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!  

Nominate "First Responder of the Year"! 

Is there a first responder in your life you'd like to nominate for "First Responder of the Year"?

Fill out THIS FORM to nominate a first responder in your city or county for consideration as the First Responder of the Year for the 14th Assembly district (Wauwatosa-Brookfield-Milwaukee).

First responders include police and sheriff officers, fire fighters, and EMS personnel (paramedics, EMTs, volunteer first responders).

You can nominate someone for a variety of reasons including a specific heroic action, a significant professional achievement, their body of work over time, or their length of service. The winner will be invited to Madison in October to participate in a Hometown Hero ceremony.

Nominations are due by mail or email by September 6th!

Meeting with Attorney General Kaul

I was honored to spend some time with the Wisconsin Attorney General on Wednesday. We discussed the Universal Background Check bill (LRB-3949) just released for co-sponsorship (thank you, Rep. Melissa Sargent!), the upcoming ERPO legislation (Extreme Risk Protection Orders), Safe Harbor (Assembly Bill 41: decriminalization of the “prostitution” of children— thank you, Rep. Jill Billings!), and the Rape Kit bill (Assembly Bill 214: Thank you, Rep. Sargent!) we have right now with bipartisan support and we are hoping Speaker Vos and Leader Fitzgerald will give it a committee hearing and put it on the floor for a vote.

These are all public safety bills, have bipartisan support in the public, and I’m grateful we have Attorney General Josh Kaul, and legislators who take public safety and the movement toward more safety for women and children seriously, working to move Wisconsin forward.

Gun Violence Prevention

Sources: Giffords Law Center & Marquette University Law Poll

First of all, I do. I support universal background checks. I’m a Wisconsin legislator fighting for universal background checks. The bill was introduced last week and is supported by Governor Evers, Lt. Governor Barnes, Attorney General Kaul, police, and the entire Democratic caucus in both the Senate and Assembly- I appreciate the leadership of Rep. Melissa Sargent and Sen. LaTonya Johnson on this issue. Watch their full press conference here.  

Source: Everytown 

This bill is written in a way that protects the 2nd amendment- just like the hundreds of thousands of regular background checks currently processed in Wisconsin in each year. The time has come to close the loophole. I said I’d fight for this, and I’m here fighting for it. Let’s reach across the aisle and get this passed! Wisconsin deserves safer communities! Universal background checks NOW! 

I will be meeting with my fellow legislators and the Wauwatosa School District, at the school district's request, to address school safety and gun safety concerns in the beginning of September. I look forward to a productive and comprehensive discussion on how to keep our students, teachers, and faculty safe, and similar conversations with other school districts and local officials throughout the 14th District. 

To read my full statement on gun violence prevention, click here.

Cap Times article: "A new legislator is ready to tackle gun violence"  

 Moms Demand Action Meeting

We expected to have a small monthly meeting of Moms Demand  Action in Wauwatosa. I was set to speak on the common sense reform laws currently proposed in Wisconsin, but in the wake of the devastation in El Paso, Dayton, and Gilroy, the meeting ballooned into nearly taking over the cozy wine bar.

Thank you for your emails and phone calls, we are reading your words, and working to respond with action. I support universal background checks, and am hopeful we will see the ERPO legislation land on our desks soon— the goal has been to get it “just right” so that due-process is protected (the Colorado model).

We see your pain, we hear you, and we are at work. Keep sending along your concerns and your stories— I’m listening. And students, that includes you. I realize you can’t vote, but that you are concerned. I’m listening to you, too. Please know you are heard if you contact my office.

Finally, if you have any questions about these laws, especially related to due process protections, please feel free to send them along. We realize there is an effort to flood the dialogue with false information, and we are willing to answer your questions. As always, when you contact us, you're not speaking into a vacuum. We do read and respond to all that is sent our way. 

Black Women's Equal Pay Day

Yesterday was Black Women's Equal Pay Day -- what does that mean? 

