April 5, 2019

Working for you!

The Mike Ellis Interchange

As a new member of the Assembly Committee on Transportation this session I had the privilege of voting in favor of renaming the interchange of I-41, Hwy 10 and Hwy 441 in the memory of Mike Ellis. I had the privilege of serving with Mike in the legislature and the roar of traffic through the Michael G. Ellis Memorial Interchange will be a fitting tribute to his lion’s roar in the State Senate.

Gov. Evers, It's Time to Fix I-41

Today, I authored a letter to Governor Evers, co-signed by Reps. Steineke, Rohrkaste, Kitchens, Mursau, Tittl, Steffen, Tauchen, Macco, Tusler, Thiesfeldt, Sortwell, and Schraa, that stresses the importance of funding the start of the I-41 expansion in the next state budget.

The letter calls on the governor to enumerate the expansion of I-41 from four to six lanes beginning on the north side of Appleton.

I’m confident that the study ordered by Governor Walker, which will soon be released, will demonstrate the need for completing this critical safety improving project as soon as possible.

Wisconsin Youth Art

Wisconsin Youth Art Month brings art from students across the state to the rotunda in the State Capitol. It's always exciting to see students from our communities have their art displayed here.

Pictured clockwise beginning at the top left: "Let Your Colors Shine" by Athena Zilisch of Houdini Elementary, "Desert Sunset" by Claire Gallenberg of Winneconne Elementary, "Bluebird" by Madysen Krause of Houdini Elementary, "Rainbow Unicorn" by Madelyn Melby of Winneconne Elementary, "Reptile" by Dottie Jerabek of Winneconne Elementary, and "Beaming Sunset" by Selena Parker of Houdini Elementary.

WI Beat Them at Their Own Game

159 years ago today, Wisconsin Congressman John Potter was challenged to a duel over the issue of slavery by southern Congressman Roger Pryor. In response, Rep. Potter accepted but choose to fight the duel with Bowie knives at a distance of four feet, which the humiliated Rep. Pryor refused. In recognition of Rep. Potter’s clever way of turning the tables, Missouri Congressional Republicans gifted him with a six foot Bowie knife that is now on display at our State Capitol on the third floor of the east wing.

UW Budget Forum

On Tuesday, I participated in a panel discussion at UW-Madison about the state budget. I was joined by moderator Noel Radomski, UW System Director of State Relations Jeff Buhrandt, Prof. Nick Hillman, and Rep. Katrina Shankland. The event provided a lively discussion about the need for funding higher education at appropriate levels, while ensuring that the state sets the right priorities.

New Legislation

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

Assembly Bill 129
Allowing private schools participating in a parental choice program to provide hours of direct pupil instruction virtually.

Assembly Joint Resolution 15
Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day on March 17, 2019.

Assembly Bill 148
Nitrate testing pilot program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Assembly Resolution 4
Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Congress's enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, supporting Taiwan's signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States, and reaffirming support for increasing Taiwan's international profile and for strengthening and expanding sister-state ties between Wisconsin and Taiwan.

Assembly Joint Resolution 20
Proclaiming April 28, 2019, Workers' Memorial Day in Wisconsin.

Assembly Joint Resolution 21
Congratulating the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's hockey team for winning the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship title.

Assembly Joint Resolution 19
Proclaiming March 2019 to be Kidney Month in Wisconsin.

Assembly Bill 147
Caller ID spoofing, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.

Assembly Joint Resolution 17
Proclaiming April 2019 as Donate Life Month in the state of Wisconsin.

Assembly Bill 145
Creation of a prosecutor board and a state prosecutors office; funding for the department of justice, assistant district attorneys, the public defender, and the courts; Public Defender Board regulation, and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 144
Skills enhancement grants and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 115
An emergency exception for high performing school districts to the number of hours of direct pupil instruction requirement.

Assembly Bill 117
Submission of building permit applications for one-family and two-family dwellings.

Assembly Bill 118
Increasing funding for the child psychiatry consultation program and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 119
Grants to homeless shelters, modifying administrative rules promulgated by the Department of Administration, and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 121
Housing navigator grants and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 122
Employment and training activities for homeless populations, the Council on Workforce Investment, and local workforce development boards.

Assembly Bill 123
Housing grants to homeless individuals and families and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 124
Grants to defray housing costs and for diversion programming and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 125
Housing quality standards loans, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 133
Creating an individual income tax exemption for military income received by certain members of the U.S. armed forces and sunsetting the armed forces member tax credit.

Assembly Bill 139
Reporting of naloxone administration by ambulance service providers.

Assembly Bill 140
Self-insurance by religious sects for purposes of motor vehicle financial responsibility and liability insurance requirements.

Assembly Bill 141
Due dates for paying property taxes.

Assembly Bill 142
Creating two tax credits for volunteer emergency responders.

Assembly Bill 114
Registration and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, drug pricing transparency, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.

Assembly Bill 131
The veterans outreach and recovery program and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 135
Going armed with an electric weapon by private security personnel.

Assembly Bill 136
The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use.

Assembly Bill 137
Pharmacists and pharmacy students administering vaccines.

Assembly Bill 138
Prohibiting local ordinances, resolutions, and policies that prohibit the enforcement of federal or state law relating to illegal aliens or immigration status, authorizing certain elective officeholders to commence an enforcement action, providing a reduction in shared revenue payments, and creating governmental liability for damages caused by illegal aliens.

Assembly Bill 143
Violations of the law relating to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy and providing a penalty.

Assembly Bill 112
Eligibility of Washington Island Observer newspaper to receive compensation for publication of legal notices and the content of affidavits of printing filed as evidence of publication.

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.