The start of June has brought us warmer weather and a renewed sense of normal, as many COVID related restrictions have been lifted. This week, we kicked off Pride Month, when we celebrate and continue working toward equality for the LGBTQ+ community. We also recognize our dairy farmers and producers in June during Dairy Month.
In this week’s newsletter, you will find a summary of Executive Orders related to Pride Month, the latest state budget deliberation updates, information about Free Fun Weekend at our state parks, and more.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Governor Evers Signs Executive Orders in Celebration of Pride Month
Governor Tony Evers signed three executive orders on Tuesday in celebration and recognition of Pride Month. The first one, Executive Order #120, orders that the Rainbow Pride Flag to be flown over the Wisconsin State Capitol during the month of June. This is the third year the Rainbow Pride Flag will fly over the capitol.
Executive Order #121 directs cabinet agencies to use gender neutral language whenever practicable in external documents, including but not limited to: using gender neutral terms and pronouns, drafting to eliminate the need for pronouns, omitting superfluous gendered words, and avoiding reference to gendered family relations.
Executive Order #122 prohibits state and federal funds to be used for conversion therapy for minors.
Click here to read more about the recent executive orders.
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met and rejected a plan from Gov. Evers to invest an additional $15 million in Wisconsin’s unemployment system. During the pandemic, people who lost their jobs faced unnecessary delays in accessing Unemployment Insurance compensation due to the greatly outdated software still in use by the Department of Workforce Development. The governor’s budget plan included nearly $80 million for needed computer upgrades, but that investment was cut by Republicans last month.
JFC Republicans also cut $40 million in forgivable loans for Wisconsinites to replace lead water pipes. This not only leaves dangerous lead service lines in place but also makes the eventual replacement of these lead pipes more expensive.
JFC Republicans also cut $20 million that would have gone to food pantries and other food providers so that they could purchase food grown and produced in Wisconsin.
The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections met this week and passed Assembly Bill 198 on a party-line vote with all Democrats voting no. The bill prohibits election workers from correcting minor errors on absentee ballot envelopes. Such corrections, which have long been common practice, include completing missing address information for a witness. To be clear, under current law, a Clerk already may not make any changes to a voter’s actual ballot. The changes they make are clerical in nature and involve information requested on the envelope, not the ballot itself.
The bill would not require that a Clerk contact a voter in a manner which would give them time to cure the problem themselves, nor would it allow a voter to have the Clerk make the correction if they are unable to do so themselves in time. The proposed bill could lead to legally cast ballots going uncounted. This is one of many bills advanced by Republicans this session that makes it harder for citizens to cast an absentee ballot.
Voting and civil rights groups like the ACLU, Common Cause, Disability Rights Wisconsin, and the League of Women Voters have expressed opposition to this bill. The cities of Madison and Milwaukee have also raised concerns.
It is appalling that if someone makes an honest and easily correctable clerical error, we would not let their ballot count. Voting is a fundamental, constitutional right that should be protected. I voted against this bill because it makes it more likely your legally cast vote may go uncounted.
As of June 4, over 5.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Wisconsin, and over 2.8 million Wisconsinites have received at least one dose. Nearly 2.5 million residents have completed the vaccine series. Dane County leads the state in COVID-19 vaccination rate.
On Tuesday, all public health orders in Dane County were lifted, including mask requirements and gathering and capacity limits. Individual businesses and organizations may continue to choose to enforce their own policies. It is strongly recommended that school and youth settings continue to require masks in indoor settings, as outlined in the latest CDC guidance. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) will continue targeted testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts.
PHMDC has announced that COVID-19 testing and vaccination at the Alliant Energy Center will end on June 30. Until then, you can sign up here for a drive-through/walk-through appointment if you have not yet been vaccinated or need to be tested.
If you have not done so already, please schedule your vaccination appointment as soon as you are able. The Vaccine Assistance Hotline is available toll-free at 844-684-1064 for assistance with your vaccine-related questions. You can also text your zip code to 438829, or visit vaccine.gov to find a vaccine near you.
