Session Recap & Accomplishments

Click on the photo above to view my session recap video

It has been an honor to serve you in the State Assembly again this session.  As you often hear me say, being your state representative is the best job I have ever had.  I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me to serve you.

In my last e-update, I mentioned that three of the bills I authored were coming to the Assembly floor: The Employment First Bill (Assembly Bill 625), The Camp Doctor Bill (Assembly Bill 870), and the Student LLC Filing Fee Exemption Bill (Senate Bill 404).  I am proud to say that all three of them were approved by the Assembly on February 20, 2018, with wide bipartisan support. The Employment First and Camp Doctor Bills now move on to the Senate for further consideration.  I anticipate that they will take these bills up when they are on the floor later this month.  SB 404 heads to the Governor's desk for his consideration.  I hope to see all three of these bills signed into law soon.

Speaking of bipartisan, while it may come as a surprise with what is reported in the media, there has been a lot of bipartisan work going on in the legislature this session.  I am proud to say that every single piece of legislation that I have introduced has earned bipartisan support.  In fact, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau, more than 90% of the new laws that have been enacted so far this session have received bipartisan votes in the State Assembly.

Supporting our District Attorney Offices

One issue I frequently hear concerns about from constituents is the opioid and heroin epidemic that has been plaguing our state.  This epidemic has not only taken a toll on our communities, but it has also significantly increased the caseloads in the criminal justice system statewide, including in counties in the 87th District.  Unfortunately, the staffing in many district attorney offices had not grown with this caseload increase.

To help address this need, I worked with my colleagues in the legislature to pass Senate Bill (SB) 54, which among other things provides an additional 53.75 assistant district attorney (ADA) positions in 40 counties statewide.  I am happy to say that those additional positions include one in both Marathon and Taylor counties.  SB 54 now returns to the State Senate for further consideration.  I hope that the Senate takes up this bill later this month.

Under the Dome

Auctioneer Day at the Capitol
Late last month, I had the chance to stop and talk with individuals from the auction industry who had come for their legislative day. They shared some fascinating information about their industry and even did a bid calling demonstration in the rotunda.  It was wonderful meeting them. 

Around the 87th

Visit to Rib Lake Schools
I recently had the chance to visit classes throughout the Rib Lake School District. We had some great discussions about how the legislative process and our state government works.  I truly enjoyed spending the day with these bright young students.

Taylor County Cultural Fair
Earlier this month, I had a fantastic time at the 1st Annual Taylor County Cultural Fair in Medford. This great event celebrated the heritage and cultural diversity of the community, and it was heartwarming to see the students, families, and community come together and organize it.

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.