Graphic Courtesy of Sen. LaTonya Johnson

For more information about Black Women's Equal Pay Day, visit this website.  

Intern & Fellow Spotlight

This past spring and summer, we've had 3 amazing students as interns and fellows in our Madison office. We're sad to see them go, but we know that they're off to do great things with their academic and professional careers! Thanks for all your help! 

Alyssa, a proud Brookfield East High School alum from Elm Grove, has been an intern for Representative Vining since January, and she is sad to go! She will be starting her 3rd year at UW-Madison in the fall, double majoring in Sociology and Spanish, with certificates in Public Policy and Criminal Justice. In addition to her classes, she will be interning at the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and assisting with research for a professor working in criminal justice, as well as working on her applications for law school. Although she is moving on from the State Assembly, she will miss the many laughs she has had in the office, celebrating successes in the state, and talking with constituents. She is so grateful for the opportunity to develop her communication and professional skills, and has learned an immeasurable amount about the legislative process and state politics, which she will definitely bring into her future schooling and career. 

Ben, a Virginian by birth and Wisconsinite by choice, has been an intern for Representative Vining since May. Even though it was a short amount of time, he is sad to leave his role in the office. He will be starting his Junior year at UW-Madison this fall where he is majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science, along with pursuing certificates in African Studies and Public Policy. Outside of the classroom, he will continue his internship at the Sierra Club-John Muir Chapter and his volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity before he heads off to Kenya for a study abroad opportunity in the spring. As his time comes to an end in the Vining office, he will miss his conversations with co-workers, responding to constituent contacts, and performing work that improves others' lives. He is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to give back to the state of Wisconsin, broaden his professional skill set, and understand the legislative process at the state level through hands-on experience. This summer experience is one he will take with him for the rest of his personal and professional life.

Elena is from Beloit, Wisconsin and graduated from Beloit Turner Highschool in 2018. From June to August, Elena worked as a Legislative Fellow in Representative Vining’s office. She is extremely sad to be leaving the Vining office, but will forever be grateful for the experience and for the great friends she has made along this journey. Elena loved this opportunity to pursue her interests in politics and to acquire a deeper sense of knowledge about political processes. Elena is going into her second year at UW-Madison, studying Community and Environmental Sociology and Political Science with a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies. In addition to her studies, Elena works for the Campus and Visitor Relations department on campus, is the Membership and Outreach Director for the UW-Madison College Democrats, serves on the Campus Climate and Diversity shared governance board in the Associate Students of Madison, and serves on the #IAmUW implementation board. Elena loves being a part of movements that create inclusive and safe spaces for all students on campus and hopes to continue to apply that passion to the world. 

 House of Corrections Visit & Brookfield Doors 

Last week included a Milwaukee County House of Correction Visit and Inspection (an annual tour hosted by the HOC with invitations extended to Milwaukee County elected officials and other county officials), and then doors in Brookfield! We love our high school in-district intern, Dorie— She’s been with us all summer attending events, doing research, writing a policy memos on human trafficking and adoption, and knocking doors. 

 Assembly Democrats Podcast

Did you know that we have a podcast? Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, or Apple Podcasts! The 5th episode is available now!

They're short, sweet, and keep you up to date on the basic happenings in the Capitol. And, if you ever wondered which State Representatives have a surprising affinity for Taylor Swift, well, now you know! 

 Adoption Task Force

Our next task force hearings will be in Richland Center, and the last one will wrap up in Madison in September (the last meeting in Madison will not include public testimony, but will discuss the legislative solutions that will be introduced by the task force).

Adoption Task Force Public Hearing - Richland Center
Wednesday, August 28th, 12PM
UW-Platteville, Richland Center 
1200 US-14, Richland Center, WI 53581 

Looking Forward

In District Office Hours - Wauwatosa 
Friday, August 3oth @ 12pm
Rocket Baby Bakery 
6822 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213

Contact us for a time slot!

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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