Serving the Northwoods Communities of Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua, Phelps, Florence and Forest County.
District Dialogue
March 26, 2015
Assembly Republicans Support SeniorCare
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE March 26, 2015
Contact: Rep. John Nygren (888) 534-0089
Assembly Republicans Support Wisconsin’s SeniorCare Program
Madison – State Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), Assembly Co-Chair of the
budget-writing Joint Finance Committee (JFC), released the following
statement regarding his support for SeniorCare - a state-run
prescription drug program for Wisconsin seniors:
“Now that budget season is in full swing, my colleagues in the Legislature and I have been hearing many Wisconsinites’ opinions about the governor’s proposed plan. While the budget includes provisions concerning a vast array of issues, time and time again constituents continue to bring the proposed changes to the SeniorCare program to lawmakers’ attention.
“Recently, I received letters from several of my colleagues in the Assembly urging the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) to reconsider the proposed changes to SeniorCare. Like me, these legislators have heard from their constituents about the importance of preserving this program.
“SeniorCare is unique to our state, and we are fortunate to have this Wisconsin-based prescription drug program for our seniors. It allows enrollees to purchase supplemental prescription coverage to help with medications that may not be covered by Medicare.
“This program has been beneficial for Wisconsin seniors since its inception in 2001. Today, there are over 80,000 people enrolled in the program. After hearing from my colleagues and many SeniorCare enrollees, it’s clear that this program is working.
“I look forward to continuing the conversation about taking a stand for SeniorCare as we move forward with the state budget process.”
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DNR Decision on Walleye Bag Limits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Sen. Tiffany: 608-266-2509
Rep. Czaja: 608-266-7694
Rep. Swearingen: 608-266-7141
Northwoods Legislators Support DNR Decision on Walleye Bag Limits
Madison…This morning, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
in anticipation of the annual tribal walleye spearing declaration,
announced an emergency rule to be considered by the Natural Resources
Board in April that would change the walleye bag limit on lakes within
Wisconsin’s Ceded Territories. In response Senator Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst),
Representative Mary Czaja (R-Irma), and Representative Rob Swearingen
(R-Rhinelander) issued the following statement:
“I support the DNR’s effort to bring certainty to the sportsman
throughout the state who travel to Wisconsin’s Northwoods for our
world-class fishing. The announcement by the DNR shows our investment in
aquaculture through the Walleye Initiative is paying off and will bring
returns to businesses through increased tourism and economic vitality,”
said Senator Tiffany.
“This initiative is a proactive move by the DNR. By addressing the
walleye bag limit, the Northwoods will attract fisherman from all over
the state, which is essential to growing and securing tourism dollars
for our northern economy,” said Rep. Czaja.
“Each year, concerned anglers and fishing guides reach out to my office
with concerns on the walleye bag limits. I applaud the Department of
Natural Resource’s effort in maintaining the normal bag limits to spur economic
development and promote tourism. This decision will reinvigorate the Northwoods fishing heritage and put Northern Wisconsin back on the map
as a premier fishing destination,” said Rep. Swearingen.
Last spring ninety percent of northern Wisconsin lakes within the Ceded
Territories that were declared for spearing had a bag limit of one or
two walleyes per day. This spring, lakes throughout the Ceded
Territories could have a sport bag limit of three walleyes per day. The
Walleye Initiative is a program instituted for the first time in
Wisconsin’s 2013-15 Biennial Budget and to date has invested $14 million
in private and state fish farms. That initial investment has doubled
production of walleye fingerlings that have been stocked back into
Wisconsin lakes.
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Board of Commissioners of Public Lands Fund Public School Libraries
WISCONSIN DELLS – Wisconsin’s K-12 public school
libraries will receive $35.5 million, thanks to record earnings from the
Common School Fund, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL)
announced today. Board Chair Brad D. Schimel, Attorney General, and
Commissioner Doug La Follette, Secretary of State, presented Kurt
Kiefer, Assistant State Superintendent of Public Instruction, with a
ceremonial check at the Wisconsin Educational & Media Technology
Association’s (WEMTA) annual conference at the Kalahari Resort in the
Wisconsin Dells. Commissioner Matt Adamczyk, State Treasurer, was
unable to attend.
To see funding for your school district, click
here or visit
http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=26522&locid=145.
The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands was established in 1848 by
Article 10 of the Wisconsin Constitution. The BCPL manages the
Common School Fund, which was created in the Constitution as a
permanent endowment to benefit public education.
The BCPL generates earnings for the
Common School Fund by investing in community projects across the
state through the
State Trust Fund Loan Program. Trust Fund earnings are distributed
annually to public schools and are the sole source of state funding for
public school libraries. For many school districts, this is the only
money available for library materials including books, newspapers and
periodicals, web-based resources, and computer hardware and software.
The funds distributed today are enough to put a book in the hand of
every child in Wisconsin.
