banner.jpeg (1)

The Governor took down our Christmas Tree (twice)!

Hello, 

This week, Rep. Shae Sortwell and I put up another Christmas Tree in the Capitol rotunda after the Governor's administration took down our first tree we put up. We decorated the tree with hand-made ornaments we received from constituents and folks around the state and the country. 

On Monday we came into the Capitol to find the tree was gone. The Governor's administration had taken it down when we were away from Madison. However, on Tuesday we put up another tree that had belonged to my family for years (shown above). We got our ornaments back, and we put it up and decorated it in the rotunda. 

But when we came into the Capitol Wednesday morning, the tree was missing again. They had taken it down like before after we had left the building. 

Like I said when the first tree went up, all extra ornaments we receive will go to various assisted living centers for them to enjoy. I took some today to Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center. They were delighted to receive these hand-made ornaments made by children. Thank you so much to everyone who made some for our tree!

 

Legislative Audit Hearing on DWD and the Unemployment Mess

This week we learned more about the Legislative Audit Bureau’s nonpartisan audit of the Unemployment Insurance processing problems at the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

Here are some of the main findings:

  • DWD put 77.6 percent of individuals into adjudication on their initial UI claim to the state.
  • As of October 10, 2020, there were 96,623 individuals with claims in adjudication.
  • DWD was responsible for 11 of the 13 weeks (84.6 percent) that it took, on average, to resolve the initial claims of the random sample of 250 individuals.
  • The most-common issues that accounted for time elapsing involved instances when DWD had not resolved issues even though it had the information to do so and because it had not requested information it needed from individuals and employers.

Governor Evers and his administration have failed the tens of thousands of Wisconsinites who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The latest audit gives the public a revealing look at the disastrous mismanagement in processing Unemployment Insurance claims. Many people have yet to receive their money and are waiting for the administration and DWD officials to get their act together.  

DWD should have immediately extended call center hours, transferred state employees to assist as allowed by April’s COVID relief legislation or even required employees to work overtime. The lack of urgency to help the unemployed is inexcusable and unconscionable.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Audit held a hearing to review the recent audits of DWD. You can watch the committee proceedings on Wisconsin Eye.

Assembly Republicans have proposed legislation to require the elimination of the backlog within 30 days, an increase in call center hours to 12 hours per day, 7 days per week, and a reduction of the salaries of DWD bureaucrats if these issues don’t get resolved. 

 

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a special time for me and all Christians, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Despite the issues many of us have faced this year, I hope everyone can celebrate Christmas in what ever way you choose, and to always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Important Links regarding COVID-19

Contact Me:

Address:

  P.O. Box 8953
  Madison, WI 53708-8953
  Phone: 1-888-529-0025

 Email:

 rep.tittl@legis.wisconsin.gov

National and State News  
 

Click  to read this email in a browser

You received this email because you're signed up to get updates from us.