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Forward Fridays

Hello!

Welcome to my latest e-update! Here are highlights from the past week as your State Representative. 

As always, feel free to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns you have.

Forward together!      


This Week

Legislation

Epi Access Bill Explained.png

On Thursday, I introduced the "Epi Access" bill!

Wisconsinites want their healthcare to be high quality, affordable, and accessible. This is true for all aspects of the healthcare system, including prescription medications.

For people that suffer from severe allergies, access to epinephrine is not a choice — it is a life or death situation. When access to epinephrine is limited by high costs, families are left to choose between their life-saving medication and other everyday needs.

The first part of the bill directs the Department of Health Services to use general purpose revenue (GPR) to stock every ambulance in Wisconsin with epinephrine auto-injectors, because not every ambulance can stock them due to cost. The second part of this bill allows pharmacists to substitute a less costly epinephrine product for patients, unless a prescriber indicates otherwise. 

Read my full statement here

 

Session & Special Session 

Gov Ed Special Session (1).pngGovernor Evers announced last week his plan for an Education Special Session that would use the state surplus to make critical investments in school districts across the state while providing $130 million in property tax relief, including around $10 million for school districts (Elmbrook, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee) in the 14th Assembly District.

The special session was set to occur to vote on this proposal on Tuesday, during regular session of the Assembly, but was gaveled in and gaveled out late Tuesday night (around 9pm).

Committees

We had our potentially last Health Committee public hearing and executive session of the year yesterday. We voted on legislation related to pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), physicians assistants, and prompt pay discounts. 

Community Events

State of the City MKE 2-10-2020.jpgI attended the State of the City address for Milwaukee on Monday morning. A myriad of topics covered including exciting tourism news, lead abatement progress, small business growth, the DNC, conversation about the proposed Fair Deal for Milwaukee legislation, uptick in reckless driving, reduction in all major violent crime categories and thanks to Police + “Blueprint for Peace” + community partners (churches, nonprofits, etc) for that, and also— and I believe this is important, a lot of talk about Milwaukee’s children.

When we look at long-term planning for Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and Wisconsin, we need to look at the lives of our state’s children. So we talk about child care, preschool, library programs, the public health crisis of violence, lead abatement, clean water, jobs and transportation. This is important for both fiscal and human issues— that’s why budgets are both fiscal and moral documents. And so as we look at the path forward for Wisconsin, we need to do more of what the Mayor did this morning: what is the impact of the state of our city on our city’s children? There are a lot of ways to fight for or families, and this is one of them: make sure your state of the city address addresses the lives of the children. Let’s keep the conversation going.

MCW Addiction Presentation Luncheon 2-20-2020.jpgAnother great educational Medical College of Wisconsin luncheon on Monday (you know I like my sandwich with a slideshow!). Chris Olsen, PhD, presented a talk entitled “Addiction: A Disease of the Brain and the Mind”. Followed was a community conversation about addiction and the criminal justice system. Present were judges, DAs, public defenders, private attorneys, social workers, doctors, scientists, therapists, myself as a legislator, etc. The next luncheon will tackle stress, as that has been a key factor in both today’s addiction seminar, and December’s trauma seminar.

Tosa All City Read 2020 Vision Event 2-10-2020.jpgOn Monday night, one of our high school delegation interns attended a Tosa All-City Read event called "2020 Vision: Making Wauwatosa a More Inclusive Community." Here are his takeaways from the event:

"The focus of the meeting was how to make Wauwatosa a more inclusive community. Health officials discussed how health equity, the guarantee of equal health care to all races and the LGBTQ+ community, was an important aspect of an inclusive society. One speaker mentioned that people of color have a higher chance of being diagnosed with asthma and heart disease. Health equity has been an ongoing project but has recently become a more prevalent issue in Wauwatosa. Another speaker talked about discrimination in Wauwatosa’s school districts. Thirty percent of Wauwatosa’s public school students are of color. African American students are disciplined at a much higher rate than their peers; this affects their academic achievement and ability to learn. Also, the percentage of students of color taking AP classes is significantly lower. Lastly, each speaker told a personal anecdote that highlighted the pervasiveness of unintentional and intentional racism in Wauwatosa." -Zach

Find all Tosa All-City Read events here.

Constituent & Advocate Meetings

WI Music Educators Association 2-12-2020.jpgThis week, my staff and I met with various advocacy groups and constituents about the different issues they care about. Pictured above are members of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, one is a music professor at UW-River Falls and the others founded and work for White House of Music in Wauwatosa and Waukesha. 

Other groups we met with include Occupational Therapy students, constituents on behalf of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Association, an architect from Wauwatosa on behalf of the American Institute of Architects, and pharmacists and pharmacy students on behalf of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin. 

Podcast

Meeting the Middle Podcast 2-14-2020.JPGToday, I recorded the inaugural podcast for "Meeting in Middle America" with my colleague Rep. Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) hosted by Brookfield-native Steven Olikara. It was a follow-up to our Red & Blue Dialogue event that was in Brookfield in the fall, and we discussed how we can raise the level of discourse and work across the aisle

MKE Lakefront 2-14-2020.JPGMy drive back from UW-Milwaukee, where we recorded the podcast, included the opportunity to stop briefly on this sunny 12 degree day and watch the waves hit the snowy sand. Let’s never lose sight that we are all in this together. 


 Next Week

Session 

The Wisconsin State Assembly will be in Session on Tuesday, February 18th at 1PM for regular session and the State of the Tribes. We will also be in Session on Thursday, February 20th (and potentially Wednesday, February 19th), times TBD. 

Watch live on Wisconsin Eye! wiseye.org/live  


Pre-Session Run 2-10-2020.jpgIt's become my tradition before a floor session to go on a run in the district. So this week, on Monday night around blue hour, I ran through Wauwatosa by moonlight after dusk — the moon kept the sky blue for a long time. Happy Friday - hope you all have a peaceful weekend!


 Looking Forward

The Next Town Hall

Topical Town Hall March Notice.png

Because February was suddenly determined to be the early end to the 2019-2020 session, we have experienced a significant uptick in committee hearings and floor session dates. This was required us to reschedule the February town hall.

Thank you for your understanding, and we will touch base in March with further information. 

In-District Office Hours 

We look forward to hosting more in-district office hours with constituents! Let us know if you want to schedule an appointment for our February office hours- date and location TBD. 

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Feel free to email or call my office with any questions or concerns, or meet with me at one of my in-district office hours or listening sessions. 

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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