Session Review

The legislature has finished one of the most productive and remarkable sessions in recent memory.  My colleagues and I took on the Wisconsin business climate with full force.  In a short time we passed over 50 bills designed to put people back to work.  There were many major successes and a couple of disappointments.  In my legislative review we’ll focus on a few of the bills we recently passed. 

During the last two days of the legislative session I was proud to join in a bipartisan effort to pass Senate Bill 335.  This bill authorizes school boards the ability to grant vocational high school diplomas.  Many students in Wisconsin’s public schools would be better suited to continue their education in our technical schools.  These are students who already know they would like to find employment in one of the trades.  This bill would allow high schools to develop curriculum, approved by the Department of Public Instruction, and grant a “vocational high school diploma” which would indicate the student graduated high school with an emphasis in a trade.  I began working on this legislation during budget discussions after Representative Mark Radcliffe introduced a budget amendment that I supported.  I worked with Rep. Radcliffe, the Department of Public Instruction and my colleagues to develop Senate Bill 335. Tuesday night this bill passed the Assembly unanimously.

Additionally, the legislature passed removing the caps on Family Care.  Family Care provides services to assist needy elderly and the disabled stay in their homes or other community settings rather than enter nursing homes. Family Care and other community-based programs operate under federal waivers that allow states to offer services not required by law.  Family Care is available in 57 of the state's 72 counties. The bill would allow the remaining counties to participate in Family Care also.

Wisconsin has one of the highest percentages of health insurance coverage across the nation, despite having relatively low public health funding. With 91.5% of residents having health insurance coverage, health care has been highly accessible to the residents of this state for a while now.  The percentage of employers offering health insurance to employees is very good as well, with almost 6 out of 10 employers in the state offering health insurance plans and 80% of those workers utilizing these plans. These percentages have both been increasing consistently for the past five years, and are a big part of Wisconsin’s success when it comes to health insurance coverage.  As you know, health care costs are a major issue that every state and home in the country is dealing with.  Health care costs have far out paced people's ability to pay forcing employers and local government to take drastic action to continue coverage.  Wisconsin has been no different in this regard.  The last budget passed by the legislature injected over a BILLION dollars in new money to continue coverage for thousands of Wisconsinites and forced the Department of Health Services to re-evaluate coverage options. I supported removing the caps after the administration clearly demonstrated the programs sustainability for the future.  The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk for his signature. 

While collective bargaining reforms passed in February and the budget passed in June dominated media headlines, the Wisconsin Legislature passed hundreds of other bills that were far less controversial but were still very meaningful.  

In June, I was pleased to see that Chief Executive Magazine recognized our effort and Wisconsin moved from the 41st best state for business in 2010, to the 24th best state in 2011 climbing more than any other state in the union.  While moving up 17 spots in one year is a great accomplishment, there is still more to be done.  

The latest jobs report from the Department of Workforce Development announced Wisconsin added 12,500 overall positions in January.  The seasonally-adjusted Unemployment Rate dropped to 6.9% in January from 7% in December.  Wisconsin’s unemployment rate remains below the other major Midwest manufacturing states including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio for December also.

These numbers also lead to optimism when it comes to the state budget.  Indications are that state sales and withholding tax collections are up this fiscal year while Unemployment Insurance claims are down.  JobCenterofWisconsin.com also had a record of 150,000 jobs posted in 2011 leading to reason that Wisconsin is on an economic up swing and building positive momentum.

Last year we built the foundation for job creation and a stable economy.  Wisconsin has turned a corner in the recession and while we have accomplished a great deal already, there is still more work to be done.  Governor Walker’s goal of 250,000 jobs in four years should remain the bar and I remain focused on creating an environment where job creators can flourish.  So while we have accomplished a great deal this legislative session, I am already looking forward to next session when we can build upon the foundation we have laid here today.    

Please let me know what the legislature did well, did poorly and what we should focus on next session.  Your views are important as we look forward to next year and what should be on our legislative agenda. 

Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 47th Assembly District. If there is anyone you know who would like to be included please respond to this email with their email address. 

I want to remind everyone that my door is always open and you can always visit me at my Madison office in the Capitol (223 North).   Please do not hesitate to contact me with any issues you maybe facing.  You can call my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov.  I look forward to hearing from you.