We are BACK! The Rule of 49 was lifted after the election, and state legislators can now send out 50 or more pieces of identical materials from our office– including the e-update! We have been posting e-updates on social media and on thelegislative websitethroughout this time period if you’d like to catch up! Clickhereto find updates posted while the Rule of 49 was in effect.
I am excited to be able to email you once again!
Please contact my office with any questions or concerns.
Forward together,
Rep. Robyn Vining
Thank you for your support!
I am honored to be re-elected to serve the people of the 14th Assembly District. In this upcoming session, new maps are in place. That means that the 14th Assembly district no longer encompasses parts of Brookfield or Milwaukee, and instead gained new portions of Wauwatosa (about 31,000 people total), and part of the city of West Allis (about 28,000 people). To learn which assembly district you are in you can use the “Find My Legislator” map on the legislature’s website! To the people of Milwaukee and Brookfield I have represented for 4 years, it has been an honor, and we will miss you! And to our new district, I look forward to working with you! Forward together.
The Boy and Girl Scout Troops Of Wauwatosa Saved the Gorge!
I had SO MUCH FUN visiting these Wauwatosa Girl and Boy Scouts! I stopped by to cheer on the Scouts for their hard work to Save The Gorge!
First they went and learned about the gorge on-site, then they built awareness and developed a campaign to do so. Boy Scouts joined in. A public hike took place. They created social media. They fundraised. AND THEY SAVED THE GORGE!
When we think about what happens in Madison sometimes we can feel powerless or young or small or unable to create the change we want to see, but what these kids showed is that they could study a problem, devise a strategy, work hard, capture the imagination of their neighbors and being people into the vision, and see their hopes realized. They played a role in saving the Gorge!
Kids are constituents and kids are awesome. WAY TO GO, SCOUTS!!!
Rep. Vining Fights for Reproductive Rights
On October 4th, the Wisconsin State Assembly was called to a Special Session by Governor Evers to allow the people of Wisconsin to put referenda on the ballot. This would have allowed important topics close to the hearts of voters to be on ballots including fair maps, universal background checks, legalizing cannabis, medicaid expansion, and restoring comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare. Republicans in the Assembly gaveled in and out of the special session (again!) without taking action to give Wisconsinites a voice.
In Wisconsin, a state where an inscription in the governor’s conference room says, ‘The Will of the People is the Law of the Land’, Republicans have refused to allow Wisconsinites their voice– on medicaid expansion, marijuana legalization, fair maps, and this archaic and dangerous ban, Wisconsinites are silenced by a gerrymandered Republican majority that refuses to show up to work.
Following the November election results, on Tuesday, November 15th, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos was interviewed by WSAU and commented on his interest in a potential amendment to the 1849 Criminal Abortion Ban in Wisconsin, seeking to require police reports for victims to prove that their pregnancies resulted from rape or incest. I quickly rejected this proposal.
Read my press release in response to Speaker Vos’s commentsHERE.
Milwaukee Delegation Outings
Last month, the MKE delegation toured MMSD on Jones Island, and learned all about how Milorganite is processed.
Milwaukee Delegation at Hunger Task Force last month! Dignity, justice, compassion, stewardship.
Main Street Business Tour
On October 13th, DOA Secretary-designee* Kathy Blumenfeld and I enjoyed a main street business tour in Wauwatosa as part of a series of statewide visits to highlight the impact of Gov. Tony Evers' investments in communities across Wisconsin. Thank you to Mayor McBride for joining us!
We visited East Tosa’s new spot Delicious Bites, located at
6538 W North Avenue. I’m SO excited for their upcoming grand opening!!!
We also visited East Tosa’s own MyPT at Tosa Yoga Center at 6734 W North Avenue, talked about her brilliant physical therapy practice, and how its flourished in serving the community during the pandemic. She talks about how many of us have “my doctor”, “my dentist”, and you can also need “My PT”!
It was a great space and a wonderful visit!
Beyond Vision’s Opening of the VisABILITY Center in West Allis
On October 21st, Senator Latonya Johnson and I attended the ribbon cutting and opening of the new Beyond Vision building in West Allis! Very exciting new space!!!
