Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of my e-update. The tulips around the Capitol are beginning to open and I hope the potential snowfall this weekend is the last blast of winter for the year. I had a busy week serving the people of the 87th Assembly District and I am excited to share with you what I have been up to.
As always, please feel free to contact my office to share your thoughts on the state budget or other state issues. I look forward to hearing from you.
Continuing the Conversation on Dairy
In Wisconsin, the dairy industry is part of who we are as a state and one of the key parts of our state's economy. Dairy also plays an important role in the local economy in many places around the 87th Assembly District. With dairy's importance to our state, I think it is important for us in the legislature to learn more about the issues impacting this important industry. This will help us as we search for ways to strengthen the dairy industry in our state.
Earlier this year, the Assembly Committee on Agriculture held a joint hearing with the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue, and Financial Institutions to hear from experts about the dairy market crisis and other issues facing Wisconsin's dairy producers. I learned a lot at this first hearing and I am pleased that the discussion on this important topic continued earlier this week with another joint hearing with our Senate colleagues. I look forward to continuing the conversation with constituents, colleagues, and stakeholders on how to strengthen our state's dairy industry as the session continues.
While I am on the topic of dairy, I would like to take a moment to tell you about a dairy-related bill I have recently co-authored that I hope will help drive new innovations in the dairy industry. This bill would provide $7.9 million each year to fund a Dairy Innovation Hub at three University of Wisconsin campuses (UW-Madison, UW-River Falls, and UW-Platteville). As a part of these innovation hubs, new programs will be offered in the areas of animal health and welfare, human health and nutrition, land and water resources, and farm businesses and communities. One of the major goals of these innovation hubs will be to help generate new discoveries to keep our state a global leader in dairy research and to create new potential markets for our state's dairy producers. This legislation is still circulating in the legislature for support and will be formally introduced in the coming weeks.
Click on the picture above to watch the joint hearing on the Dairy Crisis.
Meeting with the Governor
I welcomed the opportunity on Wednesday morning to sit down for a few moments with Governor Tony Evers. I believe we had a productive meeting and I look forward to more conversations in the future. While I may not always see eye to eye with Governor Evers, as I often tell folks around the district, he is my governor and I am willing to work with him when I believe his policies are in the best interests of the people of the 87th District.
Under the Dome
Wisconsin Towns Association
On Tuesday, I met with some folks from the Town of Johnson in Marathon County who were at the Capitol as a part of a group from the Wisconsin Towns Association. We discussed the state budget and other issues important to them and their communities.
Wisconsin Public Broadcasting
On Wednesday I had the chance to meet with a couple of representatives from Wisconsin Public Broadcasting to discuss the services they provide to the public and their priorities for the state budget.
Wisconsin Realtors Association
To finish off a busy Wednesday, I met with some members of the Wisconsin Realtors Association, including the Kaisers from Ladysmith. I enjoyed chatting with them about things important to their members this session, including keeping the property tax cap in place and first-time homebuyer savings accounts.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who came out to my second round of state budget listening sessions on Monday. I truly appreciate everyone who took time out of your day to come and share their thoughts with me. I am better able to advocate for your interests in the State Assembly when I know what the people of the 87th Assembly District are thinking.
If you were unable to make it to my listening sessions and would like to share your thoughts and concerns on the state budget, you can do so by email at Rep.Edming@legis.wi.gov or by phone by calling (888) 534-0087. I look forward to hearing from you.
Stay Up to Date
One of the best ways to stay up to date with what is going on in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking service. This service allows you to follow legislative activity in Madison. Once you create a free account you can sign up to receive notifications about specific bills or committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject area (i.e. agriculture, veterans). You can sign up for this service at notify.legis.wisconsin.gov.
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If you have any thoughts regarding the subject of this E-Update, please feel free to contact me.
State Capitol Room 109 West - PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708 Toll-Free (888) 534-0087 or (608) 266-7506 Email: Rep.Edming@legis.wisconsin.gov