Thank you for taking the time to read this week's e-update. I always strive to include information you find interesting and informative as it relates to my work in Madison and the 60th Assembly District.
My most important goal remains serving you, my constituents. Helping you find solutions to difficult problems when it seems like the state is unresponsive is the single greatest reward for my staff and me. I take constituents' input seriously and continually work hard on your behalf.
I always have your thoughts and concerns in mind when deciding whether or not to support legislation. Furthermore, I appreciate when you take time out of your schedules to contact me.
Have a great week,
This week's survey
Last month, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved tuition increases for both undergraduate and graduate students at six campuses. These tuition increases go into effect next academic year.
According to the University of Wisconsin System, all increases for undergraduates only affect out-of-state students. The system-wide tuition freeze was first implemented during the 2013 legislative session.
Only three campuses will increase tuition for undergraduates--UW-Whitewater at 0.99 percent, UW-Milwaukee at 1.50 percent, and UW-Platteville at 2.97 percent.
Six universities will see tuition increases for graduate students: UW-Milwaukee; UW-Oshkosh; UW-Platteville; UW-River Falls; UW-Stevens Points and UW-Whitewater--and many are degree-specific. UW-Milwaukee will witness the highest tuition increase, 25 percent, for residents and non-residents studying occupational therapy or communication sciences and disorders.
The other graduate student increases range from 1.5 percent--all UW-Milwaukee students--to 9.33 percent--all UW-River Falls graduate students studying business administration or computer science.
According to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, other institutions plan to utilize the new tuition revenue for covering instructional costs, investing in recruitment, training and cost recovery, among other uses.
Please, take a minute to answer this week's survey question regarding UW System tuition increases.
Thank you to everyone who responded to last week's survey regarding the state's budget surplus. Your input was appreciated and invaluable in helping me ascertain the most effective ways to utilize these dollars.
In total, 146 individuals responded to this week's survey, with 36 percent believing that surplus revenue would be best spent on deficit reduction. What is more, 22 percent of respondents selected middle-class tax relief as the best use of surplus revenue. Conversely, a paltry 5 percent of respondents believed that the surplus revenue should be invested into the state's rainy day fund.
Gubernatorial vetoes
This week, Governor Evers exercised one of his chief executive powers: vetoing middle-class tax relief and a tough on crime package. Once again, Governor Evers has shown little regard for hard working Wisconsinites who reside outside of Madison and Milwaukee.
Thanks to sound budgeting and a robust economy, Wisconsin has a significant budget surplus. The Assembly, last month, approved a $250 million tax cut, with bipartisan support. More than 2 million Wisconsinites would have benefitted from these tax cuts. But, unfortunately, for the second time this session, Governor Evers refused to help middle and lower-income taxpayers.
While the governor says he wants to work with the legislature, his actions prove otherwise. Governor Evers has had every opportunity to discuss his spending plan over the last few weeks, but has refrained from doing so.
Assembly Republicans are proud of our record on education. Did you know that during the past four years, Republicans have increased state aid for education by 15 percent? This resulted in roughly a $1,000 per-pupil funding increase. Furthermore, the legislature directed one-out-of-three new tax dollars collected by the state to public education. This includes a more than $500 million increase in the fiscal year 2019-2021 budget.
The conservative budget that Governor Evers signed into law last year made the largest investment in K-12 schools in actual dollars and doubled the current funding for student mental health programs. Yet, despite claiming to be champions of public education, not a single legislative Democrat voted for the budget.
In addition to the middle-class tax cut, Governor Evers vetoed five bills passed during the last Assembly floor session, four of which dealt with criminal justice reform.
Assembly Bill 805, which was approved 59-40, recommended revoking parole, probation or extended supervised release for individuals charged with a crime while on their release. In his veto message, Governor Evers argued that this bill would move the state in the wrong direction on criminal justice reform.
Assembly Bill 806, which was approved 60-38, would have expanded the list of crimes for which a juvenile offender can be placed into the Serious Juvenile Offender Program to include crimes that would be felonies if committed by adults. In his veto message, Governor Evers wrote, "It is vital that our efforts in reforming our criminal justice system recognize that our kids are worth much more than the worst decision they ever made."
Assembly Bill 808, which was approved 62-38, would have required that prosecutors be given court approval prior to dismissing or diverting to deferred prosecution programs felon-in-possession of a firearm charge for suspects with prior convictions for violent crimes. The court would have been required to produce a report explaining the appropriateness of the prosecutor's request. Governor Evers wrote of his decision to veto Assembly Bill 808, "I object to restricting the discretion of prosecutors and judges to address the alleged violation before them. I also object because the bill restricts the availability of deferred prosecution programs.
Assembly Bill 809, which was approved 61-37, aimed to restrict violent offenders from receiving early probation or participating in the early release program. What is more, the bill expanded the list of offenses that are excluded from statutory programs granting early parole, extended supervision, or discharge from probation. These programs were implemented to offer many lower-risk convicts an opportunity to earn back their freedom by demonstrating they are no longer a threat to the public.
Assembly Bill 26, which was passed by both houses of the legislature, and that I proudly co-authored, would have affirmed in state statutes that direct primary care is not insurance, provides security for patients and their providers, and adds consumer protections that do not currently exist. Direct Primary Care is a model whereby a patient pays a monthly fee for a suite of services. DPC offers patients unlimited access to primary care services and significantly more time with their physicians.
Governor Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 26, he said, because it did not protect patients based on the patient's genetics, national origin, gender identity, citizenship status, or whether the patient is LGBTQ.
The Assembly is considering a floor session in May to try and override Governor Tony Evers' vetoes on each of the aforementioned bills.
Operation We Love Our Troops
As noted in my last e-update, members of the legislature are putting together packages for deployed members of the military. If possible, I would like to send these care packages to constituents who are currently deployed overseas. If you know any deployed service members, please notify me of their name and address so my office can send them a package.
Blue Books
My office still has an abundance of 2019-2021 State of Wisconsin Blue Books. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, please click the following link. My staff and I will make it a priority to ensure that your copy arrives in a timely fashion.
Events
The following are events that will be held this week in the 60th Assembly District. If you have any upcoming events you would like included, please contact my office.
One of the best ways to date with what is happening in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking system. This service affords you with the opportunity to track legislative activities in Madison. Upon creation of a free account, you can sign up to receive notification about specific bills of committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject (i.e., health care, education, etc.).
If you have any comments regarding the subject of this E-Update, please feel free to contact me.
Rep. Rob Brooks State Capitol, Room 216 North P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708 Toll-Free (888) 534-0060 or (608) 267-2369 Rep.Rob.Brooks@legis.wi.gov| |
