It is hard to believe the last few days of August are already upon us. Summer always seems to fly by a little too fast. As the start of school approaches in the midst of the pandemic, our teachers and students face unique challenges. I wish all of them well for a safe, healthy, and productive school year.
In this week's newsletter, you will find a COVID-19 update, news from the University of Wisconsin, information about how the proposed Less for Rx Plan could help people who rely on diabetes medications, and more.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Gov. Evers announced this week a new $100 incentive for Wisconsinites who have yet to receive the COVID19 vaccine. Wisconsin residents who receive their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine, including the Pfizer shot, which has now received full approval by the FDA, from a Wisconsin provider between August 20 and September 6 can receive a $100 Visa gift card. Wisconsinites ages 12 and older are eligible for the reward, and proof of insurance, I.D., or citizenship are not required to be eligible for the vaccine or the incentive.
In order to receive the $100 Visa gift card, Wisconsin residents will need to fill out the form available at 100.wisconsin.gov. Information submitted will be used for verification, and the cards will be mailed to the individual's Wisconsin address and may take up to six weeks to be mailed to participants.
Click here for more information or call (844) 684-1064.
This week, UW System President Tommy Thompson announced that the UW System will enact COVID-19 safety measures, despite actions by Republicans on the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR), to block the UW system from implementing these public health policies in response to the pandemic. I support this decision and believe that the University system is acting within its authority, which is why I voted against the Republicans’ resolution to interfere with the University’s pandemic response when it came before JCRAR.
The UW System has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for its students and staff. President Thompson stated that the UW System Board of Regents believes it has “complete authority to regulate, to control, supervise and maintain the structures on our campuses, but also at the same time, provide for the safety and the welfare of all of our faculty, our employees and of course, our great students.” Thompson also said that had these rules been in place in 2020, it would have prevented campuses from requiring everything from masks to testing or even quarantining students who tested positive for COVID.
I am disappointed that Republicans have indicated they will pursue legal action against the UW, and am thankful that the Board of Regents has taken decisive action to protect health and safety on campus.
Federal Extended Unemployment Insurance End September 4
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is encouraging Wisconsin residents to prepare for the end of federal Unemployment Insurance programs. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the extension of federal unemployment programs ends Saturday, September 4, 2021. Individuals with claims pending for weeks prior to September 5, 2021 will be paid for each week they are found eligible. This includes Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation.
Republicans Continue to Perpetuate Big Lie, Waste Tax Dollars
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced this week that he now believes a “cyber-forensic” audit of the November 2020 election results is necessary in Wisconsin. This sham of an investigation will cost Wisconsin taxpayers nearly $700,000. Former President Trump’s own Attorney General, Bill Barr, stated that the November 2020 election was the most secure election in history.
Speaker Vos has decided to play a dangerous game, and undermine our democracy. As a member of the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee, I will continue to fight against these ridiculous shenanigans that Republicans have decided they must engage in to please a defeated and twice-impeached president.
Earlier this month, Gov. Evers and I introduced legislation to reduce the high cost of prescription drugs. The Less for Rx Plan was developed from recommendations of the bipartisan Governor’s Task Force on Reducing Prescription Drug Prices.
Two proposals in the plan deal with the high costs of insulin, and other diabetes medication:
-LRB 3333 establishes an insulin copayment cap. This legislation would prohibit every health insurance policy in Wisconsin that covers insulin and imposes cost sharing on prescription drugs from charging more than $50 for a one-month supply of insulin. This will help those who struggle to pay for insulin be able to afford this lifesaving drug.
-LRB 3335 creates a value-based diabetes medication pilot program in Wisconsin, under which a pharmacy benefit manager and pharmaceutical manufacturer are directed to create a value-based, sole-source arrangement to reduce the costs of prescription diabetes medication.
All Wisconsinites need and deserve access to affordable healthcare, including prescription drugs, and the Less for Rx Plan could provide some much needed relief to patients struggling to afford potentially lifesaving medications they or their children need.
Gov. Evers Announces Grants to Help Communities Rebound and Recover
Gov. Tony Evers announced this week two new competitive grant programs to help communities across Wisconsin rebound and recover from the coronavirus pandemic by providing $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help communities build long-term, sustainable economic success.
Today’s announcement includes a $200 million Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program, as well as a $50 million Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment grant program for transformational capital projects that will help neighborhoods recover from the pandemic and that address the equity gap in our state—like housing projects, transit and childcare solutions, and increasing access to healthcare in underserved communities.
Local and tribal governments will be eligible to apply for Neighborhood Investment Fund Grants to help their communities to deliver innovative public services, including new or improved facilities. Governments could pursue new projects like workforce and entrepreneur innovation centers, affordable housing initiatives, transit and childcare solutions, or public space development, with a particular emphasis on increasing services for underserved individuals and populations.
The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grants will provide funding to local and tribal governments or non-profit healthcare organizations to invest in capital projects that specifically support increasing access to healthcare for low income, uninsured, and underserved communities and the ability to respond to future pandemics response needs. Projects could include new or upgraded facility space that enables additional capacity for care within a community.
The Wisconsin Legislature established the Rustic Roads program in 1973 to help citizens and local units of government preserve what remains of Wisconsin's scenic, lightly traveled country roads. The first of these roads, Rustic Road #1, was established in 1975 by the Department of Transportation Rustic Road #1 is a 5 mile gravel road north of Rib Lake and travels through hills and valleys created by the last Wisconsin glacier nearly 12,000 years ago.
Unique brown and yellow signs mark the routes of all officially-designated Rustic Roads. These routes provide bikers, hikers, and motorists an opportunity to leisurely travel through some of Wisconsin's scenic countryside. There are currently 122 designated Rustic Roads spanning almost 740 miles through 61 counties. Three separate Rustic Road routes can be found here in Dane County.
If you’re interested in sustainable farming practices and how fish gets to your plate, an upcoming virtual event is for you. The second annual Sea Grant Great Lakes Aquaculture Days will take place Aug. 31 through Sept. 2. This year, the event is moving from a single day to three days of fun-filled aquaculture learning opportunities!
Picturing a Nation: American Drawings and Watercolors
Wednesday, September 1
12 PM - 5 PM
Chazen Museum of Art
750 University Ave
Madison, WI 53706
A survey of American drawings from the 18th century to the early 20th century will introduce audiences to a range of artists, from anonymous to well-known practitioners, who excelled in a variety of drawing media and subject matter. Organized by the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Picturing a Nation: American Drawings and Watercolors traces colonial folk art to European-inspired academic styles to a distinctly modern, American form of draftsmanship.
UW Men’s Soccer
Thursday, September 1
7 PM
UW McClimon Track/Soccer Complex
702 Walnut St
Madison, WI 53705
Come support the Badgers as they take on Western Michigan in an early season soccer matchup. Free admission.
Westside Community Market
Every Saturday
7 AM - 12:30 PM
UW Health Digestive Health Center Parking Lot
750 University Row
Madison, WI 53705
Your neighborhood, vendor-run, community farmers’ market featuring a diverse selection of fresh produce, Wisconsin cheese and meats, honey, eggs, fresh bakery, cut flowers, plants, hand-crafted foods and more, all from Wisconsin farmers & food artisans.
Bird and Nature Adventures
Saturday, September 4
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Tenney Park Beach
1330 Sherman Ave
Madison, WI 53703
Enjoy seeing Madison's shorelines from a duck's point of view! Free naturalist-guided MSCR Pontoon Nature Tours will be offered first-come, first-served on Saturday, September 4 at 1pm and at 2:30pm, check-in when you arrive at the Pontoon Pier. No registration required.
