Biennial Budget Update

Click here or on the image above to view my full statement on the State Budget

When Governor Evers debuted his budget proposal, I was pleased with the vision he laid out. His budget met the moment and reflected the needs of our communities, making meaningful investments that would have made a huge difference for individuals, families, businesses, schools, and communities across Wisconsin. With the welcome news of a $4.4 billion projected surplus, we also had more money available than any other state budget cycle in recent memory. This meant we could have accomplished everyone’s legislative priorities: we had enough money to invest in schools, infrastructure, healthcare, and deliver a tax cut. 

We could have come together to pass a budget that we could all support, addressing our most pressing needs and uplifting communities across our state with critical and strategic investments. Unfortunately, the Joint Finance Committee removed hundreds of provisions in the state budget on their first day of votes, from expanding BadgerCare to raising the minimum wage to reducing prescription drug prices and more. 

This state budget should have funded our public schools with an increase to our classrooms instead of providing our schools with flat budgets and increased costs. The majority of the K-12 school funding in this budget is school funding in name only, meant to meet the federal government’s maintenance of effort requirements. While it’s important that we meet these requirements, this funding to buy down the property tax levy is not money that can be spent in the classroom. 

To put a finer point on it, on May 27, the Joint Finance Committee voted to approve less than 10% of Governor Evers’ proposal for school funding, while also jeopardizing $2.3 billion in federal funding, failing to meet the state’s maintenance of effort. The federal government requires that funds for K-12 schools and higher education appropriated in our state budget are equal to the funds spent in the 2016-2018 fiscal years to be eligible for increased federal funding. To compensate for this shortfall, the Joint Finance Committee voted to buy down the property tax levy, therefore being able to claim they met the state’s maintenance of effort so we are still eligible for the federal funds.

These one-time federal funds are meant to address learning loss, remediation, COVID-19 mitigation, and mental and social-emotional health. They are not meant to supplant state funding, and the state education funding in name only won’t go into our classrooms. 

In the Stevens Point Public School District alone, the flat funding in the state budget coupled with increasing costs will result in a structural deficit and could lead to an operating referendum. Instead of asking voters to fund our schools via referenda, we should fund our schools through the state budget in the first place. Pushing these decisions to the local level will lead to even more inequity in our public schools.

In addition to education, this budget failed to expand BadgerCare, which would have saved our state $1.6 billion and would have given an additional 90,000 Wisconsinites healthcare coverage. This budget also did not adequately address broadband coverage, opting to borrow $125 million to fund broadband expansion instead of accepting Governor Evers’ proposal of $200 million in state revenues. 

I believe we are capable of more than this. I know from experience that bipartisan compromise is possible, and we have urgent issues to address, from affordable healthcare to water quality and economic security. I am disappointed that the budget as amended squandered this momentous opportunity to fairly fund our schools, support workers and businesses, invest in infrastructure, and balance the budget. 

Throughout the budget process, I advocated persistently for the inclusion of important issues for our community. While I was hoping to be able to support the budget, this state budget leaves too much to chance for our local public schools, and that’s why I voted no. I look forward to the opportunity to keep advocating for the funding and opportunities we need to strengthen communities across Wisconsin and work with my colleagues in both parties to ensure that our state is on a strong path forward. In the coming months, I’ll be introducing legislation that makes up the gaps in this budget and truly supports the people of Wisconsin.

Governor Evers Announces Broadband Expansion Grants

Click here or on the image above to see the Governor’s full statement on the grants

On May 18, Governor Tony Evers announced that he will invest $100 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds into broadband grants administered by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC will award funding through a reimbursement process similar to the current broadband expansion grant program. Under guidance from the U.S. Treasury, eligible broadband projects are expected to:

• Serve unserved or underserved households and businesses
• Meet or exceed upload and download speeds of 100 Mbps
• Prioritize affordability options
• Avoid investment in locations that have existing agreements to build reliable service

The broadband expansion grant program has already awarded over $73 million in broadband grants over the past eight years. Yet, nearly 400,000 Wisconsinites still do not meet the Federal Communications Commission's standards for broadband. While we still have a long way to go, I am encouraged by the governor's dedication to addressing this issue with these needed investments. 

