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As I left the Capitol on Wednesday night, I took a picture of the center dome from one of the side hallways. Wishing you each and all a wonderful evening and weekend. 

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Budget Vote Next Week

The Wisconsin State Assembly will be voting on the 2021-2023 Biennial State Budget next week on Tuesday at 1pm (the exact time is subject to change). 

Last week, the Joint Committee on Finance finished up their executive session votes on each state agency in the proposed state budget. The motions they passed will now be compiled into a substitute amendment to the budget bill - in the Assembly, that budget bill is Assembly Bill 68.

Important to keep an eye out for during the budget debate and vote:

EDUCATION

Governor Evers’ proposed 2021-2023 budget would have allocated over $1.5 billion in education spending, including expanding the per pupil aid by over $200. The dozens of other programs proposed in the Governor’s budget would have provided millions in aid to school districts across the state. This is an essential investment in our children’s future.

The motion that Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance passed on Thursday, May 27th provides less than 10% of the funding proposed by Governor Evers. These actions not only would hurt public schools but also puts $2.3 billion in federal funding in jeopardy. Republicans are relying on one-time, crisis-response federal funding to support schools, which is not a sustainable, long-term plan to properly fund our education system. Read my full statement HERE. 

On June 17th, the Joint Committee on Finance passed a motion on party lines (11-4) that brought the budget into compliance with Maintenance of Effort standards required by federal coronavirus relief laws over the past year to guarantee the state will receive billions in federal funding for K-12 and higher education. However, while money went to schools, the revenue limits were not increased, so schools cannot spend the money, and it will pass through the schools to reduce property taxes. It's the appearance of funding public schools. And while Speaker Vos said this "equates to an increase of $2,900 per student statewide," it's not actually an increase of $2,900 per student statewide. 

Additionally, the state is anticipated to receive $4.4 billion more in state tax revenue than expected over the next three years, the primary factor being the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This additional revenue means we can fund the priorities of Wisconsinites, such as K-12 education. I support using this revenue to fully fund schools and provide the resources that our kids need and deserve. 

And to meet the federal Maintenance of Efforts standards to qualify for federal funding, a certain percentage of state GPR must go to education -- so this means that the GOP will continue to refuse increasing funding to healthcare, broadband, transportation and local transit, and other critical programs so they can avoid having to increase funding to schools. 

And so, I will continue to argue for funding for our public schools. Because it’s what our kids, our communities, and our state deserves. 

Watch the budget session live on WisconsinEye HERE. 

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Session This Week

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted on 50 bills, including numerous bills that will effectively disenfranchise Wisconsin voters and hinder voter turnout in the state. These bills include:

• Assembly Bill 179 - absentee voting in certain residential care facilities and retirement homes and providing a penalty.
• Assembly Bill 198 - defects on absentee ballot certificates, certain kinds of election fraud, and providing a penalty.
• Assembly Bill 201 - absentee ballot applications, unsolicited mailing or transmission of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, canvassing absentee ballots, electronic voter registration, and providing a penalty.
• Assembly Bill 271 - broadcasting election night proceedings. 
• Senate Bill 203 - the secure delivery of absentee ballots and providing a penalty.
• Senate Bill 210 - election observers and providing a penalty.

I want to express my sincere appreciation of the hard work and dedication of our local and state election officials. Even through a global pandemic, they worked tirelessly to ensure that Wisconsinites could exercise their right to vote. 

On Wednesday, Assembly Republicans took action to pass these bills that undermine the hard work of these election officials, and essentially undermine our democracy. I voted against these bills, and Governor Evers has indicated he will veto them. 

My constituents, as well as disability advocates and advocates for older adults, business leaders, and faith leaders have made it clear that these voter suppression measures have no place in Wisconsin.

I will continue to advocate for election reform that ensures fair access to the polls and I will continue to defend Wisconsinites’ right to vote.

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 COVID-19 Vaccine Update

As of June 25th, 5,501,512 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wisconsin and 49.9% of Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose, with 45.8% fully vaccinated. 

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. 

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COVID-19 Case Update

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

14th District Counties

Milwaukee - 117,772 confirmed cases (increase of 12*)
Waukesha -  49,217 confirmed cases (increase of 7*)

*Changes over day prior

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