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Toll-Free: (888) 534-0087
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Rep.Edming@legis.wi.gov
Website:
www.repedming.com

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A Note from Rep. Edming

Welcome to my first e-update of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. It was a busy first week in Madison with Inauguration, meetings, and the Assembly’s first floor session. I’m already hard at work preparing legislation to introduce for consideration by the legislature this session. Some of the ideas I’m working on came from suggestions from folks in the 87th Assembly District. As the new session gets underway, please feel free to reach out to me with any ideas you may have. Most often the best ideas for legislation come from constituents just like you.

Proud to Continue Being Your Voice

On Monday, I was proud to take the oath of office as the 105th session of the Wisconsin State Legislature got underway. While this year's ceremony was much different than normal due to the safety precautions for COVID-19, it is still a tremendous honor to take the oath of office to serve as your state representative for the next two years. I remain humbled by the trust my fellow citizens have placed in me to be your voice in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Serving the people of the 87th Assembly District is truly the best job I have ever had. This session will undoubtedly be the most challenging of my time in the legislature, but I will continue to do my best to advocate on the behalf of the people of the 87th District and for the priorities of the Northwoods in Madison.

 
COVID Relief Bill Clears the Assembly

The New Year may have just started but my colleagues in the State Assembly and I are already hard at work for our constituents. On Thursday, I proudly voted in favor of Assembly Bill (AB) 1, the next round of COVID-19 relief. This legislation will help Wisconsinites and businesses who have been impacted by the pandemic. AB 1 contains 44 provisions, which includes making $100 million available to help fight COVID-19 and ensures that Wisconsinites have access to necessary medications, vaccines and tests.

COVID-19 continues to impact people across the 87th Assembly District and all of Wisconsin. I am proud to support this important legislation that will provide more tools to fight this pandemic and give Wisconsinites the help they need. AB 1 builds upon COVID-19 relief bill from last year, (2019 Act 185) and includes a number of provisions important to constituents around the 87th District including:

  •  requiring the Department of Workforce Development to eliminate the unemployment insurance claim backlog
  • allows for ‘essential visitors’ in nursing homes
  • eliminates copayments for COVID-19 tests and vaccines
  • ensuring the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the state by allowing dentists and pharmacy students to administer the vaccine
  • creates legislative oversight of COVID-19 dollars
  • provides liability protection for businesses
  • protects Wisconsinites from government overreach by prohibiting employers, the Department of Health Services, and local health officers from mandating the vaccine or closing places of worship

In addition to AB 1, the Assembly passed a couple of resolutions this week that are important to mention. The first, Assembly Joint Resolution 1 pertains to the re-opening of the State Capitol, which you can read here. Also in response to the violence that we saw in Washington DC earlier this week, the Assembly passed Assembly Resolution 4. I also issued a press release on this matter which you can read by clicking here.

Committee Assignments Announced

Recently, committee assignments for this session were announced, and I am pleased to share that I will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Integrated Employment and have been appointed as a member of the Committee on Workforce Development. In the upcoming session workforce development and reforming our state’s unemployment insurance system, which has failed far too many Wisconsinites over the past several months, are likely to be topics of discussion. As a long-time small business owner, I look forward to bringing my perspective and experience to these discussions.

In addition, I will serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection and as a member of the Committees on Family Law, Rural Development, Sporting Heritage, Small Business Development, Veterans and Military Affairs, and Forestry, Parks, and Outdoor Recreation.

New Year, New Team Member

I would like to introduce you all to the newest member of my staff, Dan Posca. Dan isn’t new to the 87th district as he has roots in the Village of Lublin in Taylor County. His grandmother was born and raised right by St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin and he and his grandparents have come up for Lublin Days many times. Dan is a 4th generation Italian American with a passion for politics, graduating from UW-Madison in 2012. Dan has worked in the Capitol since 2009 including time in the office of Governor Scott Walker as his Front Office Manager during the 2011 debate over Act 10. For Dan, the most appealing aspect of government is public service. Dan genuinely enjoys helping constituents and looks forward to serving the folks in the 87th District. In his spare time, Dan is an avid fan of the NFL and Marvel Comics, loves cooking, but most of all is a dedicated husband and a father to a fourteen-month-old daughter. Welcome aboard Dan!

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.