I had the great honor to attend a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs grant presentation with Senator Tom Tiffany and Governor Walker last week. I am proud to announce that the annual Veterans Memorial Ceremony held at the Union Grove Cemetery in Harshaw was awarded one of the grants this year. I would like to congratulate all of the organizers of the Veterans Memorial Ceremony and thank them for their patriotic service to our community. We greatly appreciate the efforts of all involved in this yearly somber tribute.
Rep. Swearingen, Sen. Tiffany and Governor Walker awarding organizers of the annual Veterans Memorial Ceremony that takes place at Union Grove Cemetery in Harshaw, WI with a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Service Grant
Governor Walker, Speaker Vos Agree to Tax Relief Package
FEB 08, 2018
Budget surplus returns to taxpayers through one-time child sales tax rebate and sales tax holiday under agreement
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker and Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced an agreement to return the state’s budget surplus to taxpayers through a one-time child sales tax rebate and sales tax holiday in 2018.
“As I promised, when we have a surplus, we will give it back to you. It’s your money,” Governor Walker said. “So, if you’ve got three kids at home under the age of 18, that’s $300 more this year for new shoes, coats, activity fees at school, or a co-pay at the doctor or dentist. Plus, we want to provide a sales tax holiday which comes right in time for back-to-school supplies.”
As Governor Walker proposed in his State of the State Address, families across Wisconsin would receive $100 for every child living at home under 18 through a check in the mail this year. Under the agreement with Speaker Vos, when parents make the claim with the state online, they would also have the option to donate the amount to charitable causes, which are currently part of the state tax check-off program.
The legislation sets the new sales tax holiday for August 4-5, 2018. Consumers would be exempt from paying state sales tax on all retail “off the shelf” items up to $100. The exemption would not apply to the sale of taxable services, prepared food, motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, tangible or intangible property used to access telecommunications services, tangible or intangible property provided by a utility, or alcohol and tobacco products.
“We know that the hardworking taxpayers in Wisconsin deserve a break,” said Speaker Vos. “It’s great to be in a position that we can return the dollars that taxpayers overpaid.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), the child tax credit rebate is estimated at $122.1 million in fiscal year 2018. DOR also estimates the one-time sales tax holiday cuts taxes by roughly $50 million in fiscal year 2019.
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Assembly Committee on State Affairs Update
Committee meetings at the Capitol have ramped up as the legislative session winds down. The Assembly Committee on State Affairs, which I chair, met the past two week for public hearings and an executive session on the following bills:
Public Hearing:
Assembly Bill 901: Relating to: the transfer of wild turkey hunting authorizations.
Public Hearing and Executive Session:
Assembly Bill 813: Relating to: repealing the required transfer of a certain property in the city of Milwaukee to the Wisconsin Center District.
Rep. Swearingen chairing the Assembly Committee on State Affairs meeting held on January 31st
Rep. Swearingen chairing the Assembly Committee on State Affairs meeting held on February 7th
Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry Update
The Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry, which I am a member of, held a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss the following two bills:
Assembly Bill 911: Relating to: funding for the Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission and making an appropriation.
Assembly Bill 686: Relating to: testing of private wells, compensation for well contamination and abandonment, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Rep. Swearingen listening to testimony during the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry public hearing
Assembly Committee on Small Business Development Update
The Assembly Committee on Small Business Development, which I am a member of, held an executive session on Wednesday to successfully vote the following bill out of the committee:
Assembly Bill 798: Relating to: direct primary care program for Medical Assistance recipients and direct primary care agreements.
Rep. Swearingen during the Assembly Committee on Small Business Development's Executive Session
Assembly Committee on Tourism Update
The Assembly Committee on Tourism, which I am the vice-chair of, met this week for an executive session. I had the opportunity to chair the committee meeting as the chairman was unfortunately unable to attend. The committee voted on the following two bills:
Assembly Bill 795: Relating to: membership of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission technical committee.
Assembly Bill 668: Relating to: modifying rules related to lighting requirements for bicycles and motor bicycles operating on certain trails designated by the Department of Natural Resources.
Rep. Swearingen chairing the Assembly Committee on Tourism
Additionally, the committee conducted an informational hearing and was briefed by the Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett and staff on Wisconsin’s tourism industry and were presented with a summary of the department’s annual report. Wisconsin's tourism industry is booming. Last year tourism had a $20 billion impact and supported over 193,000 jobs statewide. I would like to thank Secretary Klett and everyone at the Department of Tourism for their tremendous work in promoting all the great things that Wisconsin has to offer!
Rep. Swearingen with Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett who briefed the committee during the informational hearing
Rep. Swearingen testifies on Senate Bill 638 in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs
I had the opportunity to testify last Tuesday with Senator Tiffany in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veteran Affairs on Senate Bill 638, relating to vehicle weight limits, and permits for vehicles transporting certain loads, on certain state trunk highways in Ashland County and Vilas County. The bill, that I authored with Senator Tiffany, will fix an oversight in the budget and allow for the Department of Transportation to issue Michigan border permits for these two highway routes. The companion bill in the Assembly, AB 754, was successfully voted out of the Assembly Committee on Transportation on Tuesday as well.
