This week's survey

This week, Senator Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) and Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), introduced LRB-3580, relating to: incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. I oppose this legislation, as it emboldens the nanny state and establishes new statewide mandates. Wisconsin schools are already overburned with excessive government regulation. More government mandates will not improve educational outcomes. School districts should encourage, not mandate the teaching of cursive writing.

According to the bill's authors, "Cursive writing trains the brain to integrate visual and tactile information and fine motor dexterity. Printing and typing do not stimulate the synchronicity between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, but cursive does. Cursive requires different muscles and a different part of the brain than regular writing, and it can help grade school students develop their motor skills."

At this writing, fifteen states require students to be proficient in cursive, and Ohio recently passed bipartisan legislation regarding cursive proficiency. Last session, an identical bill, (2019 Assembly Bill 459) passed the full Assembly and the Senate Committee on Education. The bill never made it to the Senate floor due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please take a moment to answer this week's survey question regarding the incorporation of cursive writing into the state's English language arts curriculum. 

Click here for my survey

Survey Results

Thank you for answering last week's survey question regarding the state's acceptance of federal Medicaid dollars. In total, 108 individuals responded to last week's survey question. 

Sixty percent of respondents opposed accepting $1.5 billion in federal funds to expand Medicaid. Conversely, just thirty-six percent of respondents supported Medicaid expansion. 

What is more, four percent of respondents voted "other." Responses include:

"Yes, and we should embrace Medicare-for-All like the rest of the world."

"America was never intended to become a welfare country. There is no legal reason that my tax dollars should cover anyone else's medical needs. Historically, we as Americans have always been the world leaders in giving to charities and those in need. There is no reason we should be forced to by use of illegal taxation."

Assembly floor session

This week, the Wisconsin Assembly passed the following legislation:

Assembly Bill 293: Making Wisconsin a Second Amendment Sanctuary State

Assembly Bill 293 makes Wisconsin a Second Amendment sanctuary state in two ways. First, it prohibits state funds or personnel from enforcing a federal act, law, statute, rule, regulation, treaty, or order that takes effect on or after January 1, 2021, if it bans or attempts to regulate firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition. 

Additionally, the bill would require any firearms manufacturer in Wisconsin to stamp the firearm so that it reads "Made in Wisconsin" to further protect the rights of Wisconsinites by nullifying the federal government's use of the interstate commerce clause to confiscate firearms. 

Assembly Bill 336: Ending Federal Unemployment Insurance Programs

Employers throughout the state have said the inability to find workers has reached a crisis level. The past year has been difficult for everyone, especially those who were forced to close their businesses and lose their livelihoods. For those who have remained at work during the past year, many are feeling overwhelmed and overworked. Longer hours, double shifts, and fewer days off have made it more difficult for those who have remained employed throughout the pandemic. 

Assembly Bill 336 would end Wisconsin's participation in federal unemployment benefit programs and reinstate the work search requirements for unemployment insurance. Assembly Bill 36 would terminate Wisconsin's participation in federal supplemental unemployment insurance programs, effective as soon as these agreements with the federal government can be terminated (30 days):

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA)--This program provides a maximum weekly benefit of $370 to workers who are not otherwise eligible for regular state unemployment insurance benefits, such as self-employed individuals and certain independent contractors, as well as those with limited recent work history.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program--The program provides more than fifty-three weeks of payments to individuals who have exhausted their regulator twenty-six weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits. PEUC does not apply to those receiving PUA.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program--FPUC, as it is referred, provides additional federal benefits (currently $300 per week) to individuals receiving unemployment insurance. 
• Mixed-Earner Unemployment Compensation program--MEUC provides an additional $100 per week payment to individuals who are receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits and earned at least $5,000 in net earnings from self-employment in the tax year prior to the individual's initial claim.

The second part of Assembly Bill 336 prohibits DWD from waiving the work search requirement for any reason that is related to COVID-19. President Biden has directed the United States Secretary of Labor to work with states to reinstate the work search requirements for unemployment insurance recipients. At this writing, thirty-six other states have restored the work search requirement. 

With the passage of this bill, Wisconsin joins nearly half of the other states in ending these enhanced unemployment benefits before September. 

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 in my weekly e-update, please contact my office. 

Farmers Market, June 13, Saukville

Parent/Grandparent and Child Trek: Tubing the Milwaukee River, June 11, Saukville

Ian Gould Music, June 13, Saukville

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Fishing Outing, June 13, Port Washington

Kid's Kickoff to Summer, June 12, Cedarburg

Twilight Horse Show, June 12, West Bend

Stay up to date

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