May Recap: Memorial Day, JFC Motions, and More! 

June 2, 2025

On Memorial Day, we honored the brave service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. I had the privilege of speaking in Mequon at Memorial Day services.Thank you to the local elected officials and American Legion Post 457 members for supporting our local heroes. 

On May 29th, the Joint Finance Committee took its first major votes on the 2025-27 state budget. The session continued the trend of removing many of Governor Evers' proposals.

For example, one of the state agencies we addressed at the meeting was the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). When I was first elected during COVID, DSPS was widely criticized for months of backlogs in issuing professional licenses. Since then, the agency has modernized, implemented a real-time processing dashboard, and the agency is down to a median of 15 days for issuing professional licenses. Despite this bipartisan success story, Republicans want to cut an agency now serving Wisconsinites efficiently. 

At the hearing, I told my Republican colleagues that we should be taking credit for a bipartisan DSPS success story, and as they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Republicans proceeded to cut staff positions from the call center and general operations anyway. As the budget process continues, I remain committed to advocating for smart, equitable investments that reflect the needs of Wisconsinites. 

On the 22nd, I stood alongside my Democratic colleagues to call for urgent, meaningful investment in child care for Wisconsin families. I am a proud sponsor of this bill which invests $480 million in Wisconsin’s child care sector.

Since 2007 more than half of child care providers have closed. We need to invest in providers so that families with young children are able to participate in the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy. Parents depend on child care, and they should not have to choose between quality care and financial stability. 

Governor Evers’ 2025-2027 Budget proposes a direct investments in our state's child care industry to help ensure high-quality care for children statewide. Republican legislators have responded by stripping the funding for Child Care Counts without any alternative, meaningful plan to keep these centers operating. Wisconsin needs solutions that lower everyday costs for families and strengthen our economy for all, and high-quality child care is a smart investment in our kids and for our state’s future.

Last week, I joined community members for a town hall in Brown Deer, held at the new local beer garden. The event served as a community forum, bringing residents and local leaders together for open conversation and civic engagement. Featured guest speakers included Village President Wanda Montgomery, School Board President Todd Beadle, Superintendent Katrice Cotton, County Board Supervisor Willie Johnson Jr., State Representatives Russell Goodwin and me, State Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin, and representatives from the offices of State Senator Dora Drake, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore.