Congratulations to all of the high school graduates who have either already graduated or will be doing so soon. I wish you good luck in your future endeavors.
In this week’s newsletter, you will find news about Wisconsin’s revenue surplus, information on legislation I am introducing, the latest on the state budget, and more.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Wisconsin Revenue Estimates Show $4.4 Billion Surplus
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released new revenue estimates for Wisconsin this week showing that revenue projections are $4.4 billion higher than previously estimated for the 2021-2023 biennium. Wisconsin’s economic success and recovery from COVID-19 is a testament to the strong leadership of President Biden and Governor Evers. The memo from LFB specifically mentioned that the primary factor behind the increased revenue is the American Rescue Plan Act championed by President Biden.
Legislative Republicans have been hampering our state’s recovery by gutting education funding, as well as refusing to expand BadgerCare, both of which leave billions of dollars in federal funding on the table. It could not be clearer that the time is now to invest in Wisconsin and its people.
This week, I began circulating a bipartisan bill to make it easier for new moms to breastfeed when they return to work. The Healthy Babies, Working Mothers Act would ensure that new moms who take unpaid break time to breastfeed or express breast milk do not lose eligibility for employer sponsored health insurance as a result; would require appropriate accommodations such as privacy while pumping and refrigerated storage for breast milk; and would update Wisconsin law to bring it in line with federal standards.
No new mom should have to choose between making the healthy choice of breastfeeding her baby and returning to work to provide for her family. This Act would update state law and remove barriers for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace, and could be make difference for a new mother returning to work in today’s tight labor market.
I have introduced this legislation in each session since 2015, after I heard from a constituent who lost her family’s health insurance because the short, unpaid breaks she took to pump breast milk put her just below the hours threshold needed to qualify for insurance. This year, with bipartisan sponsors and support in both legislative chambers, I am more hopeful than ever that we can get this legislation across the finish line.
The full Assembly met on Tuesday, and took up two ill-conceived pieces of legislation. I voted against both.
Assembly Bill 293 attempts to make Wisconsin a so-called “2nd Amendment sanctuary state.” This bill would enshrine into state law that enumerated powers of the federal government do not apply to the state of Wisconsin, which is clearly unconstitutional. The notion of a “2nd Amendment sanctuary state” is built upon the inaccurate belief that commonsense gun laws that keep our communities safe, such as requiring background checks for gun sales, are unconstitutional. Such laws simply keep guns out of the hands of those who should not possess them.
Assembly Bill 336 eliminates enhanced federal unemployment insurance (UI) for Wisconsinites. Assembly Republicans voted for this bill to undermine the effectiveness and popularity of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. A recent JP Morgan report illustrated that cutting unemployment insurance payments to those who lost their jobs to no fault of their own is tied to politics, not economics and could actually harm the state economically by reducing consumer spending. Unemployment is down significantly, a good economic sign, and those still seeking work face new challenges in the face of childcare centers that have not reopened, reduced transportation access, or access to jobs paying comparable wages or requiring comparable skills to the ones they lost.
To be clear, Wisconsin must address our workforce shortage, but this is not the solution. The shortage predated the pandemic, and workforce participation is nearly as high and unemployment nearly as low as before the pandemic. The challenge must be addressed by attracting people to the state, addressing immigration policy, and increasing available childcare and worker training, not by making life even harder for those already struggling in the face of job loss.
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met twice this week to consider various budget items.
On Tuesday, JFC Republicans cut $800 million from Governor Evers’ capital budget request. I am disappointed that this cut included funding for a new engineering building at UW-Madison. This project would have allowed UW-Madison to increase the capacity of the College of Engineering by 1,000 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students, which are critical parts of the skilled workforce pipeline that helps drive Wisconsin’s economy.
JFC Republicans also effectively voted to delay the statutory obligated closure of the Lincoln Hills near Merrill, and replace it with a new Juvenile Corrections Facility in Milwaukee, which is something that many in both parties agree needs to be done. Our juvenile corrections system is broken, and fixing it should not be delayed, yet again.
JFC Republicans also voted to cut 50% of mass transit aid to Madison and Milwaukee. This results in a $41 million reduction in state mass transit money for our two most populous cities.
The committee also rejected the Governor’s proposal to create a new DMV service center here in Madison, use a transfer from general funds for road and infrastructure projects, and make permanent a program created during the pandemic that waives the need for in-person driving tests for some drivers under the age of 18.
