.jpg)
Helpful Wisconsin Links
Unsubscribe
If you would like to unsubscribe from Representative Ripp's E-Update, please click here.
2013-14 BUDGET
With the 2013-14 Budget Process over, I wanted to send some information about what was actually included in the budget that the Governor signed.
Important Measures
This budget Reduces GPR spending ($4 million) and bonding ($368.3 million) from governor’s budget Total tax cuts in budget:$677 million. Total tax cuts in biennium: nearly $1 billion including tax cuts phased-in from former budgets
Holds line on property taxes with an increase of .99% in ’14 and .98% in ‘15 on average median-valued home
Invests in infrastructure (roads/bridges) without an increase in the gas tax or other fees
Reforms Unemployment Insurance (UI). Effectively help businesses in Wisconsin avoid a $26 million tax hit by paying for interest owed out of GPR.
Promotes agriculture and small Wisconsin businesses through Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin
Increases funding for tourism
Funds venture capital program to promote start-up businesses
Wisconsin Education
Includes a Per pupil funding increase of $150 in year one, an additional $150 in year two. This is an increase of $289.1 million for public schools
Expands school choice statewide, increases per pupil funding in choice programs
Pauses the implementation of Common Core until after a DPI study is conducted
Eliminated single vendor system for Statewide Student Information System to allow for more competition in the free marketplace
Provides $10 million in high cost transportation aid in a new categorical aid program, which benefits rural districts
UW System
Freezes UW tuition and fees
Puts in place accountability measures for UW System and the size of its reserves
Delays the flexibility granted for the UW System to set up its own personnel systems
Increased financial aid to technical and private colleges
Medicaid
Expands coverage to an estimated 98,800 childless adults88,500 adults with children from 100-200% of poverty would get premium assistance through Affordable Care Act
Decreases the number of uninsured and eliminates the waitlist for childless adults up to 100% of poverty
Supporting Communities
Provides 4% increase for mass transit and general transportation aids (road aids) to counties beginning in 2015, and for the distribution and mileage aid rate for municipalities
Increases funding for Treatment, Alternatives and Diversion Program (TAD)
Increases funding for domestic abuse grants
Increases child support collection funding
Increases foster care reimbursement rates
Maintained broadband expansion grants that benefit rural areas
Provides funding for assistant district attorney pay progression and includes deputy district attorneys to assist in attracting the best candidates to these positions
Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these measures. The budget is always a big bill and there are lots of measures listed here, but it does not include everything.
NEW JOBS NUMBERSRS
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Wisconsin had its biggest monthly jobs gain since 1992. From May to June, the state gained 17,500 jobs and the unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent, much lower than the national unemployment rate of 7.6 percent.
Keep in mind these are preliminary estimates, but it shows that our state continues to head in the right direction. Wisconsin is now ranked 21st in total private sector job creation from December 2011 to December 2012.
FISHWAY UPDATE
The meeting at occurred this week concerning the potential fishway at the Prairie du Sac Hydro had about 50-60 attendees. The Fish and Wildlife service stressed at that meeting that it was very early in the process and have asked that people submit written comments about the issues.
The USFWS is accepting comments about fish passage alternatives through August 1, 2013. Written comments may be emailed to PDSfishway@fws.gov or mailed to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
ATTN: Prairie du Sac Fishway
2661 Scott Tower Drive
New Franken, Wisconsin 54229
Please take a few minutes of your time and share your thoughts and concerns about a fishway in our Wisconsin waterways. It is really important that the Fish and Wildlife Service hear from you!
COLUMBIA COUNTY FAIR
For those of you planning to attending the Columbia County Fair, I wanted to let you know that I will be there if you have any issues, comments, or concerns you would like to discuss. We are not yet sure what exact days and times I will be there, but feel free to contact my office if you know you are going to be there at a specific time and I can let you know if I will be there as well.
