News from Nancy

June is Dairy Month. According to Rural Mutual, "In 1937, National June Dairy Month began as a way to promote milk consumption. Few could have predicted the many ways in which dairy would evolve and become a staple in the diets of Americans – especially the devoted dairy fans of Wisconsin. Even before the national celebratory month was established, Wisconsin was officially named America’s Dairyland." For more information on the Wisconsin Dairy Industry and June Dairy Month, including ways to celebrate and support the industry, visit Rural Mutual's site HERE.

This week my colleague Rep. Bob Kulp from Stratford delivered the weekly GOP Radio Address that focuses on Dairy Month. The address includes information on Dairy Month and additional ways to celebrate and support the dairy industry in light of the in-person event cancellations of local fairs and dairy breakfasts. To view text of the address, click HERE.

There are still over 600,000 unemployment claims to be paid in the state. Over the past few weeks my team and I have been fielding phone calls and emails on a daily basis from individuals from the district that are looking for their payments, including unemployment insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). We have been coordinating inquiries with the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and have been doing what we can to help folks track and move claims forward. While we've had some success with the department on that, we're still receiving a high number of inquiries daily and will continue to do whatever we can to help move these claims forward. 

If someone you know is struggling to get through to DWD and they have not done so already, please have them call or email my office using the contact information below with the following details, which we need in order to submit the case to DWD:

1. Full name of claimant (Last name, First Name, Middle Initial)
2. Phone number
3. Date of Birth
4. Date of initial UI Application
5. Status of application (trying to file initial claim, pending, in appeal, etc.)
6. Reason for inquiry (can't get through by phone, unanswered questions, etc.)

We're unfortunately unable to directly expedite individual cases, but we can reach out to DWD and ask them to contact the constituent directly to resolve any problems with their claim(s). The unpaid claims have not only been a huge issue for local friends and neighbors, but for individuals throughout the state.

It's a big problem and because of the issues that so many individuals are experiencing right now, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held an informational hearing last week where they invited DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman and some of his team members in to try to figure out why the payment of claims is taking so long and what can be improved . The full hearing is kind of lengthy, but if you'd like to view the it, you can take a look
HERE on WisconsinEye.

Strong storms hit the southwest part of the state this week including Monroe County. Especially this summer, don't forget about the state resources that are available to residents and local municipal officials via Wisconsin Emergency Management and ReadyWisconsin. You can also follow them on social media for important updates, and don't ever hesitate to contact me and my team to help address an inquiry related to severe weather or state resources that are available to you and your family or your town, village or city.

Please make sure to check out the 2020 US Census information below and continue to utilize my legislative website, legis.wisconsin.gov/
assembly/70/vandermeer
, and follow Rep. Nancy VanderMeer on Facebook to communicate with me and receive up to date information and communication.

 Sincerely,


Nancy VanderMeer
70th Assembly District Representative

Have you filled out your 2020 US Census yet?

Click the graphic above or the link below to complete the census online. It's easy to do. If you haven't received anything from the Census Bureau, you can still respond online without your Census ID number by following the prompts given.

Any person not counted by the end of this summer risks being left out. This summer, the Census Bureau will have to send census takers out to each and every house that hasn't replied.


https://my2020census.gov/

"50 Piece Rule" In Effect Next Week

This will be my last email update until after November 3, 2020.

If you remember, in April, after the Legislature took up and passed a comprehensive legislative package in response to the Coronavirus health emergency, I mentioned that there would probably be a change to the "50 Piece Rule" as a result of that package.

Under s. 11.1205, a Representative who becomes a candidate for office may not use public funds to distribute 49 or more pieces of substantially identical material after the first day for circulation of nomination papers, and that includes electronic communication like this email newsletter.

The change was in fact made in order to allow legislators to continue to send out messages like this after April 15th this year because of the importance of getting communications distributed to constituents during the emergency. That exception was extended through next week and this will be my last planned email update until after November 3rd, 2020.

Thank you for subscribing to these updates and as stated in every message here, please continue to utilize my legislative website,
 legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/70/vandermeerand follow Rep. Nancy VanderMeer on Facebook to communicate with me and receive up to date information and communication. 
Facebook
Website
Our mailing address is:
Suite 11W
P.O. Box 8953
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708

Email: Rep.VanderMeer@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 237-9170

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