Legislature Passes Stimulus Package

The State Assembly met on April 13 to pass a series of bills that direct incoming federal stimulus dollars to Wisconsin families and businesses and make necessary investments in Wisconsin’s infrastructure.  These funds are part of the $3.2 billion coming to Wisconsin under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 

These are one-time dollars, and I believe the strategic investments outlined in these proposals are an important step in helping our entire state not just get back to normal as we emerge from the pandemic, but stronger.

One bill, which I introduced, Assembly Bill 235, requires the Governor to allocate $50 million in ARPA funds for rural economic development programs and organizations and an additional $50 million for farm support grants.  Even before COVID-19, economic development in rural Wisconsin lagged behind our urban and suburban areas, but the pandemic hit our rural economies particularly hard. 

The other ARPA bills the Assembly passed with my support include:

  • Assembly Bill 232, which dedicates over $1 billion for 10% payments to property taxpayers.
  • Assembly Bill 233, which allocates $200 million to small businesses hurt by the pandemic.
  • Assembly Bill 234, which directs $75 million for grants to tourism organizations and amusement and theme parks.
  • Assembly Bill 236, which sets aside $150 million for Wisconsin’s nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
  • Assembly Bill 237, which requires the Governor to allocate sufficient funds to the state unemployment reserve fund to keep contribution rates at the lowest levels.
  • Assembly Bill 238, which allocates over $308 million for local roads and bridges.
  • Assembly Bill 239, which directs $500 million for broadband expansion.
  • Assembly Bill 240, which dedicates over $69 million for improving emergency services technology systems and for expanding psychiatric bed capacity in northwestern Wisconsin.
  • Assembly Bill 241, which uses $250 million to retire public debt and another $250 million to retire transportation revenue bonds.
  • Assembly Bill 243, which appropriates $61 million for clean water infrastructure, including lead service line replacement.

The Senate concurred in all of the ARPA bills on April 14.  They will now go to Governor Evers for his approval.  I hope he will take this opportunity to work with the Legislature in allocating these billions of taxpayer dollars in an open, transparent, and accountable way.

In addition to the ARPA package, the Legislature has sent several other proposals to Governor's desk this week, such as Assembly Bill 23 (prohibiting government-imposed COVID vaccine mandates), Assembly Bill 24 (prohibiting local health departments from closing places of worship during the pandemic), and Senate Bill 69, (requiring schools to include instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides at least once in middle school and again in high school).

The Assembly also passed Assembly Bill 242, which creates a sales tax holiday this summer for dining and entertainment venues, which certainly suffered under COVID.  AB 242 will go to the Senate for further consideration.

Budget and Listening Sessions

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee held its first public hearing on the 2021-2023 budget proposal at UW-Whitewater on April 19.  It will hold two more in-person hearings - including one on April 22 at UW-Stout - plus a virtual hearing on April 28.  Registration for the virtual hearing opens April 19 and closes April 26.

As I mentioned in last week's E-Update, I will be holding several listening sessions of my own around the 75th Assembly District next week, at the following dates, times, and locations.  I look forward to hearing your input about the budget!

Monday, April 19, 1:30-2:30 PM

Barron County Government Center auditorium

335 E Monroe Ave, Barron

Friday, April 23, 10:30-11:30 AM

Washburn County Services Center boardroom

304 2nd St, Shell Lake

Friday, April 23, 12:00-1:00 PM

Cumberland City Hall

950 1st Ave, Cumberland

Friday, April 23, 2:00-3:00 PM

Chetek City Hall

220 Stout St, Chetek

COVID Update

Earlier this week, Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that a community-based vaccination clinic will open in Rice Lake on April 20, at the UW-Eau Claire-Barron County.  The clinic will be open 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.  To schedule an appointment, go to the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Registry.

Also this week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that DHS acted improperly when it imposed capacity limits on indoor gatherings last October.  DHS should have gone through the rulemaking process, which would have allowed the Legislature to review the proposed restrictions.  The emergency order had been enjoined pending resolution in the courts and in any case expired in November, but the Supreme Court's decision once again reminds us that even the best intentions don't give a government actor the authority to ignore state law.

Lastly, I received several contacts over the last few weeks from constituents who were concerned about the effect Wisconsin Supreme Court's March 31 decision that struck down the public health emergency would have on FoodShare participants' expanded benefits from the federal government, which depend on Wisconsin being in a state of emergency.  While Governor Evers could have avoided this situation by signing Assembly Bill 1, which included language allowing him to declare a public health emergency if necessary to receive federal emergency funds, he and DHS have now reached a deal with the US Department of Agriculture to accept a limited declaration from DHS and allow the expanded benefits to continue.

Legislative Website

If you are interested in learning more about bills that I have authored, co-sponsored, or voted on, please click here.  This link will take you directly to my Wisconsin State Legislative page.  Also, if you are interested in viewing my office website, click here.