In a joint statement, Commissioners Schimel, La Follette and Adamczyk
said, "Thanks to BCPL investments in local projects throughout the
state, communities receive support for economic development projects,
public infrastructure improvements, and the purchase of capital
equipment and vehicles. Many of these expenditures provide law
enforcement personnel and first responders with the equipment needed to
keep their communities safe. The fact that earnings from BCPL
investments continue to benefit public school libraries 167 years after
statehood would make the founding fathers of Wisconsin immensely proud.
Schools and communities benefit from this investment, and the BCPL is
pleased to distribute record Common School Trust Fund earnings in 2015.”
This 2015 library aid distribution is the largest in the long history of
the BCPL. In an era of historically low interest rates, BCPL
commissioners are proud to have maintained stable earnings
distributions.
For more information on the Board, visit:
http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov.
# # #
Secretary of State Doug La Follette (center) and Attorney General Brad D. Schimel (right) present $35.5 million in Common School Fund earnings to Assistant State Superintendent Kurt Kiefer (left), Department of Public Instruction.
Building Commission Update
On Tuesday, March 24, the full Building Commission met to approve the state's Capital Budget for the 2015-17 biennium. As chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, I focused on renovations and repairs to UW-System projects. The agenda included renovations to classrooms and utilities to all UW-System campuses. Additionally, campuses such as UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay had projects approved to renovate and build new fitness and athletic facilities for their students. Other projects focused on renovations and repairs to current residence halls and classroom buildings. For example, UW- LaCrosse, UW- Stout, and UW-Stevens Point were in dire need of renovations to student living facilities.
The approved Capital Budget included zero new bonding and was the smallest Capital budget in 12 years, and the second smallest in over 20 years. Although the budget was tight, the Building Commission was able to approve 23 of the 33 projects that were discussed. The projects were largely funded by Program Revenue Supported Borrowing (PRSB), which is generated from Room and Board fees, food concession revenue, etc. The Governor along with the Building Commission was committed to repairing and renovating the UW-System buildings before constructing new infrastructure.
In addition to approving UW-System upgrades and projects, the Building Commission also approved projects for state building across Wisconsin. These projects included but were not limited to a new fire suppression unit in the Department of Administration (DOA) building, upgraded nursing facilities at the King Veteran's Home, and a Forest Health Protection Laboratory for the Department of Natural Resources.
All approved projects received bi-partisan support, and will now be messaged to the Joint Committee on Finance to be debated.
Members of the Building Commission in the Governor's Conference Room.
This afternoon I attended the Joint Finance Committee public hearing in Reedsburg. It was a privilege to sit with my colleagues and listen to the passionate testimony from residents around the state.
This was the last of four hearings that took place in March. In the coming weeks, legislators will make motions to alter provisions to the Governor's proposed budget. The Joint Finance Committee will reconvene in Madison to begin voting on portions of the budget through out April. After weeks of debate and discussion the Wisconsin legislature will pass a balanced budget.
To keep informed on the budget process, be sure to visit WisEye.org to follow executive sessions. I appreciate all who attended the hearings around the state to voice your opinions and concerns to the Joint Finance Committee and members of the legislature.
Members of the Joint Finance Committee and legislatures at the Reedsburg Public Hearing
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
The Dead Pigeons: March 28, Minocqua
Ice Golf Tourney: March 28, Rhinelander
Easter Bunny Sunday: March 29, Eagle River
Music Garden at Head Start: March 30, Rhinelander
Library - Spring Break Special – Popcorn & a Movie: March 31, Rhinelander
Lakeland Art League - Open Painting & Critique: April 1, Woodruff
Coffee and Company: April 1, Rhinelander
VFW BINGO: April 1, Rhinelander
Library: Spring Break Special – Spring Fling Celebration: April 1, Rhinelander
Brown Bag Series - Mysterious Wetlands of the Northwoods: April 1, Manitowish Waters
UW Alumni/Science On Tap/The Great Lakes: April 1, Minocqua
Date with Dad: April 1, Eagle River
Eagle River Farmers' Market - Winter: April 1, Eagle River
Trig's Riverwalk Centre Blood Drives: April 1, Rhinelander
Northwoods Children's Museum: Date with Dad: April 2, Eagle River
Parent Tot Time / Story Time: April 2, Rhinelander
Monday Night Fitness: April 6, Minocqua
Growing Fruit in the Northwoods: April 6, Rhinelander
"The Artist's Muse 2015: April 7, Woodruff
Glayso Soccer Sign Up: April 7, Arbor Vitae
Minocqua Police Department Citzens Academy: April 7, Minocqua
Art Critique: April 8, Arbor Vitae
Eagle River Farmers' Market - Winter: April 8, Eagle River
Member Art Exhibit: April 9, Minocqua
Special Needs Night: April 9, Eagle River
Spring Rummage & Bake Sale/United Methodist Church of the Pines: April 10, Minocqua
GymTime: April 10, Minocqua
Spring Cleaning Book Sale: April 10, Minocqua
YMCA Family Night: April 10, Rhinelander
Please contact me at Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov if you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE from my E-Updates
Office of Representative Rob Swearingen
Room 123 West
PO Box 8953, Madison WI 53708
Office: 608-266-7141
Toll Free: 888-534-0034