February 23, 2018

Working for you!

Getting the Job Done

Advancing Affordable Health Care

In addition to the bill I authored to make podiatry care more accessible and affordable, the legislature has accomplished a great deal to make health care in Wisconsin better. We worked hard to pass laws that:

• Guarantee health care coverage of pre-existing conditions

• Increase access to health insurance by allowing small businesses to pool together

• Increase access and quality of long-term care services

• Save SeniorCare

• Fully fund Medicaid

• Require more comprehensive mammogram reports

• Increase the number of dementia care specialists

• Expand drug screening, testing and treatment for Medicaid and food stamp recipients

• Continue the fight against the opioid epidemic with our HOPE Agenda

Promoting Public Safety

School safety is a top priority, which is why we put forward a bill that gives grants to schools to increase school security, stops habitual criminals from possessing a gun, and strengthens laws that stop "straw" purchasing of firearms. Not only does our bill give schools more tools to keep children safe, it also takes guns out of the hands of the wrong peoples’ hands statewide.

We also authorized funding for 53.75 new assistant district attorney positions in 40 counties across Wisconsin. This increase will curb our justice system backlogged and allow prosecutors to do their jobs successfully.

Strengthening the Economy

We've accomplished so much this session to get government out of the way of economic growth and allow our state to thrive with the lowest unemployment in history. This session we passed bills to:

• Invest in workforce talent recruitment and retention

• Expand the historic rehabilitation tax credit

• Protect the mortgage and real estate market with appraisal reforms

• Streamline the brownfield development process

• Provide more broadband expansion grants

• Incorporate financial literacy into schools              

• Expand worker training programs and grants

• Protect paper jobs into the future by working with Kimberly-Clark to innovate their business model with the same incentives we provided to Foxconn

Presidents Day

Monday marked Presidents Day. My favorite president is George Washington, who could have been king, but instead gave us democracy. To mark the day, state representatives made a video describing their favorite president. You can watch this fun video by clicking on the image below:

Nominate Someone for the Organic Advisory Council

The Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council has four openings for individuals interested in shaping the future of organic farming and food in Wisconsin. Nominations will be accepted until March 14, 2018.

The four openings include one seat for a representative of each of the following groups: farm, business, consumer, and at-large. Members serve three-year terms, and the council meets quarterly.

The nomination form can be found at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/OrganicAdvisoryCouncil.aspx. Applicants should explain why they would be valuable additions to the council and should also include two letters of support. Completed applications should be sent to: Angie Sullivan, WI DATCP, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708 or emailed to Angie.Sullivan@Wisconsin.gov. Call 608-224-5095 with questions.

Nominees will be evaluated by a committee and approved by Secretary Sheila Harsdorf and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board. The selected nominees will be seated at the July meeting of the council.

The Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council’s purpose is to give guidance to the governor, DATCP, the Wisconsin Legislature and other state or federal agencies about actions that could further Wisconsin’s organic agriculture industry. Council members represent the spectrum of Wisconsin’s organic industry and include:

• 3 certified organic farmers, preferably reflecting several types of farms (dairy, vegetable, etc.).

• 3 organic business sector representatives.

• 1 representative of organic consumers.

• 1 representative of a private, non-profit educational organization involved in organic agriculture.

• 1 representative of the certification industry.

• 3 at-large members.

The organic advisory council is one of several of DATCP’s standing advisory councils. Learn more at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/Councils.aspx.

A Visit from Our Health Care Partners

Community Health Centers are either a public entity or a non-profit that delivers primary medical, dental, and mental health services in medically underserved areas. On Wednesday members of Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association visited the Capitol to discuss their work and thank us for supporting their important community role. You can learn more about them by visiting:  http://www.wphca.org/

My Legislative Assistant Michael Moscicke with Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association community partners Maria Vargas and Julia Garvey.

Building the Future

I recently had the chance to visit the robotics team at my alma mater Hortonville High School.

From left to right: Zach Berndt, Coach Dean Schiedermayer, John Wirth, me, Sam Schiedermayer (holding the incredible robot), Dakota Snyder, Coach Duke Snyder, Lauren Stae, Elizabeth Nickchen, Kung Lee, and Ben Nowotny.

Outdoor Activities

The DNR has unveiled an updated registration renewal notice for boats, ATV/UTVs, snowmobiles and off-highway motorcycles. Much like annual renewals for cars and trucks, customers will now receive renewal postcards, which replace the letters that have previously been sent.

County Deer Advisory Councils will hold their spring meetings in mid-March to start the antlerless harvest quota and permit setting process for the 2018 deer seasons. All Council meetings are open to the public, and include an opportunity to provide feedback as each Council develops their preliminary recommendations for the deer seasons.  A meeting schedule can be found here.

The 2018 Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearing questionnaire is now available online. Each county will host a public hearing on Monday, April 9^th where individuals interested in natural resources management will have an opportunity to provide input on local and statewide conservation issues.

Check out upcoming events near us by visiting the Wisconsin Tourism website or  https://appletondowntown.org/upcoming-events/ and if you run into me while you’re out and about be sure to stop and say hi!

"Like" Representative Murphy's Facebook Page

I use Facebook to update constituents more frequently on my work in Madison and the 56th Assembly District. I look forward to using this as another way to connect with constituents and encourage you to follow it and watch for regular updates.