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!  

Motherhood Month Resolution

On Wednesday, we passed a joint resolution in the Assembly and Senate declaring May 2019 “Wisconsin Motherhood Month”. It’s important to me to honor the hard work of mothers, foster care and respite care givers, and guardians. The word “mother” hadn’t been used in legislation on the floor of the Assembly in over a decade, so I wanted to change that. It’s also important to me to make a commitment alongside my colleagues, and our constituents, to face the devastating maternal mortality rates taking the lives of Wisconsin mothers, and work towards change.

After passing the resolution, I presented a plaque to Amy Dean, a survivor of HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia, and a woman who has made it her mission to fight for the lives of women across this state and nation. Amy and I have been working together for about 4 months now, alongside other wise and fierce women on this same mission. We can and will do better - we have to. Lives depend on it.   

Assembly Session Day

Pictured: Women of the Assembly Democratic Caucus

Also on Wednesday, two anti-trafficking bills passed through the Assembly:

Assembly Bill 22 - truck driver education instruction on human trafficking

Assembly Bill 143 - violations of the law relating to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy

I was a co-sponsor and co-author on the bills. Click the links for more information on both of these bills - they are now on their way to Committees in the Senate, and will hopefully pass through there soon!   

New Bills!

This week, I introduced two bills in the Assembly related to good government and transparency.

The Fair Maps bill (LRB-2062/1) creates a non-partisan legislative redistricting process. This process would result in more competitive elections in a greater number of districts by removing the process from partisan hands and placing the responsibility with a non-partisan redistricting commission. The people of Wisconsin have a constitutional right to fair representation. Voters should get to choose their politicians; politicians should not get to choose their voters.

The Transparency for Property Taxpayers bill (LRB-2897/1) provides full transparency to residents of Wisconsin about how their property tax dollars are spent. It would require property tax bills to include information from the school district where the property is located regarding the amount of any net reduction in state aid, if any, to the district as a result of students enrolled in voucher school programs. I believe every taxpayer deserves to know where our money goes.

Both these bills are in circulation for co-sponsorship, so ask your legislators to sign on! 

 Healthy Women, Health Babies Press Conference

The People’s Budget proposed by Governor Evers includes several initiatives to promote the health of women, babies, and families across Wisconsin. State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa), Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, and maternal and infant health advocates will host a press conference at the Wauwatosa Public Library, with the Wauwatosa Health Department, on Monday, May 20th at 1PM to talk about how important these initiatives are for the health and well-being of Wisconsinites. 

WHO:  State Representative Robyn Vining
Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes
Mayor of Wauwatosa Kathy Ehley 
Amy Dean, Maternal Health Advocate
Shonita Roach, Executive Director of
Shades of You, Shades of Me
Dr. Kathy Hartke, OB/GYN & Wisconsin Legislative
Co-Chair of ACOG

WHERE: Wauwatosa Public Library, Firefly Room
7635 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213

WHEN: Monday, May 20th at 1PM

Wauwatosa West High School Fab Lab Grant

Congratulations to Wauwatosa West High School on the WEDC grant for the new Fab Lab! I had the honor of delivering the proclamation from Governor Evers declaring Monday as Fab Lab Day across the state.

Forward Wisconsin Medicaid Expansion Meeting

We had a great turnout in Brookfield for a Strategy and Action Meeting on Monday with Forward Wisconsin. It doesn’t appear Wisconsin is going down without a fight for Medicaid expansion. You vote us down, we keep organizing. Medicaid expansion’s popularity gets more popular by the day, and there’s still time to save it. It’s time for the majority party to listen to the majority opinion. Sign the petition for Medicaid expansion here. 

If you couldn't make it to this meeting, but are still interested in helping fight for Medicaid expansion, there's a North Shore meeting with Forward Wisconsin on Monday! Details here. 

Lead Pipes - Wisconsin Deserves Clean Water

Last week, Republicans in the Joint Finance Committee erased the budget proposal to authorize $40 million in borrowing to help municipalities replace lead laterals, which are the pipes that connect homes to the water mains under city streets. Without this bonding, homeowners likely will not be able to afford replacing lead pipes on their own, putting their families in danger of lead poisoning.

I cannot believe we are turning our backs on children born into homes with lead in their water. It’s wrong and we should keep fighting to give these kids the futures they deserve.

Read my full statement here: Lead Press Release

 DOJ Press Conference

Yesterday, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the filing of a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma.

The lawsuit alleges misconduct in marketing and sales of opioids that contributed to Wisconsin's opioid epidemic. Five states, including Wisconsin, with bipartisan Attorneys General, filed suits today against Purdue. Those states are Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, and West Virginia. 

Read the full press release from DOJ here. 

Looking Forward

We will be hosting more in-district office hours this month, and are in search of a location! Contact my office with suggestions for a local small business (cafe, restaurant, etc.) where we could meet with constituents in the 14th district. 

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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