Session Update

This week the Assembly was in session to vote on the passage of several bills including Assembly Bills 390 and 391 (AB's 390-391).

AB 390 directs the Governor to provide grants from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County in Darlington, $4 million, $11 million for emergency medical services across the state, and $400,000 for the city of Reedsburg community center

During my floor speech on this bill, I highlighted the dire need for facility improvements for MHLC the only Hospital in Lafayette County. It is critical that Governor Evers continues to support this measure and provide this aging facility with the grant it needs to continue bringing quality healthcare to the residents of Lafayette County.

The last few weeks I’ve been providing updates regarding the state’s closed historic sites. I’ve been working to get them reopened yet this year. When there wasn’t movement on the issue, I joined with Representative Tranel to co-author legislation (AB 391) to direct the Governor to use federal funds to reopen the sites. The bill quickly advanced through Committee and passed the Assembly this week. The bill was immediately messaged to the Senate for action.

Yesterday, the Governor unexpectedly announced he would use federal funds to provide for the re-opening on the historic sites. I am glad to see Governor Evers allocate federal funds for this purpose. In my view, this action was long overdue as we’ve known about this issue for some time.

The Governor has had full discretion to use federal ARPA funds to solve this problem since the funds became available earlier this year. This action will offer a sense of relief to our local sites and will provide a much needed boost to our tourism industry. Time is of the essence as there will be a lag between this announcement and the doors actually opening up at these sites. I hope the Governor directs his agencies to move quickly to ensure the sites can open as soon as possible.

Wind Turbine Update

In previous e-updates, I have mentioned a listening session that I attended with Senator Marklein and Representative Tranel earlier this year. 

After hearing from so many constituents with concerns on proposed industrial wind turbine projects, my legislative colleagues and I wrote a letter to Governor Evers requesting he attend a listening session in our district to learn more about our constituents concerns and the impact of his administration's clean energy goals on rural Wisconsin.

This week we received a response from the Public Service Commission (PSC). This letter detailed the review process relating to the approval of industrial projects, however the letter made no mention of a commitment from the Governor's Office to attend a listening session in our districts.

It was disappointing that the Governor had passed along our letter to the PSC and asked them to respond on his behalf. It is important that the Governor is actively engaged in this process, given his authority to enact administrative rules and legislation into law.

I will continue to work with Senator Marklein and Representative Tranel along with our constituent groups to ensure that there is transparency and fairness during this process, and am encouraging our constituent groups to continue to reach to our legislative offices as well as the Governor on this issue.

District Events

Argyle Fish Fry: June 26th 3:30-8:30 PM Argyle Firehouse

Monroe Master Gardeners Association "Take a Garden Walk" June 26th 10:00 AM-4:00 PM

Spring Green Driftless Landscape Tour June 26th 10:30-11:30 AM

Darlington Tunes at Twilight June 27th 6:30-8:00 PM

Monroe Clinic Blood Drive June 29th 12:00 PM-5:00 PM

Mineral Point Chicken BBQ: July 3rd 10:30 AM-sell out 3669 9th St Mineral Point

Vaccine Information

For all full list of vaccine sites statewide please click the vaccine finder link here.