January 16, 2020

Working for you!

Former UW-Oshkosh Leaders Held Accountable

On Wednesday, former UW–Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells and former Vice Chancellor Tom Sonnleitner each pleaded guilty in Winnebago County Circuit Court to one count of criminal misconduct in office as part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors. Wells and Sonnleitner were each sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine, plus $70,455 in restitution. Their civil case is still pending. Prior to sentencing, Wells stated, “It was never my intent to hurt the institution; it was to help, and I’m sorry.”

Saying "sorry," won’t restore the trust of donors, the community, and the legislature that was lost when Chancellor Wells and Vice Chancellor Sonnleitner committed misconduct in office. "Sorry," won’t restore the $11 million that UW–Oshkosh and state taxpayers lost due to the bad promises Chancellor Wells made. "Sorry," won’t undo the destruction the UW–Oshkosh Foundation and its student scholarships incurred.

Wells and Sonnleitner abandoned their responsibilities to their students when they put empire building in front of education. College administrators need to keep their focus on the classroom.

In response to a non-partisan audit of the relationships between University of Wisconsin System institutions and foundations, State Senator Robert Cowles (R – Green Bay) and I introduced Assembly Bill 370 to address ongoing issues that permitted the Oshkosh misconduct to go unnoticed until administrators left the university. AB 370 was recommended for passage by the Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight on December fourth and is now eligible for a vote in the State Assembly.

Bipartisan Adoption Task Force Package Passes Assembly

On Wednesday, the Wisconsin State Assembly adopted the bipartisan package of bills recommended by the Speaker’s Task Force on Adoption. I had the opportunity to serve on the task force and was the lead author of a bill in the package designed to ensure that the appropriate information is regularly provided to foster parents by counties. The bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Adoption held seven public hearings around the state where we heard from experts, parents, and families.

It was incredibly moving to hear personal stories from constituents and folks across the state on how we can improve the way we address adoption in Wisconsin, especially in light of the opioid epidemic. I’m proud to have advanced bipartisan legislation to address these concerns. My primary focus was to improve the safety of children as quickly as possible, especially in situations involving drug addiction. The set of bills we passed will improve the safety of children, reduce bureaucracy, and lower costs associated with adoption.

Your Questions and Concerns

Chris from Winneconne asks: I own a hybrid vehicle. This year when I renewed my license plate I noticed a $75 hybrid electric vehicle surcharge. Why was this fee created?

While it was important to generate more revenue for the transportation fund for road maintenance in Wisconsin, this fee is not something I would have supported as a stand-alone bill. The reasoning for this fee was that when a vehicle uses less gas but has the same wear and tear on the roads, it means the state can no longer afford to maintain those roads. The state budget adopted by the legislature and signed into law by the governor in 2019 created the hybrid electric vehicle surcharge to ensure everyone is paying their fair share. Even with the added fee, the average hybrid owner is still paying less in tax than they would if they were driving a similar non-hybrid vehicle and paying the additional gas tax.

Capitol Visitors

Mike Woodzicka and Jay Thomas popped in for public safety lobby day as members of the Professional Fire Fighters Association

I had an opportunity to speak with dental students from Marquette University on Wednesday.

My staff had the chance to meet with local members of Wisconsin Econmic Development Association, including Allen Davis, City of Oshkosh Community Development Director (blue and black jacket).

On Wednesday, Gail Bantes (pictured next to me) was honored by the State Assembly as a Hometown Hero. Gail is the mother of Grand Chute Fire Chief Tim Bantes (pictured far left). You can read more about Gail’s well deserved award here.

New Legislation

Here is the legislation I've recently authored or co-sponsored. Click on the links to learn more about each bill or resolution:

12/20/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 689
Relating to: tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college.

10/23/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 559
Relating to: grounds for finding a child in need of protection or services or for terminating parental rights, right to a jury trial in a termination of parental rights proceeding, and permanency plan reviews.

10/23/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 563
Relating to: providing permanency plan and comments to foster parents and foster children over the age of 12 in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing.

1/10/2020: 2019 Assembly Joint Resolution 116
Relating to: proclaiming January 2020 as human trafficking awareness and prevention month.

1/9/2020: 2019 Assembly Bill 734
Relating to: mail theft and providing a penalty.

1/2/2020: 2019 Assembly Bill 703
Relating to: a sales and use tax exemption for building materials that become a part of a facility for the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority.

12/23/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 691
Relating to: prohibiting an assessor from changing the valuation of property based solely on a recent sale of the property.

12/23/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 696
Relating to: penalties for violations related to the motor vehicle liability insurance requirement, proof of financial responsibility, requirements for registering motor vehicles, operating a vehicle without an operator's license or after suspension or revocation of an operating privilege, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.

12/20/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 684
Relating to: veteran-related tuition grants for certain veterans and dependents enrolled in private nonprofit institutions of higher education and making an appropriation.

12/5/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 660
Relating to: reimbursement under the Medical Assistance program for complex rehabilitation technology.

12/3/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 644
Relating to: creating a school-based mental health consultation pilot program and making an appropriation.

12/2/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 635
Relating to: requiring each cooperative educational service agency to employ a dyslexia specialist.

12/2/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 641
Relating to: grants to independent living centers and making an appropriation.

12/2/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 632
Relating to: assessments to evaluate reading readiness.

11/21/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 630
Relating to: conduit bonding authorities, distributions for property tax relief, and making an appropriation.

11/19/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 618
Relating to: expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War.

11/19/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 620
Relating to: distribution of the aid payment for personal property upon termination of a tax incremental district.

11/15/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 601
Relating to: requiring an online dyslexia awareness training for school district employees.

11/15/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 605
Relating to: reports on bills requiring occupational licenses.

11/15/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 602
Relating to: screening correctional inmates for dyslexia.

11/15/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 603
Relating to: publishing Foundations of Reading test scores.

11/15/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 604
Relating to: programs to identify and address pupils with dyslexia in public schools.

11/15/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 611
Relating to: liens on aircraft and aircraft engines.

11/14/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 598
Relating to: requirements related to condominium documents and technical changes to condominium law.

11/7/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 590
Relating to: sale, use, and final disposition of fetal body parts, reporting of sex and fetal anomaly following induced abortion, and providing a penalty.

11/7/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 594
Relating to: requirements for teacher preparatory programs in this state, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.

11/7/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 595
Relating to: grants for teachers who receive certain credentials in advanced structured literacy and making an appropriation.

11/7/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 596
Relating to: real estate disclosure reports.

11/1/2019: 2019 Assembly Bill 583
Relating to: practicing as a physician assistant or nurse while performing official duties for the armed services or federal health services.

Upcoming Events

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.