MILWAUKEE CHURCH ISSUES

This week, State Senator Dale Kooyenga and Rep. Dittrich met with several Milwaukee pastors to discuss the shameful "tax and take" policy that the city has contentiously imposed upon multiple churches doing good in the community. Rep. Dittrich became involved because one of these pastors lives in the 38th Assembly District. This needs to be confronted because it is wrong and hostile to communities of faith. Senator Kooyenga and Rep. Dittrich went to work right away on a remedy to this situation.

Rep. Dittrich also discussed the "tax and take" issue with WI Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca.

ADOPTION LEGISLATION UPDATE

Rep. Dittrich continues to work on amendments to adoption legislation to address concerns of stakeholders shared at the Public Hearing of the Assembly Committee on Family Law. Hopefully, the legislation will be satisfactorily refined to pass out of committee once the Legislature reconvenes in January.

K-12 EDUCATION TRANSPARENCY

Parents continue to be concerned about their schools and what is being taught to their children. Our team in the 38th Assembly District continues to research transparency in our schools and hopes to have legislation forthcoming in January.  

DRUG ISSUES WORSENED BY COVID-19

Drug issues have only worsened since the onset of COVID-19. Rep. Dittrich’s commitment is to use her sorrow as a mother to keep other families from facing the same heartbreak.

Working across all levels of government along with community partners that have been successful with prevention and treatment, we CAN win this battle. To that end, she met with both Kirk Yauchler, Division Manager, Clinical Services of Waukesha County HHS and UW President Tommy Thompson in separate meetings on Friday to address treatment, prevention, and recovery related to substance abuse in Wisconsin.

BAIL REFORM

Bail reform continues to be a fluid discussion as we all still recover from the shock of Waukesha’s parade massacre. As previously stated, Rep. Dittrich supports Rep. Duchow’s proposed legislation.

At the same time, she is looking forward to more legislation to be introduced after the holidays to deal with the problem of hardened repeat criminals being out on low bail, bringing harm to our communities.

ELIMINATING WI STATE INCOME TAX

It has become more challenging for constituents to keep more of their hard-earned money over the past year as well. Inflation, supply chain troubles, and a desperate lack of workers have all hit hard since the beginning of 2021.

A new report released Thursday by the UW Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy Director Noah Williams boldly proposes eliminating the Wisconsin state income tax. According to the analysis, this reform would lead to a $3.5 billion tax savings statewide, which comes out to an annual average of $1,700 per household. Eliminating the income tax will also result in 170,000 additional jobs after 8 years as higher paychecks move people off the sidelines and drive more workers to our state.

This is largely why, as a member of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. Dittrich is a huge fan of this approach. It has the multiple benefits of boosting Wisconsin's economy, actually increasing state revenue, AND addressing our critical workforce shortage.

Fundamental State Tax Reform: Eliminating the Income Tax in Wisconsin

DEERFIELD INTERSECTION RECONCONSTRUCTION

On Thursday, Rep. Dittrich and Deerfield officials were able to meet virtually with Wisconsin Department of Transportation on plans to reconstruct the intersection of Hwy 12/18 and Cty W/Oak Park Rd. The hope is to lower the number of injury accidents happening at that stretch of road. A public input hearing will be held in Deerfield on January 5th.

US 12/18 and County W/Oak Park Road intersection - Dane County

CONSTITUENT CORNER

Every year it is such a privilege for Rep. Dittrich to wrap Christmas presents for Shop With Cops. This year 32 children were served with officers participating from Oconomowoc, Summit, and Lake Mills.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this a special day!