Governor Evers Signs Executive Order in Response to COVID-19

We all need to take this pandemic very seriously. I strongly encourage each of us to model proper, prudent behavior and take extra precaution to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The number of confirmed cases is growing and will likely continue to grow. There will be disruption in our lives, but those disruptions will be minor compared to the alternative of not responding appropriately. In addition to the recommendations below, I encourage you to practice "social distancing," to avoid, where possible, large gatherings or crowds where the virus may spread more easily.

I applaud the Governor for taking the health and safety of Wisconsinites seriously and declaring a State of Emergency. This is not a time for panic, but for preparation. I urge everyone to do their due diligence in order to prevent the spread of this COVID-19. It is essential that communities follow the recommendations made by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 

Governor Evers also urged Wisconsinites to monitor themselves and others for symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization also have information on COVID-19 available on their websites.

 I am confident that DHS will continue to use all of the necessary resources to respond and contain COVID-19. The swift action taken by Governor Evers will help keep the risk level low in Wisconsin. I understand that the recommended precautions will impact some groups more than others. I will be using my platform to share resources that can help reduce some of the unintended consequences the preventative measures may have on vulnerable populations.

Remembering those who lost their lives as a result of gun violence at Molson Coors Brewery
Milwaukeeans came together on Sunday, March 1^st in a powerful display of unity and resilience to remember the lives that were lost as a result of the shooting at Molson Coors brewery the previous week. The vigil brought together clergy, union officials, anti-violence groups, community members, politicians, and more to honor and remember the victims and their families.

Six Molson Coors brewery employees lost their lives as a result of the shooting: Dale Hudson, 60, of Waukesha; Dana Walk, 57, of Delafield; Gennady "Gene" Levshetz, 61, of Mequon; and Jesse Valle Jr. and Trevor Wetselaar, both 33 and from Milwaukee.

Acts of violence like this shake our communities to their core. Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, at work, and in our community. I am grateful to the first responders and law enforcement personnel who responded to this tragic incident. I appreciate their brave work and dedication to our community. The response from emergency personnel and community members alike shows just how strong the City of Milwaukee is.

As a public official, I believe that it is well past time that the Wisconsin State Legislature take up common-sense gun policy reform to prevent shootings like this from happening. I firmly supported Governor Evers’ call for a Special Session on gun reform last November and I am an advocate for Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Universal Background Checks. However, my Republican colleagues ignored the will of over 80% of Wisconsinites and refused to even take up the issue by immediately gaveling out of the Special Session. No more excuses and no more politics, it’s time to act on these common-sense solutions.

2019-2020 Session Wrap-Up: GOP Adjourns Early With More Work To Be Done

The Republican-controlled legislature has decided to adjourn early with more work to be done. While their members have gone home, I have continued to produce legislation to bring needed changes to our State. I’ve introduced additional legislation to move our criminal and juvenile justice systems in the right direction. Below is a description of each of these important bills:

Expanding TAD: One of Wisconsin’s most successful criminal justice programs has been the Treatment Alternatives and Diversions (TAD) program.  This bipartisan program has now expanded to 50 counties across the state and the research is clear: TAD works, TAD saves us money, and TAD can reduce crime through reduced recidivism. LRB 5488 expands TAD programs to specifically serve individuals with mental illness, trauma, as well as expand the use of restorative justice.  The bill also expands capacity in existing programs to meet the need of our communities.

Close the Expungement Loophole: I’ve worked on Wisconsin’s expungement law for several years.  One additional change is needed to close an existing loophole in Wisconsin law. Currently, individuals with a conviction are eligible for expungement, while individuals without a conviction, where the case was dismissed or the individual found not guilty, have no statutory ability to expunge their record.  These individuals deserve the right to clear their name too and LRB 5660/1 creates a path for expunging records where there was no conviction.

Modernize Police Data: As the debate over criminal justice reform continues, there is a need to ensure our crime data is up to date and accurate.  Currently, many law enforcement agencies continue to rely on an outdated reporting system. LRB 5761 appropriates grant money for law enforcement agencies to modernize their crime reporting systems with the goal of having every Wisconsin law enforcement agency using and reporting crime under the new system.  We need accurate, comparable data to track crime and respond to it appropriately.

Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Reform: The Legislature unanimously supported the closure of the Lincoln Hills/Copper Lakes juvenile prisons in 2018.  Work continues to realize the transformation.  System reform, addressing the out-dated procedures and laws that govern the juvenile justice system is an additional priority.  We cannot only address incarceration facilities, but we must also reform the system that sends our youth into those facilities. LRB 5802/1 makes a dozen changes to the juvenile justice system, modeled after other successful states, to reduce juvenile crime while also reducing the juvenile prison population.

Important in this legislation is returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile system. Wisconsin is now one of only 3 states in America that treats all 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system.

Each of these bills will work to address the staggering disparities, harsh barriers to re-entry, and dwindling funding that exist in Wisconsin’s criminal justice system and correctional institutions.

Tough On Crime Is Not Smart On Crime

As I worked to advance criminal justice reform, legislative Republicans proposed the opposite direction. The package of bills, AB 802-809 otherwise known as the “Tougher on Crime” bill package was moved quickly through the legislative process by the Wisconsin GOP. I testified in opposition to the entire package of Tougher on Crime bills in the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety on January 30^th. I was among dozens of people who testified or registered against these bills. Some of the other testimonies we heard in opposition to this legislation came from the ACLU, End Abuse Wisconsin, Youth Justice Milwaukee, State Public Defenders, League of Women Voters, and the Department of Corrections, just to name a few.

Despite wide-spread push back and opposition to the legislation, it was swiftly scheduled for an Executive Hearing and was passed by party-line. The proponents failed to bring forward evidence or data that these bills would make us safer and the main author was caught by Politifact Wisconsin with a “Pants on Fire” rating for misstating crime data to support his opinions. Fortunately, Governor Evers recognized that the Tougher on Crime bills would move us in the wrong direction, and he vetoed AB 805, 806, 808, and 809.

Sales Tax Legislation Moves Forward with Public Hearing and Debate

Last week, I had the opportunity to testify in the Committee on Ways and Means on AB 521 which would call for a referendum to determine if Milwaukee County should collect additional local sales and use tax. As Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee attracts millions of visitors from around the globe who take advantage of local attractions like the Fiserv Forum, Summerfest, Milwaukee Art Museum, and the County Zoo.

Just two years ago, tourism generated $2.1 billion of direct visitor spending in Milwaukee County. But because Milwaukee relies so heavily on property taxes to fund these public services, the visitors were able to avoid paying their fair share of local taxes. The bill would help ensure that the tax burden is shared among local residents and visitors who enjoy what Metropolitan Milwaukee has to offer.

Growing public safety and pension costs are putting unsustainable pressure on local budgets while deferred capital maintenance jeopardizes the future of public assets like parks and museums. AB 521 requires that 25 percent of the revenue from the additional tax be used to provide residential property tax relief, divided evenly between county and municipal property tax relief and that 7 percent of the revenue be used for public health infrastructure projects, like enhancing public safety, reducing infant mortality, or lead lateral removal. For the remaining 68 percent of tax revenue, the bill requires that the county use half for its operational and capital expenses and distribute the other half to the cities, villages, and towns in the county for their operational and capital expenses. Distributions of revenue to the cities, villages, and towns are based on their population. 

Leading the Legislative Trails Caucus

On March 11^th the Legislative Trails Caucus, that I co-chair, met for the second time. Wisconsin has over 2,000 miles of State Trail open to the public, 39 of which are “rail trails” which are trails running alongside railways. As a newly reformed Caucus, we are focusing on bringing in the voices of various stakeholders. On March 11^th, we heard from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Tourism. The goal of the Trails Caucus is to collaborate in order to reach Wisconsin’s fullest potential in terms of outdoor recreation. One of my goals is to increase access to trails in the City of Milwaukee. Trails can bring opportunities for economic development, transportation options, and improved public health and safety in our community.

Featured Tweet: International Women's Day

International Women's Day was a great way to kick-off Women's History Month. This year, I co-authored AJR 153 that proclaims March as the official Women's History Month in Wisconsin. This year is especially exciting as we celebrate 100 years of women's right to vote.