It was my pleasure to provide budget updates at the Ozaukee County Board Meeting and at the Town of Grafton Annual Meeting. I appreciated the opportunity to highlight budget items that would have a positive impact on 23rd District municipalities.
Joint Finance Committee Receives Feedback on the Budget
The Joint Finance Committee, which plays an important role in writing the budget, concluded its listening sessions this week. You can still use this link to submit your written comments about your budget priorities.
Office Hours
One of the most important parts of being a state representative is hearing directly from constituents, so we are pleased to offer both Zoom and in-person office hours. We hold in-person meetings at businesses in varying locations around the 23rd district.
Our next opportunity to meet in-person will be Friday, April 30th at the Grafton Arts Mill Coffee Roastery. You can schedule an in-person or Zoom meeting with a quick click here. If the posted dates and time don’t fit your schedule please reach out to our office and we will be happy to make other arrangements.
In the District: Thiensville Riverkeeper Cleanup
More than 40 volunteers pitched at Thiensville Village Park for the annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper cleanup! My husband Marc and I served as site captains to celebrate Earth Day and help clean our parks for Spring. We were joined by students from Christ Alone Lutheran, several Girl Scout troops, and volunteers old and young. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Legislative Update
My office introduced two pieces of legislation for co-sponsorship this week:
Wisconsin employers have endured incredible hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many are struggling to stay afloat. The last thing any employer needs right now is a tax increase. The pandemic has created chaos in supply chains and consumer demand, making it extremely difficult for businesses to plan for the future. This bill will give Wisconsin businesses the peace of mind that unemployment taxes will remain the same, at the lowest level (Schedule D), in calendar years 2021, 2022, and 2023.
In these immediate post-pandemic years, instead of basing the unemployment tax rate on the amount of funding in the unemployment trust fund this bill would keep the lowest unemployment insurance tax in place for Wisconsin businesses through the end of calendar year 2023. With the great success of widespread vaccinations and newly-emboldened consumers willing to travel and resume old spending habits, any shortfall in the UI trust fund will be addressed by an increase in revenues from a rapidly-improving business climate and a strong economic forecast.
3143/1--Proclaiming June 4, 2021 as Gun Violence Awareness Day
This resolution recognizes Friday, June 4, 2021 as national Gun Violence Awareness Day and promotes action to realize a future free from gun violence in all forms.
More than 600 Wisconsin lives are cut short each year as a result of suicide, homicide, or accidental death with a firearm. Gun deaths devastate entire families in urban, rural, and suburban areas with substantial costs to our mental health, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems. In Wisconsin this toll is estimated at $3.9 billion a year, though the financial burden on the state does not begin to capture the toll of lives lost or the effect on local communities.
The first Friday in June and the weekend that follows is known as Wear Orange Weekend, a movement started in honor of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton who was shot and killed at age 15. What began as a way to honor a friend’s life has become a national movement in which buildings and homes are lit in orange and community members wear this color to bring awareness to the lives lost and the actions we can all take to end gun violence.
You can find the bills I have supported, the votes I have taken, and my committee activity on our web page at this link. I also post regularly on social media to keep constituents up to date, so please follow @RepAndraca on Facebook or Twitter for the latest news from our State Capitol.
Vaccinations
I'm thrilled to be fully vaccinated, and I encourage everyone to join me (if you haven't already)!
The supply of vaccines is strong in our area and vaccinations are available for anyone ages 16 and up! DHS announced this week that you can find a vaccine provider anywhere in Wisconsin by visiting VaccineFinder.org.
Contact Our Office
There are several convenient ways to share your thoughts and concerns with us:
Call our office at (608) 266-0486
Email us at Rep.Andraca@legis.wisconsin.ogv
Visit our website to learn more about constituent services, legislative priorities and to share your comments or concerns.
