Welcome to my latest e-update. Here is a summary from the past month 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. We thought that meant we could continue posting our e-update on the web site, however we quickly learned that the “subscribe button” on mailchimp is not removable and could put us in jeopardy of breaking the Rule of 50. So, we immediately paused the newsletter until we could figure out what to do.
With the rule of 50 in place, our office has decided to transition to monthly e-updates for the summer. Our monthly e-update will be posted on our legislative website and social media, but cannot be sent directly to your inbox. We will have to remove all subscriptions until the Rule of 50 is over. 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
Happy Pride Month!
June is Pride Month — during Pride Month may we celebrate the accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community, honor the community members we have lost, and recognize and take action on the work that needs to be done to ensure equal rights for all.
Thank you Governor Evers for proclaiming June to be Pride Month in Wisconsin for the fourth time! LGBTQ+ Pride Month is held in June in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising, which occurred on June 28, 1969. Governor Evers flew the Progress Flag over the state Capitol for the first time on June 1st, 2022.
To our LGBTQ+ friends, neighbors, loved ones, and community members — we see you, we celebrate you, and we stand with you.
Happy Juneteenth!
It took over two years for word that slavery had ended to reach Texas. Juneteenth commemorates when the word reached Galveston, Texas, in 1865.
Milwaukee hosted the 51st annual Juneteenth celebration this year. Milwaukee is known to host one of the largest and most exciting Juneteenth celebrations nationwide– a parade and street festival. Along with Governor Evers, Lt. Governor Barnes, and many of my colleagues in the legislature, I was honored to join the Milwaukee celebration on Juneteenth!
We celebrate, and we also pause to consider the lasting effects of systemic racism and the work that remains to be done. We must continue to pursue equal rights for all citizens, and work to create meaningful, effective policy to battle racial injustice throughout Wisconsin.
Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, and Gov. Evers has issued a proclamation celebrating the 14th year of annual observance in the state of Wisconsin. The Juneteenth flag was raised over the Wisconsin State Capitol, and flew through the holiday in honor of Juneteenth.
Rep. Vining On Reproductive Health Special Session
On May 2, 2022,an article published by Politicoshowed a leaked opinion on Dobbs v Jackson. This opinion showed that the U.S. Supreme Court would possibly overturn Roe v. Wade. On June 8th, Governor Evers called for a special session to overturn Wisconsin’s archaic criminal abortion ban which dates back to 1849. Over the course of this legislative session, Republican legislators have continued to attack reproductive freedoms and rights in our state. Bills likeAssembly Bill 595, Assembly Bill 593, and Assembly Bill 1065, sought to erode pregnant patients’ relationships with their doctors and limit access to healthcare.
Following the call from Governor Evers, Assembly Democrats showed up for work for what ended up being a 23-second special session of the legislature. Republicans gaveled in and out of the session in 23 seconds, without debate or a vote. Nearly all of their Republican members did not show up to the session.
Read more on my special session press release HERE.
On Friday, June 24th, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade. Roe v. Wade previously held that general restrictions violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects against state action infringing upon the right to privacy, including a pregnant person’s right to terminate their pregnancy.
On Tuesday, June 28th, I joined Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul in Milwaukee where they announced they are taking this fight back to the courts and filing a direct challenge to Wisconsin’s 1800s-era criminal abortion ban to defend reproductive freedom in Wisconsin.
The lawsuit argues that Wisconsin state statutes contain two sets of criminal laws which directly conflict with each other if both are applied to abortion and therefore Wisconsin’s 19th century criminal abortion ban, Wis. Stat. § 940.04, has been superseded by more contemporaneous legislation and cannot be enforced.
Similarly, the lawsuit argues that several state laws regulating how a physician can lawfully provide an abortion conflict with the 19th-century criminal abortion ban.
More specifically, provisions, including a waiting period, the use of ultrasound, and how abortion-inducing drugs are administered, among other things, by virtue of providing parameters for when a physician may lawfully perform an abortion, are incompatible with the pre-Roe statute that broadly criminalizes abortion.
More specifically, provisions, including a waiting period, the use of ultrasound, and how abortion-inducing drugs are administered, among other things, by virtue of providing parameters for when a physician may lawfully perform an abortion, are incompatible with the pre-Roe statute that broadly criminalizes abortion.
The lawsuit, filed today in Dane County Circuit Court, seeks declaratory judgment and asks the court to clarify that Wis. Stat. §. 940.04 was impliedly repealed by subsequently passed abortion-related statutes that conflict with it and is unenforceable.
We must live and legislate with empathy and compassion. Abortion is a decision to be made by a patient and their doctor. I am dedicated, as your representative, to protect the well-being and the rights of my constituents.
