Forward Fridays

Hello!

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

There is still time to contact me with your healthcare stories, education funding stories, transportation concerns, and all other opinions about the budget. The Joint Finance Committee has thrown out The People's Budget and introduced their own budget. The Republican budget will be on the floor the last week of June, and I will fight until the end for the 55,000 people I represent.

Feel free to reply directly to this email. I will take every contact I have received related to the budget onto the floor with me. Your voice will be heard that day. 

Forward together!  

 19th Amendment Ratification Centennial Celebration

Monday, June 10th, 2019 was the 100 year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in Wisconsin. Wisconsin was the FIRST state to ratify the amendment, giving many women, but not all, the right to vote. There was still work to be done before all women were able to vote freely.

Pictured below are women legislators from the State Senate and Assembly, State Supreme Court justices (currently 6 out of 7 are women), Wisconsin Historical Society Staff, First Lady Kathy Evers, Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and other members of the 19th Amendment Centennial Celebration Committee.

The women of the Wisconsin State Legislature made a video in celebration of this historic occasion. Click the link and find out who the first women in my family to vote were here! 

For more information about the centennial celebration and women's suffrage in Wisconsin, click here. 

 Wear Orange

It was an honor to stand with Lt. Governor Barnes, Sen. Chris Larson, Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention, community members, and advocates in support of "Wear Orange" for gun violence prevention and Gun Violence Awareness Day last week. In Milwaukee, violent crime rates are going down, with a 25% decrease in nonfatal violence and 25% decrease in homicides this year. 

Why we wear orange: just one week after performing at Obama's inauguration in 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was killed just blocks from her school. She was 15. Orange is the color her friends wore in her honor. It was then that orange became the color to symbolize the commitment to safer childhoods.

Read my full press release in support of gun violence prevention and "Wear Orange" here.  

 School Visits

Thanks for visiting the Capitol this week, Lincoln Elementary (Wauwatosa)!

It was fun to show you around the Assembly Chamber and talk to you about what I do as your State Representative!

Budget Update 

Capital budget: JFC voted Tuesday on Capital infrastructure funding in the budget with a result of $600 million less than the Governor’s proposed investment. Additionally, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program was only extended for two years, instead of the much desired ten year renewal. More information on the building projects here. 

Taxes: Republicans voted yesterday to cut taxes by an overall $321.5 million with the average taxpayer receiving a $77 decrease on their income tax. Governor Evers' budget proposal would have cut taxes by $833.6 million overall and the average taxpayer would have received a $216 decrease on their income tax. More on the tax cuts here. 

Pride Month 

For the first time in Wisconsin history, the rainbow flag flew at the state Capitol - it made national news. To the young people who have looked me in the eye and pleaded, ‘what will you do about how the LGBTQ+ community is treated?’ -  a very fair question - our governor proclaimed June 2019 as Pride Month across our state. We see you, and we love you. My colleagues in the legislature also introduced the Equality agenda, to support the LGBTQ+ community through anti-discrimination efforts and recognition. It has bipartisan support. 

 In the District

Court of Honor:

Congratulations, Russell Albee of Brookfield, for earning the rank of Eagle Scout! I'm proud of your achievements and excited for your future endeavors. It was an honor to present a commendation to you with Senator Kooyenga at your court of honor this past weekend. 

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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