State-Tribal Relations November Hearing Re-Cap
On November 2nd, our State-Tribal Relations study committee met to continue to discuss legislation that could be put forward for a vote next session (starting in January 2023). Study committees work in the even years to develop nonpartisan legislation for the next session.
Earlier this month, we discussed proposed legislation covering protections related to wearing tribal regalia at high school graduation ceremonies, Indigenous People’s Day, and more. I’ve summarized the bills we discussed below.
2021 LRB-6467/1:Relating to the membership of the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB), a part-time independent policy-making board that administers a number of state student aid programs. This legislation would add alternating appointees consisting of one member of the governing body of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa College, followed by one member from the College of Menominee Nation for the next term. The committee passed this bill for drafting unanimously!
2023 LRB-0014/1: Relating to requiring school districts to report information related to American Indian children attending school in the school district. This legislation expands the requirements of the report which applies to public schools. Each school district required to report the following for American Indian children attending the schools of the school district. This bill also passed the committee unanimously.
2023 LRB-0393/P1: Relating to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This legislation would create a special observance day named Indigenous Peoples' Day. Under the bill, this special observance day occurs on the second Monday of each October without replacing Columbus Day. Our committee hopes to vote on this bill at our next meeting.
2023 LRB-0012/P2: Relating to pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event. This proposed legislation defines tribal regalia and seeks to prohibit school boards and charter schools from prohibiting a pupil who is a member of, a descendent of a member of, or eligible to be enrolled in, a federally recognized, whether currently or in the past, American Indian tribe or band from wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
2023 LRB-0013/P1: Relating to authorization for tribal governments to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use. Legislation adds tribal governments and employees of tribal governments to list of entities exempt from penalties that would otherwise apply for copying a certified copy of a vital record if the copy is for use by the authorized entity and the copy is marked for administrative
The Holiday Tree in the Capitol Building is Here!
When I went to Madison for caucus leadership elections, the tree had just arrived. This week the decorating began!
I was designated a WAFP Friend of Family Medicine!
I am proud to have been designated as a Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) Friend of Family Medicine for my work in promoting effective healthcare policy this legislative session! The WAFP continues to promote excellence in healthcare through the advancement of the art and science of Family Medicine, the specialty of Family Medicine, and the professional growth of Family Physicians.
As a member of the Assembly Committee on Health and the Ranking Democrat on the Assembly Committee on Mental Health, I care deeply about improving access to healthcare in Wisconsin and across the United States.
I will always advocate for the health of Wisconsinites!
NAMI Walk for Mental Health
I was honored to be out to speak briefly and join the NAMI Walk for mental health. Mental Healthcare is Healthcare!
Thanks to Supervisor Shawn Rolland for the Photo!
October 2nd-8th was Mental Illness Awareness week, and Monday, October 10th was World Mental Health Day. I was honored to join the NAMI walk at Hoyt Park in Wauwatosa in observance.
As the ranking Democrat on the Committee on Mental Health, I have and will continue to work to prioritize mental health services for all Wisconsinites. Mental Healthcare is Healthcare, and everyone deserves access to quality, affordable mental healthcare.
Governor Evers Work on Mental Health Policy
Governor Evers has continually demonstrated that he is dedicated to supporting Wisconsinites by addressing the importance of access to mental and behavioral health resources. Mental health care is healthcare! All individuals across Wisconsin deserve access to quality mental health resources– Thank you, Governor Evers, for fighting for this time and time again!
Since March, Governor Evers has continued to invest in grant programs to expand access to quality healthcare across our state. You can learn more about his most recent grant program investment to address the shortage of mental health providers and the mental health needs of Wisconsin’s youthHERE.
Governor Evers and DWD announce $15 million for Department of Labor
On October 26th, Governor Evers and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that the State of Wisconsin received a grant of $15 million from the U.S. Department of Labor. These funds are allocated to the DWD to support current and future child care workers.
This grant will help Wisconsinites find meaningful and sustainable careers in childcare and early childhood education, improve childhood outcomes in schools, support professional development of childcare providers, and build relationships between workers and employers in the field.
We must continue to fight to provide every Wisconsinite with affordable access to quality childcare.
I applaud Governor Evers and the DWD for supporting child care and education workers and their families! See the full press releaseHERE.
Governor Evers and DHS direct $16 million to improve maternal and child health
In October (October 19th), the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that Governor Evers is directing $16 million in grants to improve maternal and child health.
