Neubauer News - July 2021
July 12, 2021

Dear Neighbor, 

I hope your summer has been going well and that you had a wonderful 4th of July! June was an incredibly busy month in the legislature, and as we move through the month of July, I’m glad to have this time to share updates from the State Capitol in Madison with you all. 

This e-update includes highlights from the last month, along with upcoming events, bills in development, and more! Below, you’ll find:

✔️ Open Office Hours on Tuesday (7/13/21)

✔️ State Budget Update

✔️ COVID-19 Vaccine Information

✔️ Exciting Bill Highlights

Thank you for reading along and for keeping up-to-date on my work in Racine and in Madison! I am so grateful all of you are working to stay informed, support our neighbors, and build a brighter future for our community. Check out the update below, and don’t hesitate to reach out to share any questions or comments you have!

In Solidarity,

 2018 NEUBAUER Signature.jpg

Greta Neubauer

State Representative

66th Assembly District


Open Office Hours on Tuesday, July 13th

July Open Office Hours with Rep. Greta Neubauer

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Racine Public Library

Teen Reading Section (Second Floor) 

I'm excited to host my first in-person Open Office Hours in more than a year! I’ll be at the Racine Public Library tomorrow, June 13th (Tuesday) from 4:00 to 6:00 pm! Drop by the Racine Public Library's teen reading section (on the second floor) to chat about state government, the new budget, local events, and the rest of the legislative session. I'll be here to listen!

***Please note that the Racine Public Library requires face masks for all visitors over age 4 in the Youth Services Department due to the COVID-19 pandemic.***


State Budget Update

Over the past six months, things have been very busy at the Capitol as we worked through the state budget process. Last week, Governor Evers signed the 2021-23 biennial state budget (now 2021 Act 58) into law. 

The budget is the most important bill the legislature will pass in a two-year session. It allocates funding for every part of the state government for the next biennium, but the budget is more than just a financial document – it’s a moral document, reflecting our priorities and the policies we care about as a state.

When Governor Evers proposed the “Badger Bounceback Budget” earlier this year, he shared a bold plan to invest in Wisconsin workers and families, fund Wisconsin’s public schools, and bring home millions in federal funding. It would have increased access to affordable health care, reduced racial disparities, spurred economic development, and provided needed resources for local governments.

But instead of supporting these needed investments, legislative Republicans doubled-down on partisan politics throughout the budget process, cutting popular proposals and putting Wisconsin’s economic security and COVID recovery at risk. Instead of building a brighter future together, legislative Republicans pulled out all the stops to do the bare minimum.

Last week, Governor Evers used his partial veto power to build a better budget for the people of Wisconsin and address some of Republicans’ misplaced priorities. By creating greater flexibility through Wisconsin’s general fund, Governor Evers ensured that our state will have more resources at hand to address immediate and emerging needs in the 2021-23 biennium. He also committed $100 million in additional federal dollars to help ensure our kids get the resources they need in school, and mitigate some of the gaps created by Republican budget cuts.

Our neighbors deserved more in this budget, but I am grateful that we have a governor who uses his veto pen in the interest of the people of Wisconsin. Governor Evers’ actions on the budget will give the legislature another opportunity to restore necessary school funding cut by Republicans in areas like special education and general aid. I will continue working to bring this funding home, so every kid has the opportunity to succeed.

You can read the Governor's full veto message here


Get Vaxxed! COVID-19 Vaccines Available

Wisconsin is making great progress in our fight against COVID-19, but we aren't out of the woods yet! We're now averaging zero COVID deaths each day, but it will take all of us to finish off this disease. As of May 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine is available to all adults in Wisconsin, and many options are available for pre-teens and teens aged 12 and up.

COVID-19 vaccines don’t require insurance, ID, or payments – they are available at no cost to you.

Even if you have had COVID-19 before, it is important to get vaccinated to ensure you don’t get sick with a new variant. Get vaccinated for COVID-19 now and help to protect our community against the virus, including the newer variants!

Looking for places to get your free COVID-19 vaccination? Visit https://www.racinecoronavirus.org/! 


Policy Corner: Updates on Exciting Bills

 Thousands of bills are introduced in the legislature every biennium – here in the policy corner, I like to highlight some of the most interesting, important, or controversial bills that have recently crossed my desk!

Raise the Minimum Wage (2021 SB 452)

Lead Authors: Sen. Melissa Agard, Sen. Bob Wirch; Rep. Lisa Subeck, Rep. Francesca Hong

Am I a cosponsor or author? Yes

What it would do: Increase Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $15 per hour within one year of enactment and adjust the minimum wage to reflect inflation in the future.

Why it’s important: Wisconsin’s minimum wage hasn’t been raised in more than a decade, but Wisconsin’s cost of living has risen dramatically. When our minimum wage doesn’t keep pace, many families end up struggling to pay the bills. Workers deserve to be paid fairly for an honest day’s work, and no one should need to work more than one full-time job just to survive.