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 question
As passed by the legislature, Assembly Bill 56, the 2019-21 biennial budget, would have required the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to provide $100,000 to fish and wildlife funding for research related to genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in farmed deer. The funding would come from the CWD management and testing appropriation funded by bonus antlerless harvest authorizations. The research project would be required to be conducted on a double-fenced deer farm in the southern portion of the state where CWD was detected in spring 2018.
Governor Evers used his partial veto authority to remove references to the type of research to be conducted and the location where the research should be conducted. The governor's veto affords unelected bureaucrats at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with the discretion to determine how best to expend the $100,000 for CWD research
This week's survey question was submitted by a resident from Cedarburg. If you have ideas for survey question topics, please send them to my office.
Please, take a minute to answer my one-question survey on funding for CWD research.
Thank you to everyone who participated in last week's survey question regarding the penalty for misrepresenting a pet as a service animal. In total, 130 individuals responded to the survey. 34 percent of respondents believed that falsifying a pet as a service animal should result in a misdemeanor offense; 27 percent believed that the most adequate penalty would be a civil forfeiture; 25 percent supported community service; 8 percent did not support imposing any type of penalty, and 6 percent responded "other."
Some of the responses from those who selected "other," are as follows:
"A fine of a substantial amount to deter this type of behavior."
"Not a priority. Focus instead on repealing bad laws."
"Make it a misdemeanor offense with a substantial fine."
I am very interested in your input on this issue. If you have ideas for dealing with this issue, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Water Quality Task Force
Last week, the Speaker's Task Force on Water Quality, a committee on which I serve, held public hearings in Burlington and Sturtevant to further discuss the ways in which Wisconsin can make clean, safe drinking water more accessible.
Next week, the committee will be holding public hearings in Stevens Point and Tomahawk.
Following the committee's final hearing in September, I intend to host an in-district roundtable discussion with experts on water quality to seek feedback on the task force's recommendations and legislative ideas.
If you are interested in participating in the roundtable discussion, do not hesitate to contact my office.
State Budget Vetoes
Earlier this month, Governor Tony Evers signed the $82 million 2019-21 biennial budget into law, issuing 78 partial vetoes, despite its lack of funding for Medicaid expansion; a deal-breaker for progressive activists. Governor Evers signed the budget into law despite every Democrat in the legislature voting against it.
The following are some of the most significant of his partial vetoes:
$5 million for the establishment of a new correctional facility in Green Bay. Assembly Bill 56, the state budget, would have specified that this borrowing was for land acquisition, utility extensions, and a request for a new maximum-security correctional facility to replace the Green Bay Correctional Institute.
Eliminated funding for 34.85 assistant district attorney positions. While Washington and Ozaukee Counties will be receiving additional ADA positions, I recognize that district attorneys throughout the state are often overworked, especially due to the opioid crisis. These positions would have ensured that the criminal justice system continued to run quickly and efficiently.
Per pupil aid increases for K-12 education. Governor Evers used his partial veto authority to increase per-pupil aid from $679 in the first year of the biennium and $704 in the second, to $742 per pupil over the biennium.
$65 million increase for public education. Governor Evers increased public education spending by $65 million more than the legislature had approved.
$20 million for workforce education and training programs. Currently, able-bodied Wisconsinites with school-aged dependent children are required to work, or receive at least 80 hours of education or training to receive FoodShare benefits. With his veto of this requirement, Governor Evers made it clear that he would like able-bodied Wisconsinites to remain on welfare even if they choose not to work or participate in a workforce training or education program.
Removed more than $2 million in funding for telehealth services. Given the shortage of healthcare personnel, particularly in rural communities, telehealth and the need for innovation is the future of healthcare.
Deletion of the direct sale of motor vehicles from manufacturers. As the author of the Electric Vehicle Freedom Act of 2017, I believe that consumers should have the ability to purchase whichever vehicle they would like, unfettered from government interference.
Elimination of $15 million for local road aid. Legislative Republicans passed a transportation budget that tripled the Local Road Improvement Program's aid to $90 million. Governor Evers eliminated $15 million in local road aid. This action essentially creates a $75 million slush fund that allows DOT to prioritize which projects get funded, rather than directing resources to the Local Road Improvement Program as the legislature intended. Many of the funds from the budget would have gone toward rural projects designed to make Wisconsin roads safer.
60th District Events
The following are events that will be held this week, in the 60th Assembly District. If you have any upcoming events that you would like included in weekly 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| |