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced the expansion of their available services to include walk-in customers at Job Centers effective on June 1.
During the public health emergency, Job Center operations shifted to a largely virtual environment with in-person services by appointment only. This next phase of operations will shift focus to provide a mix of walk-in and virtual services.
To find the nearest job center and resources available near you, including workforce partner services, please visit JobCenterofWisconsin.com/directory.
Starting Monday, the Lacy Road ramp to US 14 westbound (northbound) in Fitchburg will be closed until late October 2021. Drivers must use alternate local routes, such as the McCoy Road on ramp to US 14 westbound. Temporary traffic signals are in place at the County MM and McCoy Road intersection to mitigate traffic backups in the area. The County MM ramp to US 14 westbound is expected to reopen on Saturday. The US 14 project is scheduled for completion in November 2021.
Meanwhile, the Flex Lane project on the Beltline from Whitney Way to I-39/90 continues as well, with periodic ramp and lane closures, until the end of the year.
On June 5 and 6, the Department of Natural Resources will host the 9th annual Free Fun Weekend. All state parks, trails, and fishing will be open to the public at no cost. Parks will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. during these two days. Concessions will operate at 50% capacity, and there will be no use of adaptive rental equipment. There is no need for state park admission stickers, trail passes or fishing licenses for these two days. Click here to learn more about how you can enjoy our great state parks for free on June 5 and 6.
In 1982, Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus made history when he signed a bill into law protecting gay Wisconsinites from housing, employment and public accommodation discrimination. This was the first time that a bill supporting LGBTQ+ rights became law in the United States.
Things happening in the district & around Madison:
Bird and Nature Outing | Tenney Park
Saturday, June 5 2021
2:30-4:30 PM
Tenney Park
1330 Sherman Ave
Madison, WI 53703
Good Native Plants with Susan Scott ~ Nature-expert guided walks in Tenney Park along Lake Mendota and the Yahara River Parkway bike path through the Madison Isthmus are free, family-friendly and held the first Saturday of each month, from 2:30-4pm. The walk begins at the Tenney Beach parking lot, 1330 Sherman Avenue. No registration required. No pets are allowed.
Forward Madison FC vs. Union Omaha | Breese Stevens Field
Sunday, June 6 2021
5:00 PM
Breese Stevens Field
917 E Mifflin St
Madison, WI 53703
Cheer on first place Forward Madison FC as they take on Union Omaha.
Madison Mallards vs. Traverse City Pit Spitters | Warner Park
Monday, June 7 2021
6:05 PM First Pitch
Warner Park
2920 N Sherman Ave
Madison, WI 53704
Cheer on the Madison Mallards baseball team as they continue their first week of Northwoods League play against the Traverse City Pit Spitters.
6/08, visit Hilldale for a day of live entertainment, games, sidewalk sales, and (608) Day specials from your favorite Madison shops and restaurants.
Conservation Park Tour | Meadow Ridge Park
Wednesday, June 9 2021
6:00 PM
Meadow Ridge Park
4002 Meadow Valley Drive
Madison, WI 53704
Cherokee Marsh - Mendota Unit and Meadow Ridge Conservation Park. Meet at Meadow Ridge Park, 4002 Meadow Valley Drive.Volunteer efforts and deer population management are yielding a more sustainable plant community at these diverse sites. Conservation Park Tours are a staff-guided, easy walk held seasonally at various conservation parks. These events are free to attend, family-friendly and no registration is required. Walks are held rain or shine.
After a year off, the Elvehjem Neighborhood Garage Sales are back, and participation is FREE! The Neighborhood Garage Sales will be Thursday, June 10th - Saturday, June 12th.
Sign up at the following link by Friday, June 4th to have your sale included on the map that will be advertised in the Wisconsin State Journal, Craigslist, and more!www.theENA.org/garage-sales