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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. 

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

Please contact my office with any questions or concerns.

Forward together,

Robyn Vining   


Session Update - Redistricting

Yesterday, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted on the Republican proposed legislative and congressional maps, Senate Bills 621 and 622. I took all of your correspondence with me to the floor to speak on behalf of the residents in the 14th district.

The vote passed on party lines, with all Democratic legislators voting against and all Republican legislators voting in favor. Since these bills already passed the State Senate, they now head to Governor Evers to either veto or sign - he has stated he will veto these bills. 

The maps that Republican legislators put before us yesterday are an even worse gerrymander than the maps they drew ten years ago. They drew these maps in order to bake in their majority and maintain their power for years to come.  

When you gerrymander the maps, politicians are less accountable to work together, to find common ground, to create solutions, to show up to work for 300 days during a pandemic. When you gerrymander the maps, the politicians keep their jobs, but the people lose their voice.  

See my full press release on yesterday’s vote HERE.

We will be sharing the video of my floor speech next week - stay tuned! An abbreviated version of my speech is below. 

“This is not a game”

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, on this my 45th birthday, to speak about the redistricting bill before us. 

When you gerrymander the maps, politicians are less accountable to work together, to find common ground, to create solutions, to show up to work for 300 days during a pandemic. 

When you gerrymander the maps, the politicians keep their jobs, but the people lose their voice. 

And so here I am on my 45th birthday with the opportunity to set the example for people like me on my 35th birthday, and my 40th: politicians who make decisions not out of self-ambition, or self-interest, but FOR THE PEOPLE. 

I want to end by talking about one reason I think these gerrymandered maps are so disappointing, and it has to do with what I’ve learned since I first began to serve in office nearly 3 years ago. This is not a game. 

I’ve learned from phone calls with mothers of 4 facing eviction that this is not a game. 

I’ve learned from someone standing on the front porch that facing a choice between staying in a dangerous home or no healthcare for preexisting conditions is not a game. 

I’ve learned from the woman who barely made it to the door to talk but then shared how they’re barely, and I mean BARELY, able to afford her cancer care, this is not a game. 

For the families who desperately attempted to juggle jobs and virtual schooling and anxiety and depression and rent or a mortgage and carrying their kids through a pandemic while the legislature refused to even show up to work, this is not a game. 

This isn’t a game, it’s personal. It was personal when you cut funding to the public schools. That hurt my family. And every example I cited was something that has been cited to me by someone in my district. It’s personal. Voting is personal. 

Our constituents walk into a voting booth and pick up a pen and they trust us – they TRUST us – to come here and do what’s best for them. It’s not a game to them. It’s personal. And it’s rooted in trust. I think that matters. 

We stand here today with a very serious charge. What we have before us today will silence the voices of Wisconsinites for a decade. Policies the people need passed will remain stalled. Politicians will be insulated from accountability. 

And so here I am today, on my 45th birthday, looking back at where I’ve been, and where I stand today. Today I vote on behalf of nearly 60,000 people, as the representative to the 14th assembly district. 

A lot has changed in the last ten years for me, and I’m very aware that as we look at the next decade for Wisconsin, this vote I take must be FOR THE PEOPLE.  

We derive our power from the consent of the governed. Wisconsin wants fair maps, but what we have before us is a massive partisan power grab that will ensure the will of the people is NOT the law of the land. 

I stand today with the people of Wisconsin: the vote is no. 

While, in this map, Assembly District 14 is estimated 59% Democratic, it is gerrymandered for Republican gain. The GOP cracked Wauwatosa, a city of 48,000 people, into 4 state assembly reps, 3 state senators. This is done to increase GOP seats in the assembly and the senate, aiming at a supermajority for the GOP in both houses, but also to specifically eliminate democratic representation in AD13, and bump the numbers just enough for the GOP to win Senate district 5, even though Biden won it handily.

Wauwatosa:
Assembly
o District 12: 1,757 residents
o District 13: 5,097 residents
o District 14: 31,105 residents
o District 18: 10,428 residents

Senate
o District 4: 1,757 residents
o District 5: 36,202 residents
o District 6: 10,428 residents

West Allis:
Assembly
o District 7: 17,007 residents
o District 14: 28,504 residents
o District 15: 14,814 residents

Senate
o District 3: 17,007 residents
o District 5: 43,318 residents

See the Princeton Gerrymandering Project’s review of the GOP maps HERE.

At the Capitol earlier this week, Reps. Moore Omokunde, Haywood, (photo by Rep. McGuire), and I declare FAIR MAPS NOW!


Mental Health Committee Update

It’s Friday and mental healthcare is healthcare. 

Warm weekend wishes from myself and my colleagues and co-authors of the Mental Healthcare is Healthcare legislative package currently out for co-sponsorship (call your reps and senators to sign on!), Reps. Dave Considine, Jonathan Brostoff, Supreme Moore Omokunde.

