blue Books for when the rule is lifted and we can start deliveries again!
First Ever Woman Municipal Judge Sworn in for Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa swore in the first woman municipal judge in city history on April 27th, and I was invited to attend the swearing in ceremony. Congratulations, Judge Krista LaFave.
Tosa East Public Policy Issue Fair

Wednesday evening I was honored to be amongst the judges for the Wauwatosa East High School American Public Policy class “issues fair.”  I saw Alderman Angelito Tenorio of West Allis, Senator Kooyenga, Mayor McBride, many members of the Wauwatosa City council, Chief MacGillis, Maggie Gau— Chief of Staff to Governor Evers drove all the way out from Madison, former Mayor Kathy Ehley, and so many dedicated parents. It’s amazing how many adults showed up for these students, and it’s inspiring to hear the policy proposals from the students as well as their thought processes that got them to their proposals.

About 2 presentations into the 10 presentations I realized the student emails we received recently were for this class, and in our dedication to sending a thoughtful, well-researched response to each student, we had scheduled those hand-signed letters to be mailed next week after I’m in Madison to sign them. We didn’t realize answers were for these presentations tonight! So— if you contacted us and haven’t received an email response yet, it’s because a printed letter is on its way! (If you responded with your address, we will send it there. If you didn’t, we will send to the school.) We love hearing from students and I prioritize personal responses— they just take a little longer. Great job, Tosa East!

UW Day at the Capitol

UW Day at the Capitol! 

The jam-packed day of events included:

Meeting on support for the University System: I met with Jeff Roznowski, a former Wauwatosa Alderman and active member of the community, to discuss both legislation we passed this year that he’s excited about, and legislation and budget items they’d like to see passed next year. We spoke about the importance of improving UW’s reciprocity agreement with the University of Minnesota to be more fair to Wisconsin. UW is asking to be the negotiating entity for this agreement, and individual campuses retain the tuition revenue generated, rather than sending to the state’s general fund. Looking forward to the next state budget, UW also came to talk about creating a modern teaching and research facility for their Engineering school, which they hope will attract top students, faculty, and researchers.

Faculty Flash talks: UW faculty spoke about academic inquiries that they have been focused on as of late: from the war in Ukraine, to developments in Wisconsin agriculture, to cutting-edge engineering research, and more!

Graduate Student Research Showcase: Every year for UW Day, the University puts on a showcase of graduate level research at the Capitol. This year students presented in the North Hearing room.
 

Here are a couple of the projects:

Anna shared with us her research on the role that unstable and unpredictable work schedules can have on child behavior.
Kaitlyn and Sarah shared their research on the barriers that incarcerated parents and their children’s caregivers face when trying to maintain contact with their children.

Hmong Heritage Month

This month, the state of Wisconsin joins all Wisconsinites in celebrating Hmong Heritage Month, by embracing the power of diversity and honoring the countless contributions of Hmong individuals and communities across our state, nation, and our world.

We honor the Hmong Chamber of Commerce and how it uplifts Hmong and other underserved entrepreneurs.

We honor Hmong teachers creating spaces of belonging for students.

And we honor Hmong youth sharing Hmong culture and heritage to future generations through music, dance and food.

We celebrate the vibrant, resilient, and diverse culture of Hmong Wisconsinites, who are an important and beautiful part of our state’s identity.

Autism Acceptance Month

April is #AutismAcceptanceMonth! Celebrate Neurodiversity and the Autistic community as a whole by working to break down barriers to employment, and learning about ways to make your workplace more inclusive.

In the legislature, my work is focused largely on the overlap of health and children and families - working to protect and improve the lives and livelihoods of children and families in our communities across the state of Wisconsin. Finding ways to help our neurodiverse communities is a big part of that!

One focus of mine in particular has been early intervention, which has meaningful impacts for kids right now, and long term benefits for Wisconsin.

Early intervention is crucial for Wisconsin’s kids individually as human beings, so they can live happy and healthy lives.

Early intervention is crucial for their families and their caretakers.

Early intervention is critical for the communities in which they live, and go to school, and work.

Early intervention is both a moral obligation, and it’s fiscally responsible.

We talk about budgets as moral documents -- with early intervention, we are investing in these kids’ lives and livelihoods and we are investing in the future of our state.

This month, I have been reflecting on what can be done to advance and expand early intervention and what else can be done legislatively in order to ensure that our neurodiverse community is treated with the care and respect they deserve.

 #CelebrateDifferences

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! As we think of ways that we can live in healthier concert with the earth, here is some of the legislative work we have done this session: 

Led by Representative Greta Neubauer, my Democratic colleagues and I introduced Forward on Climate, a package of twenty-two bills designed to fight climate change through Wisconsin-centered policy, create good, family-supporting jobs, and reduce inequality. These bills were designed with input from hundreds of people across Wisconsin through the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change.

The bill I took the lead on, AB789, requires local governments to include considerations for the impacts of climate change when they prepare comprehensive plans, community health plans, or disaster mitigation plans. The bill also provides funding and state staffing to support this additional work. 

Climate change is increasingly impacting communities in every corner of Wisconsin, from additional wear on local roads, to increasingly common severe weather events, to changes to our growing seasons. These impacts fall hardest on Wisconsin’s communities of color, rural communities, and low income families. By empowering local governments to account for the effects of climate change in local planning, we can help communities be more resilient and prepared.

This Earth Day (and everyday!) may we reflect on action that we can take to ensure it is healthy and habitable for many generations to come!

Yom HaShoah

Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah, began Wednesday, April 27th and ended on Thursday at sundown. This is a day to remember the 6 million Jews murdered in Europe during WWII and to reflect on the state of Anti-semitism today.
 

COVID-19 Updates

As of April 27th, 9,461,595 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wisconsin and 64.3% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose, with 61% fully vaccinated. Additionally, 2,007,406 booster doses have been administered.
 
If you have not yet been vaccinated, now is a critical time to get your vaccine. The vaccine protects individuals and communities from getting seriously ill or dying of COVID-19, including the variants. Only 34.1% of Wisconsinites have received their booster shot. Find more information of COVID-19 variants HERE. It is up to all of us to help our communities stay safe. DHS recently endorsed a second booster vaccine for adults over 50 and those who are immunocompromised, learn more about first and second booster shots HERE and HERE.
 
In Wisconsin, COVID-19 cases numbers have begun to increase in recent weeks. On April 22nd, the Milwaukee Health Department announced that the City of Milwaukee has moved in the “substantial transmission” category. Learn more HERE
 
En español, AQUI. ¿Tiene preguntas sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19? Llame al 844-684-1064 (llamada gratuita)
 
For more information about where you can get a vaccine you can visit:
  • DHS website HERE
  • Waukesha County website HERE.
  • City of Wauwatosa website HERE.
  • City of Milwaukee website HERE. En español AQUI
 
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Forward together,

Rep. Robyn Vining

 

Contact Us: 

State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708 

PH: (608) 266-9180
TF: (888) 534-0014

Email: Rep.Vining@legis.wi.gov 
Web: www.vining.assembly.wi.gov 

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