The initiative provides funding to administer a grant program to fund maternal and child health equity programs to combat maternal and infant mortality at the community level to strengthen health outcomes of Wisconsin families. This is especially important as Black women and infants in Wisconsin face some of the worst racial disparities in infant and maternal healthcare in the nation.
I applaud Governor Evers for his continued commitment to protecting the health of Wisconsin mothers, children, and families!
Wauwatosa Veterans Memorial Event - Veterans Day 2022
For the past two years, the Wauwatosa Veterans Memorial Committee has been planning, coordinating, and fundraising to establish a permanent memorial in Wauwatosa's Hart Park to honor all veterans.
On Veteran’s Day, there was an unveiling of a sign to mark this memorial’s future home in Hart Park.
With the memorial groundbreaking planned for Memorial Day 2023, this is an exciting opportunity to support the important work of the Wauwatosa Veterans Memorial Committee!
Governor Evers and the Department of Natural Resources Improving Access to Clean Water
In October, during the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Governor Evers and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) committed to improve Wisconsinites' access to clean water.
The DNR is launching the PFAS Interactive Data Viewer which Wisconsinites can use to learn about PFAS contamination around the state. This announcement also marks the beginning of a state-wide program to collect and dispose of at least 25,000 gallons of PFAS-containing firefighting foam waste from fire departments. Fire departments around the state are able to participate in this collection and disposal program– this includes our very own Wauwatosa Fire Department!
Clean water is a human right, perhaps one that we may take for granted. Governor Evers has committed to upholding this human right for Wisconsinites everywhere. Thank you Governor Evers!
See the governor’s press release for more information on this updated technology and funding HERE.
Governor Evers Invests an Additional $20 Million for Public Safety in Milwaukee County
On September 22nd, Governor Evers announced that he will be investing an additional $20 million into public safety in Milwaukee County. This funding will provide a grant to Milwaukee County for the construction of the Center for Forensic Science and Protective Medicine, which will house the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office and the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management. This new office will be housed in Assembly District 14.
Since October 2021, Gov. Evers has invested more than $100 million in violence prevention and community safety statewide, including:
$45 millionfor violence prevention efforts and support for crime victims, including more than $8 million for the city of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) and $17 million for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Violence Prevention Project
$50 million for local and tribal law enforcement agencies, as well as to help alleviate the pandemic-related backlog of criminal cases through additional public defender and assistant district attorney support
$5.5 million for the State Public Defender Initiative to establish ‘roving teams’ that can provide assistance where it is needed most
$2.2 million to help the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) take immediate steps to address crime and violence
$1 millionfor summer youth programming and job training opportunities to ensure youth are meaningfully engaged, making connections with mentors, and positively contributing to their communities
To echo Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, “Thank you to Governor Evers’ Administration for making an important investment in the Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Center…. It will enhance public safety, save lives, and allow for more efficient and cost-effective responses to emergency situations.”
Thank you Governor Evers for your investment in our community!
National Diabetes Month
November 14th is recognized as World Diabetes Day and November is recognized as National Diabetes Month. Diabetes impacts over 37 million Americans, and many of them struggle to afford the skyrocketing price of insulin. In the 2021-2022 session, I authored the Diabetes Medication Pilot Project Bill, a part of the Less for RX Bill Package which addressed the high prescription drug costs in Wisconsin. Additionally, I co-sponsored numerous Assembly Bills (AB 557, AB 552, and AB 551) that target reducing or capping the price of insulin.
I will continue to fight and advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare for all Wisconsinites!
National Family Caregivers Month
November is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month which celebrates and honors the work of family caregivers. Acknowledging National Family Caregivers Month allows us to raise awareness, educate ourselves and others, and increase support for family caregivers. In February, I introduced a bill (AB 1013) that would provide family caregivers tax credits which was also supported in the governor’s proposed budget. I will continue to fight for family caregivers to receive the attention, support, and financial assistance they need.
Caucus Elections for Wisconsin Assembly Democrats
On November 17th, the Wisconsin Assembly Democrats convened to elect members of the caucus for various leadership positions. Each candidate running for reelection was reelected. Our caucus is fired up and ready to fight for the people in the upcoming 2023-2024 legislative session.
