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
This week, Senator Stroebel and I introduced LRB-4392, legislation allowing individuals who had their employment terminated for not receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Individual freedom is the bedrock of a free republic and must be respected and protected. The decision of whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine is a decision to be made by individuals, not government bureaucrats or employers.
Current law stipulates that if an individual is terminated by an employer or voluntarily terminates his or her employment, the individual is ineligible to receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits until a certain amount of time elapses and/or the individual earns a certain amount of wages through subsequent employment.
This bill creates an exemption to these disqualification requirements for an individual who is terminated by an employer or voluntarily terminates his or her employment due to an unwillingness, as a condition of continued employment, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or furnish proof of having been vaccinated against COVID-19.
This bill does not contradict Assembly Bill 336, which I supported earlier this session and Governor Evers vetoed, as I am still vehemently opposed to paying individuals an additional $300 per week to stay home.
Thank you for answering my most survey question regarding Governor Evers' veto of Assembly Bill 336, which would have terminated participation in the federal enhanced unemployment benefits program. In total, one-hundred-forty-one individuals responded, with seventy-four percent opposed to Governor Evers' veto. Just nineteen percent of respondents supported Governor Evers' veto of Assembly Bill 336.
Six percent of respondents voted "other" Responses include:
"Ludicrous decision by Governor Evers. Common sense tells us that if you quit paying people not to work, they will be forced to find work to survive. All the governor is trying to do is buy votes."
"No, plus regular unemployment should end in three months, after the loss of a job."
"I agree that Governor Evers should meet with business owners to discuss a feasible plan to get the unemployed back to work."
"I agree with it. Let's focus on a liveable wage first."
"I believe this is an oversimplification of the issue. Look at the whole issue not just the $300 extra unemployment benefit. What about available affordable child care, quality healthcare benefits, and a living wage. Are there really qualified candidates available, not just people sending in resumes?"
Wisconsin Act 78 makes changes to the DNR's Environmental Audit Compliance Program, a program that defers civil enforcement and provides considerations regarding possible criminal prosecution if a regulated entity voluntarily submits an environmental compliance audit report to the Department of Natural Resources and satisfies certain other requirements. Specifically, Act 78 does all of the following:
Changes the time periods during which civil action is deferred and a regulated entity must correct environmental violations from ninety days to sixty days generally, to one-hundred-eighty days for small business stationary sources, and three-hundred-sixty days for small business stationary sources if a correction involves a pollution prevention modification.
Removes a requirement that a regulated entity notify DNR, no fewer than thirty days before beginning the audit, of the date on which the audit will begin, the site or facility or the operations or practices at a site or facility to be reviewed, and the general scope of the audit.
Removes a requirement for a public notice and comment period regarding a proposed compliance schedule and any stipulated penalties resulting from an audit.
Adds a new category to the list of considerations DNR and the Department of Justice must make when deciding whether to pursue criminal action. Specifically, the act requires DNR and DOJ to consider whether a regulated entity is a small business stationary source with a minor violation.
This was the sixth bill I had signed into law by Governor Evers, this session. All of them passed unanimously and/or had bipartisan support.
Testifying with Senator Jacque in favor of Senate Bill 151.
Events
The following events will be held this week in the 60th Assembly District. If you have any upcoming events you would like included in my e-update, 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| Read Online |
