This week, I had the pleasure of holding a listening session about the state budget with Senator Fred Risser at Meadowridge Library. If you couldn't make it, I hope you can attend another session Monday afternoon at Oakwood Village University Woods. Read on for more about that session, as well as some information about how you can help advocate for Medicaid expansion.
Also included in this week's newsletter are updates about the state budget and the Elections Committee, news about my appointment to the Adoption Task Force, and a Fun Wisconsin Fact.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely, Lisa Subeck State Representative 78th Assembly District
Senator Fred Risser and I enjoyed the opportunity to hold a budget listening session earlier this week at Meadowridge Library. If you couldn’t make it, we would love to hear from you at our next listening session coming up this Monday, June 3rd, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at Oakwood Village University Woods, 6205 Mineral Point Rd, Madison.
Members of the public attending the Oakwood Village listening sessions can park underground (marked P) under Heritage Oaks, level P1. From there take the elevator to the first floor and follow the signage to the Heritage Nakoma/ Westmorland Rooms. Click here for more information.
We will discuss Governor Evers’s 2019-21 state budget proposal, as well as the changes that have been made by the Joint Finance Committee and where the budget process stands today. We hope you will stop by to share your thoughts, concerns, or questions, or to learn more about the state budget. If you are not able to attend, please feel free to use the feedback form at the link above to let us know your views.
Whether you want to let us know how you feel about Medicaid Expansion, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies initiative, the condition of Wisconsin roads, or any other state budget priorities, we hope to see you at Oakwood Village on Monday.
On Wednesday, I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Dodgeville and bring the fight for Medicaid to southwestern Wisconsin. I had the pleasure of hearing from local community members and activists about the importance of quality, affordable health care as we discussed the Medicaid expansion and the 2019-21 state budget.
70% of Wisconsinites agree -- Wisconsin needs to accept federal Medicaid expansion funds that would enable us to expand health care access in our state. Accepting the full expansion would lower health care premiums for everyone, save our state over $300 million, trigger $1.6 billion in new federal dollars invested in our healthcare system, and increase everyone’s access to affordable, quality care.
Unfortunately, Joint Finance Republicans voted to remove the Medicaid expansion from the 2019-21 state budget.
If you want to help push back against Republican legislators’ disregard of the people’s voice, please fill out the petition to show your support of Medicaid expansion, and share with your friends and family across the state.
State Budget Update - Clean Water and Higher Education
This week, the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee voted on portions of Governor Evers’s budget relating to clean water and the University of Wisconsin System. Unfortunately, Republicans voted to strip out key provisions of the Governor’s plan, once again moving the state budget in the wrong direction.
Governor Evers’s budget proposal delivered on his promise to make 2019 the “Year of Clean Drinking Water” in Wisconsin by investing in scientific research and including additional staff to work on factory farm permits and address water quality issues.
Protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink should not be a partisan issue, but Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee ignored the will of the people once again by stripping increased CAFO regulation from the Governor’s budget, failing to restore needed scientific research through the creation of the Natural Resources Science Bureau, and neglecting to expand the well compensation grant program for families dealing with contaminated wells.
Republicans also rejected major investments to the UW System, choosing to cut nearly $70 million in funding from the Governor’s budget, including programs that are critical to our state’s workforce such as nursing and engineering. The UW System contributes $24 billion to the state’s economy each year, a 23-fold return on the state’s investment. Instead of putting politics over people, Republicans should follow Governor Evers’s lead and fully fund the UW System.
This week, I was honored to be appointed Vice Chair of the new Speaker's Task Force on Adoption. Previous Assembly task forces have been effective in proposing bi-partisan legislation on a number of important issues.
Legislators on the task force will examine the termination of parental rights; identify ways to shorten the timeline for adoptions; evaluate the costs of adoption and ways to reduce the amount; and increase awareness and resources pertaining to adoption.
The task force has a total of 16 members from both political parties and is chaired by Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc). I am looking forward to working with my fellow committee members to address the challenges faced by biological and adoptive parents in the adoption process.
On Wednesday, the Committee on Campaigns and Elections held a joint hearing along with our counterpart committee in the Senate on a handful of bills relating to election law.
Our committee considered Assembly Bill 203, a proposal to allow in-person absentee ballots to be tabulated immediately rather than on Election Day. Potential benefits of this proposal include increased access for disabled voters, reduced numbers of damaged ballots that would have to be recreated by poll workers, and large cost savings, although some expressed concerns that the proposal could make it easier to tamper with voting equipment. Discussion of the bill will continue, and it is possible that it will be amended to address concerns raised in the hearing.
The committee also considered three proposals, Assembly Bills 245, 246, and 247, which included a number of small fixes and changes requested by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The bills update and clarify several provisions in the elections statutes they help enforce. The goal of these bipartisan bills is to help ensure the efficient and proper administration of elections in Wisconsin.
June 1-2 is the “Free Fun” Weekend in Wisconsin! This means that all state parks will have no entry fees, users of DNR trails will not need a pass, and no licenses will be needed for fishing. Whether you enjoy biking, hiking, horseback riding, camping, or any other activity, I encourage you to get out and enjoy Wisconsin’s beautiful natural resources in any way you can.
June is right around the corner, and not only does that mean the beginning of summer break for students across Wisconsin, it’s also National Dairy Month! June Dairy Month began as a way to distribute extra milk during the warm months of summer. The commemoration was established in 1937 by grocer organizations sponsoring “National Milk Month.” By 1939, June became the official “Dairy Month.”
Known as America’s Dairy Land, Wisconsin produces a lot of milk and cheese. In fact, if Wisconsin were its own country, it would rank 4th in the world for cheese production, behind only the rest of the U.S, France and Germany. So to celebrate National Dairy Month, enjoy some fresh Wisconsin cheese. It’s Gouda for you!
Things happening in the district & around Madison:
Ride the Drive Sunday, June 2 11 am - 3 pm John Nolen Drive from Olin Avenue to E. Wilson/Williamson Streets
In its 11th year, Ride the Drive is one of the premiere events of the summer in Madison. Stroll, roll, pedal or glide free from motor vehicle traffic. This free event offers fun activities, food, and more at three downtown area parks: Brittingham Park, Olin Park and Law Park.
City Ride Monday, June 3 7:45 am Meet at either Tenney Park or Crazylegs Plaza
To celebrate the start of Madison Bike Week 2019, ride downtown with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Common Council members, and city staff.
Elementary Film Fest Thursday, June 6 5:30 pm Sequoya Library
A selection of short films by Madison Schools - MMSD elementary students, and hands-on learning opportunities with artists, filmmakers and animators from Madison Public Library, Wisconsin Public Television, MMSD Arts Education Dept., and the Wisconsin Film Festival.
Saturday Science Saturday, June 1 10 am - 12 pm UW Discovery Building, 330 N Orchard St
The possibilities are endless at this free monthly event for kids and families! Explore interactive exhibits created and presented by high school students from across Wisconsin; create designs with 3-D printing tools, upcycled materials and more and discover your inner engineer.
Verona Hometown Days May 30-June 3
Festival Park, Verona 111 Lincoln St
Celebrate Verona, Wisconsin with Verona Days! Enjoy the food, activities and entertainment, but most all the community that makes Verona special. See more here.
Library Book club - The Warmth of Other Suns Thursday, June 6 2 pm - 3 pm Alicia Ashman Library
Join us on the first Thursday of each month to discuss a variety of types of books from fiction to nonfiction, and enjoy themed snacks!