AUGUST 1ST IS DEADLINE FOR MANY SEASON APPLICATIONS
A key deadline of August 1 is approaching for those interested in getting permits for many hunting and trapping seasons this Fall. Those planning to participate in the Fall turkey, Canada geese (Horicon Zone), bobcat, fisher, otter or wolf seasons must have their permit applications in by midnight, Aug. 1. Permit applications can be purchased from authorized license agents, over the Internet through the Department of Natural Resources Online Licensing Center or by phone toll free at 1-877-945-4236. The costs to apply vary by permit type and can be found at the DNR's resident hunting, fishing and recreational license web page, or by visiting dnr.wi.gov and searching keyword “license.”
WISCONSIN RANKS 14TH IN INVESTMENT
Private equity firms invested $9.1 billion in Wisconsin in 2012. This placed Wisconsin 14th nationally, according to a Private Equity Growth Capital Council report. Wisconsin broke into the top 20 for the first time in the three years since the report has been published. Read more here.
CRANBERRIES WILL REMAIN ON SCHOOL MENUS
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an interim final rule on allowing cranberries to remain on school menus. Governor Walker, along with a bipartisan group of Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation, urged the USDA to reconsider a rule that would have forced schools to reduce or eliminate cranberries from school menus. The USDA rule targeted cranberries for added sugar, even though they are known as a top nutritional food, rich in fiber, vitamin C, and powerful disease-fighting antioxidants.
Governor Walker said other concerns about the rule remain, including the strict limitations placed on dairy products in schools, the heavy amount of federal bureaucracy the rule places on local school districts, and the restrictions on personal choice. States, districts, and schools must be in compliance with the interim final rule by July 1, 2014. Read more here.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB
State emergency management and health officials are urging people to "beat the heat" if they have to be outside or in non-air conditioned homes this week, and to check on older or isolated neighbors who may need assistance. Temperatures will rise to the mid-90s, with heat indexes reaching a potentially dangerous 95-100 degree range.
Summer heat waves have been the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin. Most at risk are older adults and young children. Last year, 27 people died in Wisconsin as a result of health-related issues. There has been one confirmed heat-related death in Wisconsin so far this year. An individual in their late 80s died in Juneau County last month.
Here are some tips to keep safe in hot weather:
Never leave individuals, especially children or any household pets, in a parked car - even briefly. Temperatures in a car can become life threatening within minutes. On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car, even with the windows cracked slightly, can reach 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes!
Keep your living space cool. Cover windows to keep the sun from shining in. If you don't have an air conditioner, open windows to let air circulate. When it's hotter than 95 degrees, use fans to blow hot air out of the window rather than to blow hot air on your body. Basements or ground floors are often cooler than upper floors.
Slow down and limit physical activity. Plan outings or exertion for the early morning or after dark when temperatures are cooler.
Drink plenty of water and eat lightly. Don't wait for thirst, but instead drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid alcohol or caffeine and stay away from hot, heavy meals.
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Add a hat or umbrella to keep your head cool…and don't forget sunscreen!
Don't stop taking medication unless your doctor says you should. Take extra care to stay cool and ask your doctor or pharmacist for any special heat advice.
Taking a cool shower or bath will cool you down. A shower or bath will actually work faster than an air conditioner. Applying cold wet towels to the neck, head and limbs also cools down the body quickly.
Check on neighbors throughout the day who may need assistance to protect themselves against dangerous temperatures.
For more information, visit: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov and click on the Heat Awareness section.
CONTACT ME
As in the past I would continue to encourage you to contact my office with ideas for this next legislative session and on individual pieces of legislation. Now more than ever your ideas and opinions need to be heard, so we can begin to get Wisconsin back to work. Please contact my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov, or stop by my Capitol office at 223 North. I look forward to hearing from you. As always, I will continue to work across the aisle to find common ground and move legislation forward.
Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 42nd Assembly District and if there is anyone you know who would like to be included, please respond to this email with their email address.