On Tuesday, the Assembly Mental Health Committee met to hear testimony on Assembly Bill 600. Authors of this bill claim they’re centering the needs of students by allowing them to switch schools based on Covid-19 protocols. In reality, this bill creates an opportunity for private schools to benefit from public dollars from transfers of public school students. 13 groups registered against this bill and only one in favor. The Department of Public Instruction shared many concerns with this bill. 

Instead of prioritizing adequate mental healthcare for kids in school, college students struggling with burnout and mental health issues, or veterans seeking assistance during these difficult times, GOP members are pushing through a bill that siphons public dollars away from our schools and actively sows doubt about public health protocols. 

Democratic members of the committee voted against this bill. 


Universal Changing Stations Bill

I’m so happy to see our Universal Changing Stations bill receiving so much attention! Sarah is an inspiring Brookfield mom and she has worked hard for years to get the legislature’s attention on this very important issue. Watch her tell her story here! And another thanks to my legislative partners Senator Melissa Agard, Rep. Jimmy Anderson and Rep. Jonathan Brostoff!


Office of Children's Mental Health Focuses on Supporting Parents Under Stress

The Office of Children’s Mental Health Director Linda Hall announced the publication of a new fact sheet, Supporting Parents Under Stress, and what our communities, schools and providers can do to make a difference.

Parents’ stress levels are one of the main predictors of a child’s stress, well-being, and behavior.  The COVID-19 pandemic and related disruption have placed enormous stress on families. Supporting parents is one of the most effective ways to support children’s mental health.

During the Pandemic:

  • More than half of mothers of young children (51%) reported frequent or constant loneliness.
  • Virtual school, childcare closures or disruptions, and ongoing student quarantines all present challenges to working parents. Nationally, families of color have taken the biggest hit to their jobs and incomes. Parents who are facing economic or health problems face particularly high levels of stress.
  • Focus groups with Wisconsin parents highlighted the stress of meeting basic needs, accessing mental health and addiction support, and finding spaces where their kids can be safe, included and connected—especially for rural families and families of color.

What We Can Do

Parents

  • Realize that you are not alone.
  • Ask for help if you need it: Call 211 or the Family Resource Centers for help meeting your family’s basic needs like housing, food, and health care.
  • Get help with your kids’ mental health or behavior problems by asking your pediatrician or a school counselor.
  • Take care of yourself: exercise (even a few minutes), listen to music or consult the OCMH Feelings Thermometer for more ideas.

Communities

  • Embrace parenting networks like the Parenting Network Parent Helpline.
  • Support intergenerational spaces and initiatives where older adults can connect with kids or advise and support younger parents.

Employers

  • Provide employees with flexibility to meet their caretaking obligations.
  • Disseminate information about resources for parents.

Policymakers

  • Support family leave policies.
  • Provide adequate funding and support for childcare, especially in parts of the state with the greatest need.

See the full Fact Sheet HERE.


Veterans Day

Yesterday, on Veterans Day, we honor those who served our country. Serving our country takes bravery and courage, no matter the era, and the past year has been no exception. I look forward to continuing our work to better serve service members and their loved ones, when deployed and when they return home.

I personally honor the service of the veterans in my own family: my father, Air Force & Air Force Reserve, paternal grandfather, Air Force chaplain, and maternal grandfather, Army doctor.


Brookfield First Responder Recognized in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

I was honored to recognize Brookfield Fire Chief David Mason as the First Responder of the Year for the 14th Assembly District on October 26th in recognition of his dedication and service to our community. Even having just taken over the role of Fire Chief in June 2021, he has already made a lasting impact in Brookfield. We were proud to have him in the Capitol two weeks ago!

See the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Article HERE.

See my full press release HERE.


Yesterday was also my 45th birthday, so I brought Fair Maps cookies because all I want for my birthday is Fair Maps!


COVID-19 Vaccine Update

As of November 5th, 6,530,794 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wisconsin and 58.1% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose, with 55.1% fully vaccinated. 

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. The Delta variant spreads more easily and can cause more severe illness. Find more information of COVID-19 variants HERE.

As of November 3rd, the Pfizer Biontech pediatric vaccine has been approved for children ages 5-11. This gives us another tool to protect kids and their teachers, caretakers, and peers from Covid-19. See last week’s DHS press release 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, visit the DHS website HERE.

For more information about where to get vaccinated in Waukesha County, visit their website HERE.

For more information about where to get vaccinated in the city of Wauwatosa, visit their website HERE.

For more information about where to get vaccinated in the city of Milwaukee, visit their website HERE. En español AQUI


COVID-19 Case Update

For daily updated information on COVID-19 in Wisconsin, visit the DHS website HERE.

14th District Counties

Milwaukee -  140,918 confirmed cases (increase of 348*)
Waukesha - 57,941 confirmed cases (increase of 325*)

*Changes over day prior


 

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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