Legislative Update
This week the Assembly met twice. On Tuesday the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 1 with additional Assembly Republican amendments including provisions that had been removed from the version of the bill that had passed the Wisconsin State Senate with bipartisan support earlier this month.
Read my full statement on the passage of amended AB 1 HERE.
On Thursday, we were scheduled to vote on Senate Joint Resolution 3 to repeal Governor Evers’ public health emergency order and the statewide mandatory mask emergency order. No vote was called on the resolution, though it is likely we will be called back into session next week to vote on this.
As our communities continue to face COVID-19, with more transmissible variants in the state, the mask mandate is an essential tool to keep us safe. As of writing this e-update, 53 organizations registered against overturning the mask mandate, and zero registered in favor.
I will vote against this resolution if it is brought before the State Assembly. As your State Representative, I promise to continue to advocate for legislation that supports your health and safety.
Main Street Recovery Package
This week, my Democratic colleagues and I introduced the Main Street Recovery Package, legislation to provide tax relief to small businesses and working families.
The first bill exempts the money small businesses received from pandemic-related grant programs from the federal CARES Act, such as the We’re All In program, from taxable income.
The second bill would allow individuals to claim their 2019 earned income for 2020 for the purpose of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which would put our state in line with the new federal Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Read my full statement HERE.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Individuals aged 65 and up became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this week. In addition, the Department of Health Services announced who will be included in Phase 1B of the Wisconsin COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Phase 1B will likely start on March 1st and will include education and child care professionals, individuals enrolled in Medicaid Long-Term Care programs, public facing essential workers, non-frontline health care workers, and individuals living in congregate settings. For more information, visit the DHS COVID-19 vaccine webpage HERE.
Waukesha County recently added vaccination data to the county website. See the vaccination data HERE, under the vaccination tab at the bottom of the page. They will update the data every Wednesday.
Wauwatosa COVID-19 vaccine information can be found HERE.
Milwaukee COVID-19 vaccinate information can be found HERE.
February is Black History Month
On Monday at noon, the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus (WLBC) will be hosting its first virtual Black History Month Kickoff on Facebook Live! There will be a great group of people present including Chairwoman of the WLBC Rep. Sheila Stubbs, fellow members of WLBC, Governor Evers, Lt. Governor Barnes and more! Watch live HERE.
More virtual events will be available throughout the month from the Legislative Black Caucus - stay tuned!
Waukesha County COVID-19 Contact Tracing Update
Waukesha County recently created a new digital contact tracing tool that will streamline and enhance their ability to track the spread of COVID-19. On February 1st, Waukesha County will start texting residents between the ages of 23 and 59 to alert them if they have tested positive for COVID-19. The text will include a link to a confidential contact tracing form as well as information about quarantining. Individuals outside of this age group who test positive for COVID-19 will continue to get follow-up phone calls from disease investigators.
For more information, read the full announcement from Waukesha County HERE.
COVID-19 Update
In recent weeks, new daily COVID-19 cases have decreased. To continue this trend, we must continue to follow public health guidance by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing our hands, and staying at home whenever possible.
For daily updated information on COVID-19 in Wisconsin, visit the DHS website HERE.
Statewide
539,915 confirmed cases (increase of 1,567)
22.6% of total tests are positive, by person (for 1/29/2021)
24,154 hospitalizations (4.5% of cases- increase of 91)
513,809 recovered cases (95.2% of all cases)
2,498,517 negative test results (increase of 5,373)
5,860 devastating deaths (increase of 49)
0 patients at Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park
14th District Counties
Milwaukee - 94,496 confirmed cases
Waukesha - 38,897 confirmed cases
*Changes over day prior