.jpg)
Helpful Wisconsin Links
Unsubscribe
If you would like to unsubscribe from Representative Ripp's E-Update, please click here.
KEITH RIPP VOTES FOR SPEED LIMIT INCREASE
AB 389 Passes Wisconsin Assembly
Madison- Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) stood with the Wisconsin Assembly Tuesday afternoon as it passed a bill allowing the Department of Transportation to increase Wisconsin’s maximum speed limit to 70 mph on certain interstate highways.
Assembly Bill (AB) 389, or the “It’s About Time” bill, passed with a bipartisan vote of 63-32. The measure would direct the Department of Transportation to erect increased speed limit signs within six months after enactment. The cost for replacing signs will be absorbed within the existing transportation budget.
AB 389 came forward after Governor Quinn of Illinois signed a law to take effect in January 2014 increasing speed limits to 70 mph. With this recent change, Wisconsin will soon be the only state in the Midwest with a maximum speed limit of 65 mph. “Wisconsin has become an island,” said Ripp. “I’m proud to support legislation that helps Wisconsinites save time and brings us in line with our neighboring states.”
Extensive research has been done to make sure the increase in speed limits is safe and appropriate for Wisconsin. “It’s very telling that researchers at Purdue University found no increase in the likelihood of fatalities or injury accidents in Indiana after that state increased its speed limit,” said Ripp. “As someone in the trucking business, I appreciate that this bill supports commerce and tourism, but that it also maintains and possibly increases safety for drivers on the road.”
AB 389 will now go to the State Senate for consideration.
OTHER BILLS
During session this week, I also had two of my own bills passed off the Assembly floor with strong bi-partisan support.
The first, AB 279, corrects a discrepancy between Wisconsin and Federal Law. Under legislation adopted last session, veterans holding a military commercial driver’s license (CDL) are able to convert it to a WI CDL without taking the knowledge and skills tests that other applicants take.
However, federal regulations dictate that no state can waive the knowledge test when issuing state CDLs based on military-issued CDLs. We have been notified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that, if Wisconsin were to continue offering this waiver, there would be a penalty of $25 million in federal aid in the first year of non-compliance, and $50 million each year afterward.
AB 279 brings Wisconsin Law in line with federal law requiring veterans to take a knowledge test, just as regular applicants must do.
The second bill, AB 343,offers a fix to 2011 Wisconsin Act 179 (2011 Assembly Bill 259) which created standards and guidelines for participants of any youth athletic activity to submit a concussion and head injury information sheet.
It requires that a public or private school submit the information sheet to a student to fill out for each athletic activity they participate in. The law also stipulates that no person may participate in the athletic activity unless he or she returns the signed information sheet and, if he or she is under the age of 19, includes a signature from his or her parent or guardian.
In practice, this would require a three-season sport student to fill out the form three times in one year and require the school district to keep track of all three forms. We have heard from coaches and athletic directors around the state who say that this requirement is redundant and unnecessary. They suggested it would be more appropriate to require that only one information sheet be filled out per student per year. This practice would ensure that students and parents get the necessary information they need on the reality of concussions and head injuries, but it also relieves some of the burden on the schools and families for doing so. Under this bill, private clubs, like the YMCA, also included and would only need to provide one information sheet a year. This is a common sense fix to bring the law in line with what was intended last session.
I am proud that these common sense bills passed the Assembly with such strong support. They have now been sent to the Governor's office for his signature.
KEITH RIPP VOTES FOR $100 MILLION PROPERTY TAX CUT
Special Session Brings Property Tax Relief
Madison– Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) voted to give $100 million in property tax relief to Wisconsin homeowners. The legislation, which passed on a bipartisan vote, will cut property taxes for working families, farmers and business owners while inspiring economic growth by letting people keep more of their own money.
“Tax cuts are a key to economic growth in Wisconsin,” said Ripp. “There is no greater day for a legislator than when we get to pass legislation that allows Wisconsin families to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. It is the tough fiscal decisions we have been making for the last four years that allow for us to do this today.”
In the last two budgets, including this year’s historic income tax cut, Republicans have provided $1.5 billion in tax relief to Wisconsin residents. Property taxes also are projected to be lower on the median-valued home than four years ago. This comes after a 27 percent increase in property taxes over the previous decade.
“Wisconsin is generating surpluses and continually providing significant tax relief,” said Ripp. “We continue to move forward, and Washington should certainly take a few cues from what we are doing here in the Badger State.”
The Assembly passed several other proposals during the Special Session that would help promote economic development, including more than doubling of the state historic tax credit.
The property tax cut legislation has already been approved by the state Senate and now moves to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The tax relief should be seen on property tax bills going out in December.
HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK
Rep. Ripp with Honor Flight Network volunteersDuring Tuesday's Assembly floor session, we passed an Assembly Resolution commending the Honor Flight Network and their volunteers. Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization that works with veterans all over the country to honor them for all their sacrifices to our country. They transport these heroes to Washington D.C. to visit memorials erected in their honor. We have a wonderful and selfless group of people working for the Honor Flight Network and veterans in my district. Thank you for everything you do!
PIPELINE AWARENESS
Whether you are a farmer or someone planning a project on your land, it is really important for us to remain constantly aware of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipelines in our areas.
While pipelines are often thought of as the "invisible highway," they can be very dangerous. Always remember to call 811 before you dig. You can also visit www.pipelineawareness.org
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.