Budget Update

On Thursday, Gov. Evers signed the 2021-2023 state budget into law, but not before making some changes with his partial veto power. By signing the budget, Gov. Evers has ensured that Wisconsin will receive important American Rescue Plan Act dollars that would have been in jeopardy had he not signed it.

The Governor presented the state with a strong and visionary budget proposal that could have paved the way for a better future. Ultimately, Republicans made drastic cuts to school funding and gutted the Governor’s budget, leaving a mere shell of what was possible and presenting the legislature with the false choice of investing in children’s futures or providing tax cuts for hardworking Wisconsinites. This budget never needed to be an either/or scenario that pitted funding our children’s classrooms against tax cuts for hardworking families.

Prior to signing the budget, the Governor was able to work out an additional $100 million in funding for our public school classrooms, helping to fill the hole left by the Republican budget. The Governor’s actions, including the additional school funding, resolves many shortcomings and makes key improvements to the budget, yet to be clear, the budget still falls short.

Most importantly, though, I applaud Governor Evers’s move to find funding that provides an additional $100 million for our public school classrooms while keeping his promise of tax cuts for middle-class families.

Back to top

WI Supreme Court Preserves DNR’s Right to Protect Environment

This week, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court decided two cases involving the power of state agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources. The court looked at a 2011 law that prohibits state agencies from taking any actions not explicitly authorized by the Legislature, and whether that law barred various agencies from exercising power without first getting permission from the Legislature prevented the DNR from making its own decisions on the environment.

The cases more specifically related to DNR’s power over regulation of wells and animals. DNR’s argument claimed to use this power in order to prevent pollution in Wisconsin’s groundwater. The majority of the court in both cases ruled in favor of the DNR, meaning that the DNR had the ability to act when factoring environmental impacts of different areas of concerns. The court’s decision on Thursday is a big win for the environment and for clean water, as the DNR can more fully continue the important work of protecting Wisconsin’s environment.

Back to top

Recreational Vehicle OWI Bill

Currently, if an individual in Wisconsin is caught under the influence of alcohol while operating a boat, an ATV, or a snowmobile, they would not be considered a repeat offender unless they had been previously received an OWI while operating that same, specific type of vehicle. Furthermore, OWI charges while operating these types of recreational vehicles currently do not affect an individual’s driver license. Among other problems, this has created a loophole under which an individual who has lost their driving privileges due to operating while under the influence can drive their snowmobile or ATV while drinking, knowing the penalty will be minimal despite their history and lack of license. It has been reported that some individuals are doing just that – exploiting this loophole to avoid the more serious consequences of repeat offenses for operating while intoxicated. 

Our OWI laws evolved over time, and it is time to standardize and modernize to ensure consistent application. Assembly Bill 280 is a bipartisan proposal that would charge the intoxicated use of separate outdoor recreational vehicles under the same umbrella. Additionally, if an individual is convicted of a repeat offenses for intoxicated use of a recreational vehicle, their driver’s license would be suspended for at least six months. Similarly, if an individual’s driver’s license has been revoked due to drunk driving, they would not legally be able to operate a boat, an ATV, or a snowmobile. I have coauthored this legislation because if you are driving drunk, whether in your car, in your boat, or on your snowmobile, you present a danger to yourself and to the life and safety of others.

I was recently interviewed by Channel 27 about this bill. Click here to watch their story on the bill.

Back to top

Wisconsin Private College Week

The Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) has announced the 25^th annual Wisconsin Private College Week will take place July 12-17, 2021. Prospective students and their families are invited to visit (in-person or virtual) Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges across the state.

During Wisconsin Private College Week, visitors have the opportunity to tour campuses, learn about majors, attend information sessions, discuss financial aid opportunities, meet with admissions counselors, and connect with current students and faculty.

Wisconsin Private College Week participants are encouraged to find the campus that best fits their educational and career needs. Click here to register.

Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit campuses include:
Alverno College, Bellin College, Beloit College, Cardinal Stritch University, Carroll University, Carthage College, Concordia University Wisconsin, Edgewood College, Lakeland University, Herzing University (Kenosha, Madison, Brookfield/Milwaukee), Lakeland University, Lawrence University, Marian University, Marquette University, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Mount Mary University, Northland College, Ripon College, St. Norbert College, Viterbo University, and Wisconsin Lutheran College. 

Back to top

Dr. Jill Underly Inaugurated as State Superintendent

On July 5, Dr. Jill Underly was inaugurated as Wisconsin’s 28th Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Dr. Jill Underly was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the spring and has a deep background in public education. Since 1999, she has worked in all facets of public education from pre-kindergarten through college, as a high school and middle school social studies teacher, a University of Wisconsin College of Letters & Science academic advisor, a Title I Consultant and assistant director at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, an elementary principal and Director of Instruction, and most recently, a rural school district superintendent.

Dr. Underly received bachelor’s degrees in history and sociology from Indiana University-Bloomington, a master’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University-Purdue University, and a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

I look forward to working together with our new Superintendent and congratulate her on her inauguration. I am confident that our schools are in good hands with Dr. Underly at the helm.

Back to top

Wisconsin Fun Fact 

Did you know Wisconsin has a vibrant cherry industry? The birth of the cherry industry in Door County signaled a shift away from subsistence-only farming toward more commercial farming. Cherries were a good fit for the land, given that they could grow in the Door County soil. Cherries started to become a staple in Door County around 1900, after years of trying other fruits and crops with much less success. Door County continues to be a leader in tart cherry production, as 95 percent of Wisconsin’s cherry crop is produced there. With 7 million pounds of cherries produced in Door County every year, it is one of the largest cherry producers in the nation. Now is the time to get Wisconsin cherries, as peak freshness comes in July.

Back to top