March 22, 2019

Working for you!

President Raises the Stakes for College Free Speech

On Thursday I joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of an executive order relating to improving free inquiry, transparency, and accountability on college campuses. The executive order requires colleges receiving federal research grants to uphold freedom of expression, directs the Department of Education to publish program level data on graduate earnings and student debt on the College Scorecard, and directs the department to submit policy recommendations on risk-sharing proposals for colleges whose students are eligible for federal student loans.

This is a critical step in addressing significant and growing problems with higher education in Wisconsin and across the country. Our universities have become places where free expression is limited to free speech zones, in a nation built on the idea of being a free speech zone from sea to shining sea. Right here in the Fox Valley we have seen firsthand how colleges are curtailing the first amendment rights of pro-life students like Northeast Wisconsin Technical College student Polly Olsen, who spoke at the White House today, and is suing the campus to allow her to hand out religious themed Valentines in public spaces.

We cannot claim to educate the minds of students when we restrict their ability to speak and hear an array of opinions. Colleges are supposed to be beacons of truth where issues can be brought forward and debated without restriction. Unfortunately, students and faculty members all too often discover that when an idea is inconvenient, unpopular, or politically conservative it is either banished by campus administrators or silenced by student enforcers of political correctness. No one on campus should face academic retribution, intimidation, vandalism, theft, or threats of violence simply because of their views. The president’s executive order sends a strong and necessary signal that silencing speech will no longer be acceptable at our universities.

Last session, my colleagues in the Assembly and I adopted a bill to address freedom of expression on UW campuses. Although the bill ultimately did not become law, it convinced the Board of Regents to enact a policy placing stronger protections on campus free speech. I'm confident that if we continue to raise this critical issue, we will one day return univerities to real places of public dialogue where anyone is welcome.

The president’s executive order will shine a spotlight on graduate earnings and student debt within specific academic programs, ensuring that prospective students will be able to make informed decisions about their future before investing tens of thousands of dollars in their college education. This critical information will help steer students and colleges in the right direction.

I look forward to the recommendations that the Department of Education will prepare on colleges sharing the risk that student loan borrowers endure when they put their faith in the value of a college degree. It’s well past time that colleges get some skin in the game, instead of benefitting without risk from the trillions of dollars that students and taxpayers have invested.

You can watch the video of the signing, and the speech by local student Polly Olsen, by clicking on the pictures above.  

Building Commission Holds the Line on State Debt

This week, Republican members of the State Building Commission declined to support the full laundry list of every building project requested by state agencies, the University of Wisconsin, and a few non-state entities added by the Evers for good measure. The resulting tie vote will ensure a continued conversation about the necessity of state funding for each construction project.

Although our caucus supports some of the projects, the tie vote displays that the governor failed to reach out ahead of the vote, simply expecting that the massive list of capital projects would be approved without appropriate discussion and deliberation. The capital budget now goes to the Joint Finance Committee, where I hope the governor will do the necessary outreach and explain why he believes it’s necessary for the state to take on an additional $2.5 billion in spending to begin every project he has put forward. I look forward to hearing his justification to the legislature and state taxpayers.

I agree with my colleagues on the Building Commission that we do not have unlimited resources and we must determine what we want to prioritize, instead of pretending we can afford to build everything all at once.

Dane County Judge Tells Legislature When to Meet

In a ruling certain to be overturned quickly by a higher court, a Dane County judge ruled that the legislature cannot convene itself in extraordinary session simply because the State Constitution does not explicitly say it can. The decision ignores forty years of legislative practice and throws out the window the critical separation of powers between the judicial and legislative branches of Wisconsin government.

Unfortunately Governor Evers has seized on this temporary judicial overreach by using his new found powers to withdraw Wisconsin from a multi-state lawsuit challenging the legality of Obamacare.

I’m confident that the Wisconsin courts will quickly overturn this decision and restore the full authority of the legislature.

Familiar Faces from the District

The folks at the Play & Grow Learning Center in Greenville gave me a great tour of their facility.

Dentists from throughout our region had a very productive discussion with my colleagues and me this week in the State Senate parlor.

Miss Wisconsin Preteen spent the day at the Capital with her family discussing the importance of state OWI laws.

I had a productive meeting with Amy Flanders, the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center – Fox Cities

Donna Meiselwitz and Kimberly De La Cruz from Harbor House in Appleton stopped in to discuss the critical work they are doing for domestic violence survivors in our community.

Advocates stopped in on Wednesday for Disability Advocacy Day.

Members of the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters visited on Wednesday.

A few former colleagues of mine in the feed industry stopped in for Ag Day at the Capitol.

New Legislation

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

Assembly Bill 89
Vacancies in elective offices in cities and villages.

Assembly Bill 83
Authorizing creation and implementation of an advance directive registry and granting rule-making authority.

Assembly Bill 77
Designating and marking STH 33 in Columbia County as the Staff Sergeant Daniel D. Busch Memorial Highway.

Assembly Bill 80
Indication of veteran status on an operator's license or identification card.

Assembly Joint Resolution 14
The public service of Major General Raymond A. Matera.

Assembly Joint Resolution 13
Congratulating the Milwaukee Brewers on their 2018 season.

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.