Janesville Water Quality Hearing

We had an excellent water quality hearing on Wednesday at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville. We heard testimony from Rock County Conservationists, the Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Septic Trades, and the Wisconsin Biomass Energy Coalition. Thank you to these experts and members of the public for attending!

Water Quality Task Force Hearings Announced

We have two upcoming Water Quality Task Force hearings to announce. The first will be on June 12 in Mauston at the Mauston High School located at 800 Grayside Avenue, Mauston 53948. The second hearing will be on June 13 in La Crosse at the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center located at 615 East Avenue North Lacrosse 54601. I hope you can join us.

Budget Update

The Joint Finance Committee released an update as the legislature continues to work through the budget. The tuition freeze for Wisconsin undergraduate students at UW institutions will continue for another two years. There will be $45 million in increased funding for the UW system, which is in addition to the over $100 million increase budgeted for the UW System in the 2017-19 budget.

There were significant investments in our criminal justice system by increasing the number of prosecutors statewide, including Iowa County, improving compensation for prosecutors and public defenders, and raising the rate paid to private attorneys who take public defender assignments.

Additionally, the Joint Finance Committee approved additional investments to improve the quality of Wisconsin's water and environment through the DNR's budget. They also voted to create 2 scientist positions to study and address PFAS contamination. I will continue to advocate for improvements like these, especially at the conclusion of our water quality hearings.