Applications for the ARPA Broadband Access Grants are due on July 27, 2021. The PSC expects to make award decisions in early fall. Approved projects must be completed by December 31, 2024, and there is no minimum or maximum amount of funding an applicant may request.

Click here for forms, instructions, and information on how to apply for the new grants

Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly Visits Stevens Point

On May 10th, I joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly and Stevens Point Area Public School District and school board leaders on a tour at the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County to see the Berard Center. The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County has demonstrated great leadership in our community throughout the pandemic, and I was glad to join Superintendent Jill Underly to share with her the importance of investing in our after school programs.

We were also joined by the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club, Kevin Quevillion. He emphasized that many children in our state spend almost as much time in after school programs as they do in school, especially in the summer months. This past year underscored that after school programs are more than just a place for our children to receive an education -- they are also essential to many working families. The Boys and Girls Club offers enriching and educational activities while parents are hard at work supporting their families, and we appreciate their contributions to workforce development and the economy, in addition to supporting the nurturing and development of our kids.

UI Contribution Rate Bill

On June 10, I introduced legislation with my colleagues Rep. Andraca, Rep. Doyle, Rep. Meyers, and Rep. S. Rodriguez to prevent a rate increase on unemployment insurance contribution rates for employers. Rather than basing the unemployment tax rate on the funds in the Unemployment Trust Fund, this bill would keep the lowest unemployment insurance tax in place through the year 2023, preventing a projected rate increase going into 2022. After the chaos of the past year, with uncertainties in the supply chain and consumer demand, this bill will give businesses the peace of mind they need to recover and grow. With over half of the state being vaccinated and an expected $4.4 billion in revenues, any shortfalls in the unemployment trust fund will be addressed given the current economic forecast.

Just a few weeks later, my legislative colleagues introduced a similar bill to prevent a rate increase, the only difference being that the bill hinged on the passage of the state budget. 

This bill was unanimously passed by the State Senate and Assembly in late June, and I was happy to support it. It now heads to the Governor’s desk where I am confident it will be signed into law. Small businesses are counting on us to provide relief, security, and bipartisan solutions, and I was glad to see this bill swiftly pass through the Legislature. 

BadgerCare Expansion

Click here or on the image above to see the governor’s full statement on the special session.

On May 6, 2021, the Joint Finance Committee voted to remove the BadgerCare expansion from the state budget, in addition to several hundred other provisions. This was despite an analysis conducted by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau which found that taxpayers could save $1.6 billion in state dollars in two years. Thanks to greater incentive funding from the federal coronavirus relief plan, we would be eligible for this higher level of funding if we expand BadgerCare. 

Following their action, Governor Evers declared a special session to expand BadgerCare and invest $1 billion in local economic development projects. Included in these projects was a $5 million investment in The Food + Farm Exploration Center in Central Wisconsin, $200 million to increase the existing broadband expansion grant program, and a $50 million investment to revive the Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids. Unfortunately, on May 25, 2021, Republican legislators gaveled the special session out without taking any action on BadgerCare. While I am very disappointed, I will continue to advocate for the BadgerCare expansion. Shortly after the session was gaveled in and out, Senator Erpenbach introduced the governor's proposal for BadgerCare expansion in the form of legislation. I was proud to sign on as a co-sponsor of this bill so we can provide healthcare to over 90,000 Wisconsinites and fund critical infrastructure projects with the state tax savings from the expansion. Everyone deserves affordable access to health care and the security and peace of mind it provides.

June Dairy Month

June is Dairy Month, and it was great to experience the Feltz Family Farm's June Dairy Drive-Thru! Thanks to them for hosting and making sure so many families can celebrate Dairy Month! 

In May, I also visited Feltz Family Farms and Dairy Store with DATCP Secretary-designee Randy Romanski, WEDC Deputy Secretary Sam Rikkers, Jeff Anderson, Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and Sara Brish, Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director.