On Thursday, JFC Republicans voted to increase prison funding by $34.4 million, rather than invest in criminal justice reforms that are proven to have better outcomes than incarceration.
The committee also voted to renew the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program for four years at $32 million per year. This represents a cut of $1 million per year since the last renewal of the program two years ago, and it falls far short of the $70 million per year that Gov. Evers had called for over the next 10 years.
Joint Finance Committee co-chairs indicated they may wrap up their work on the budget next week. It will then head to the full Legislature.
The Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities met this week for a hearing on three bills.
Assembly Bill 371 would make changes to the broadband expansion grant program. Some of the changes, such as increasing the speed standard, are good. At the hearing, though, concerns were raised about other changes in the bill potentially causing unnecessary delays to get broadband to rural communities or causing duplication of grants previously awarded.
Assembly Bill 392 would set up a grant program in order for our municipalities to clean up PFAS, similar to the one cut from the Governor’s budget by the Republicans on Joint Finance. However, the proposed bill includes provisions not in the Governor’s plan that raise serious concerns by providing immunity to polluters, tying the hands of municipalities and their residents who are harmed by PFAS contamination. This alarming provision, supported by big business lobbyists from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, leaves impacted communities without recourse if they are harmed.
Assembly Bill 393 would require the Department of Administration to award a $530,000 grant for a new water supply control system in the city of Waukesha. The bill would require the grant be provided utilizing federal ARPA funds.
As of June 11, over 5.3 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 2.6 million residents have completed the vaccine series. Dane County continues to leads the state in COVID-19 vaccination rate.
On Saturday, June 12, from 11 am to 2 pm, there will be a vaccination on the west side of Madison at JP Hair Design, located at 584 Grand Canyon Drive. UnitedHealthcare Community & State Community Plan of Wisconsin is excited about their community partnership in Dane County focused on expanding access to COVID vaccines. Together with Aaron Perry at the Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association and Fitchburg Pharmacy, they are sponsoring this clinic. People who come to any of the clinics will have access to either the two-dose Pfizer or one-dose J&J vaccine.
Public Health Madison and Dane County 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 first Limburger cheese was produced in the 15th century in what is now the Netherlands. While also produced in other countries, the Chalet Cheese Cooperative in Monroe, Wisconsin, is the only American company that currently makes Limburger cheese.
Limburger starts our firmer and crumbly but softens and becomes smoother as it ages. Once it reaches three months, the cheese produces its notorious smell. The bacterium that causes the smell can also be found on human skin. This odor has been proven to attract mosquitoes.
Starting Friday, Madison Jazz Festival begins with both in-person and virtual concerts. The concert series is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Union and Arts + Literature Laboratory. Not only does the festival celebrate jazz music with incredible performers, but there are also talks to attend as well as during this ten day event.
Westside Community Market
Saturday, June 12th, 2021
7:00 AM
This weekend, the Westside Community Market will have a variety of vendors from 7:00 AM until 12:30 PM. All vendors are located in Wisconsin, and a list of all vendors participating in the weekly market is availablehere. Not all vendors listed be will in attendance every week. The market is located in the parking lot of the UW Health Digestive Health Center, 750 University Row. The market will feature items from Wisconsin farmers, nurseries, and small businesses.
JP Hair Design Vaccine Clinic
Saturday, June 12th, 2021
11:00 AM
On Saturday, JP Hair Design will be hosting a vaccine site from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The site is located at 584 Grand Canyon Drive, Madison. There will be two vaccines offered: the two-dose COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine and the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Currently, the Department of Public Health for Madison and Dane County reports that over-two thirds of Dane County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The event is sponsored by Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association and Fitchburg Pharmacy as a way to make vaccination as accessible as possible. More details can be foundhere.
This Saturday, the Sequoya Library will start its We Read: Summer Kick Off program. The event will be at the Sequoya Library but held outside the building. The Sequoya Library is located at 4340 Tokay Blvd, Madison, Wisconsin. The library encourages unvaccinated people continue to wear their masks. While the program is two hours long, from 12:00 PM to 2:00PM, it is perfectly acceptable to stop by for 10 or 15 minutes. The event is for all ages, and attendees will get to create their very own We Read tote bag.
Next week, the Middleton Public Library’s Library in the Park event will be at Orchid Heights Park. The event is for children and will have free books, as well as the opportunity to participate in the Summer Reading Program from the library. The library recommends wearing a mask while at the library table at the park. The event will last one hour from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