My Assignment to the 2022 Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations
I am honored to announce my appointment as a member of the Legislative Council Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations. This committee will meet this summer and fall with the goal of writing legislation that would hopefully receive votes in the Assembly and Senate in 2023.
I look forward to working with fellow legislators, as well as the rest of the committee to study and address issues relating to American Indians in Wisconsin. I want to express my thanks to Rep. Mursau for his invitation to submit suggestions for the study topics. I have submitted the suggestion we focus on maternal health, infant health, and mental health.
This session’s Study Committees collaborate with community members, experts, and other legislators to research and confront issues within our state. A bipartisan committee, myself and my fellow legislators will work together to draft policies that inspire and create real, positive change. It’s our hope these policies would become law in the 2023-2024 session.
Taking Action on Gun Violence in Wisconsin
On June 2nd, at the State Capitol in the Senate parlor we held a press conference calling for legislative action on gun safety bills. Your legislators are fighting for you. It’s beyond frustrating that our Republican colleagues won’t take action. As Senator Melissa Agard said at the press conference, what we are doing here in the capitol isn’t political, it’s humanitarian. These are bills that need to be passed, they are lives that deserve to be saved.
Thank you Senator Melissa Agard and Senator LaTonya Johnson for your leadership on the legislative gun safety workgroup, and for leading us in this press conference. And, thank you to the packed room of press who came out to cover the event.
Gun violence is a public health crisis. And it’s not inevitable. We know what to do. Now let’s do it. Read my op-ed from 2021 here.
Governor Evers Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Price Gouging on Gasoline
This month, Governor Evers responded to some of the pain Wisconsinites are feeling at the gas pump. Executive Order 170 protects drivers around the state from price gouging as our nation continues to see gas shortages and price hikes.
It was an honor to celebrate these students on June 1st!
The first day of June was also Wauwatosa East High School's annual Industry Signing Day! The event celebrates students in the LAUNCH program who have worked hard to learn skills that will enable them to move into high-demand jobs in the future.
Eight seniors completed their Certified Pre-Apprenticeship coursework and accepted registered apprenticeships or jobs that will put them on the path toward becoming registered apprentices!
Many of these students have arrived at school extra early, and worked very hard, to achieve this. Congratulations!
Milwaukee Delegation May & June Update
Teens Grow Greens
The Milwaukee Delegation visited Teens Grow Greens in May— it was fantastic to hear about their educational and internship opportunities, and see their partnership with Weber Greenhouse to sell plants to the public! Fabulous programs and incredible greenhouses! I purchased my vegetables and flowers that day and am enjoying beautiful gardens at my house this summer!
On June 10th, the Milwaukee Delegation visited America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
Stay Tuned: A Special Edition Legislative Update Coming
Our office has been hard at work compiling information about this past session. Stay tuned on social media to see our SPECIAL EDITION legislative update soon!
Know Your Electeds Interview Taping
Filmed “Know Your Electeds” with Spectrum News this month! My interview will be posted in a couple months, and you can check out other Wisconsin Assembly members’ interviews HERE.
Cooking With Kitty
This month, I was lucky enough to film with local celebrity Kitty, host of “Cooking with Kitty,” to make a marvelous Berry Icebox Cake! Check outthe videoposted on June 28th to see Kitty teach me the “mixing dance” while we craft a delicious summer dessert treat.
Happy Father’s Day!
On June 19th, we celebrated Father’s Day in Wisconsin and throughout the United States, honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds that develop future generations for years to come. Around the world and all across Wisconsin, fathers have played and continue to play a crucial role in families - commemorating the accomplishments of dads across our state honors their hard work both within their families and in our communities.
We acknowledge and appreciate all those who take on fatherly roles - from biological fathers to legal guardians, and even single mothers taking on the paternal role, Wisconsin recognizes the immensely positive impact you have on shaping the future of our communities.
Happy Father’s Day!
Celebrating National Dairy Month in America’s Dairyland
In the month of June, we celebrate National Dairy Month! We are forever proud we are the Dairy State!
Did you know Wisconsin produces more cheese than any other state in the nation? We do! Wisconsin is also a leading milk producer, second to only California (but hey- we beat California at cheese ;)
Wisconsin boasts production of nearly 3.5 billion pounds of cheese, and 30 million pounds of milk in the past two years, amidst a grueling pandemic. To our Wisconsin farmers, and those working hard in the dairy industry, we thank you for your commitment and hard work every year - We are proud Cheeseheads!
COVID-19 Updates
The best protection against any variant of COVID-19, is to get fully vaccinated and get a booster shot. All Wisconsinites ages 6 months and over are eligible for a FREE COVID-19 vaccine series. Additionally, all those 11 years or older who had their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago, are eligible for a free booster shot. Getting your booster shot will provide the best protection from COVID-19, including the newer variants.