Rep. Swearingen testifying on Senate Bill 638 in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs
Legislative Days at the Capitol
There were several legislative days for various advocacy groups the past few weeks. I had the opportunity to meet with folks from around the district and talk about the issues that are most pressing to them. It is always great to hear from constituents. Thank you all for stopping by! If you are ever down in Madison, please feel free to stop by my office!
Rep. Swearingen meeting with Krystal Westfahl during the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau Legislative Day at the Captiol
Rep. Swearingen with Dana Baumgartner during the American Heart Association's Legislative Day at the Captiol
Rep. Swearingen meeting with Katie Gelinas, a UW-Madison med student from St. Germain, for Doctor Legislative Day at the Capitol
Rep. Swearingen and Sen. Tiffany met with representatives of the Wisconsin Realators Association during their Legislative Day at the Capitol.
Official Rep. Swearingen Facebook Page
I recently created an official Facebook page to allow for more communication with constituents and the ability to keep you up to date with the great work being done in the Northwoods, Madison and around the state. Please feel free to view, follow and like the page by clicking here.
Eagle River Pond Hockey Championships
The 13th Annual Labatt Blue USA Adult Pond Hockey Championships are happening this weekend February 9-11 on Dollar Lake in Eagle River. The Eagle River Fire Department helps create 30 rinks for this exciting event that sees thousands of participants come from all over the country. It is a great event for the whole family to come out and enjoy! For more information, please click here.
DNR Outdoor Report
Published February 8, 2018 by the Central Office
Light snow, accumulating to several inches, fell across the southern portion of the state this past week, with up to 6 inches in other areas farther north. That means a host of properties once again have more than a half a foot of usable snow, leading to ski grooming on many park and forest properties and even some new fat bike trail grooming at the Brule River State Forest. Snowmobile trails are now open in almost 40 counties across the northern half of the state on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR).
Anglers report catching a few smaller northern at the Peshtigo Harbor and Little River anglers are reporting catching good numbers of whitefish now that the cracks have frozen up again. Anglers out at the Oconto breakwater have reported catching good numbers of larger whitefish with more than a few limits being caught. Anglers fishing the Fox River at Voyageurs Park are reporting catching good numbers of walleyes and the occasional whitefish. Anglers off Door County reported success early in the week, with some catching limits of whitefish. Walleye fishing on Lake Puckaway has been good. Ice fishermen fishing in the Mckinley Marina or the Summerfest lagoon within Lake Shore State Park in Milwaukee were finding good ice conditions ranging from 10-15 inches. Anglers putting in the time are having success catching a few browns and steelhead early or late in the day.
This weekend kicks off the opening to Sturgeon Spearing on the Lake Winnebago System, so there has been a lot of interest in water clarity conditions on Lake Winnebago recently. DNR fisheries technicians checked water clarity on Lake Winnebago Feb. 5 and then at a couple of spots on Lake Poygan Feb. 6. In early January water clarity averaged 9 feet on Lake Winnebago. Unfortunately, conditions have worsened quite a bit since then. Clarity on Lake Winnebago ranged from 3-9 feet with an average of 6.5 feet of visibility. Looking back through past years of data, the current 6.5 reading marks the worst water clarity since 2006. Clarity on the Upriver Lakes seems to be quite good. Despite the less than ideal clarity conditions, fisheries managers still anticipate a big showing of spearers taking to the ice over the weekend in search of a sturgeon!
Hundreds of greater scaup have been hanging out in the open water areas along Lakeshore Park in Milwaukee, with goldeneye ducks with their bright white sides and dark black backs often seen interspersed.
All the new snow makes it a great time for tracking. Deer and elk are browsing logged areas. Wolves, coyote and fox are mating. Up in the sky, ravens and eagles are actively courting and great horned owls are making their nests.
The snowfall is also very timely for 10 candlelight events that will be held this weekend. Friday night the MacKenzie Center is holding a candlelight snowshoe hike and Saturday night there will be either candlelight skis or hikes at the Brule River and Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine state forests, and at Copper Falls, Devil's Lake, Interstate, Lake Kegonsa, New Glarus Woods and Newport state parks. Richard Bong State Recreation Area is holding a "Return to Romance" valentine themed that as of Thursday was nearly sold out. For all event details, search the DNR website for keyword "candlelight."
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - Knee deep snow blankets most of the Northern Highland this week, making for superb snowshoeing, weather one blazes their own trail or follows in another's footsteps. The current cold temperatures are luring many songbirds and squirrels to area bird feeders, along with mice and bunnies; which in turn, are bringing ermine, shrikes, sharp shinned hawks and owls. Some "fresh air" clears out the senses and invigorates the person who takes the effort to get outside for some activity! - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate
Cross-country ski trails were groomed on Sunday, Feb. 4 and are in good to excellent condition. The forest received 4-5 inches of new snow last weekend. Trails were leveled cut and tracked. Escanaba has excellent conditions. McNaughton has somewhat soft tracks, but already starting to set up nicely as grooming was completed. Skaters loop packed and groomed. Raven and Madeline have good conditions. - Tony Martinez, parks and recreation specialist
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
