E-Update Banner.jpg

In This Edition...


Button_WI-JobCenter.jpgButton_WI-Eye.jpg
CONNECT WITH ME:

Office: 888-534-0087
Rep.Edming@legis.wi.gov

Facebook Button.jpg

A Note from Rep. Edming

Hometown Hero top pic.jpg

Thank you for taking a moment to read my e-update.  January has been very busy in Madison as the spring session is well underway.  Every committee I serve on has met over the past few weeks and many proposals continue to work through the legislative process.  As always, please feel free to reach out to me on issues before the legislature.  I look forward to learning your thoughts.

Signature

Investing in Rural Wisconsin

Last week Governor Walker gave his 2018 State of the State Address to a joint session of the legislature. In his address, the governor said that the state of our state is historically strong and shared some of the very positive news about our state.  The governor also outlined his agenda for 2018 and I am pleased that this agenda includes a couple of very important items for rural Wisconsin.

First, Governor Walker proposed the creation of the Rural Economic Development Fund.  This fund would support the economic development in rural areas of Wisconsin by helping existing small businesses to expand as well as helping to develop new businesses.  This fund would also be used to assist with the training of the people needed to fill the positions created by rural employers.  I look forward to learning more about this proposal in the days ahead.

The second item I wanted to touch on from the governor's address is his support for Assembly Bill (AB) 835/Senate Bill (SB) 690 which will provide more funding to rural schools.  This proposal would increase funding for the sparsity aid program for rural school districts as well as raise the low revenue adjustment for low spending districts. I am proud to co-author this legislation because of the positive impact it will have on the 87th Assembly District.

Under AB 835/SB 690, nearly every school in the 87th District would benefit through increased sparsity aid, an increase in the low revenue adjustment, or both.  I am pleased that this proposal also has the governor's support and look forward to working on it during the spring session. Click here to view a map that shows which school districts will benefit under this legislation.

If you missed Governor Walker's address you can watch it here
 

2018 State of the State.JPG

Click on the picture above to watch Rep. Edming's reaction to the 2018 State of the State Address

Two Edming Authored Bill Advance

Last week, two bills that I authored were advanced by the State Senate and are closer to becoming law.

Senate Bill (SB) 404, which I authored with Senator Patrick Testin (Stevens Point), was passed by the Senate 31-0.  This bill promotes student entrepreneurship by exempting college students enrolled at a post-secondary institution in Wisconsin from paying the initial $130 filing fee for forming a limited liability company (LLC).  SB 404 now moves on to the State Assembly for further consideration.  I hope to see this bill on the floor during one of our February floor sessions.

Assembly Bill (AB) 464, which I authored with Senator Jerry Petrowski (Marathon), was passed by the Senate by a voice vote and now heads to Governor Walker's desk for his signature.  This bill reforms Wisconsin law regarding the height of pole traps used by game preserves to protect their game birds.

More information about these proposals can be found in my previous e-updates.

Removing Red Tape for Camp Doctors

Last Thursday, I testified in front of the Assembly Committee on Health in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 870, a bi-partisan bill I authored that removes some unnecessary red tape for camp doctors

Many summer camps in Wisconsin rely on volunteer physicians to serve as camp doctors.  Many of these volunteer physicians are licensed in another state however current law requires these very capable doctors to go through a very time-consuming process to obtain a temporary license from the State of Wisconsin.

AB 870 seeks to solve this problem by allowing a physician licensed in another state or territory of the United States or a foreign country or province to practice at a camp in Wisconsin for up to 20 working days in a year.  To qualify for this exemption, the licensure standards where the physician is licensed must be substantially equivalent to those in Wisconsin.

To learn more, click here to read my testimony.

AB 870 (1) 1.25.18.JPG

Rep. Edming Testifies in Support of AB 870

Hometown Hero

In my last e-update, I shared that Rusk County Sheriff's Deputy, Matthew Wojcik had been chosen to receive the Wisconsin State Assembly's Hometown Hero Award.  Earlier this month I had the honor to introduce him before the State Assembly and present him with the award on the behalf of the Assembly.  Congratulations again Deputy Wojcik!

If you would like to watch the award presentation click here.  The Hometown Hero portion of the floor session begins at 6:15 in the video.

Hometown Hero 1.16.18.JPG

Rep. Edming and Speaker Robin Vos with Deputy Wojcik and family

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.