.jpg)
Helpful Wisconsin Links
Unsubscribe
If you would like to unsubscribe from Representative Ripp's E-Update, please click here.
RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
On Tuesday, Governor Walker’s address highlighted just how great the state of the state really is here in Wisconsin. We have the lowest unemployment rate since 2008, a number that continues to decline. Wisconsin now leads the Midwest in private sector job growth and we have gained back all of the private sector jobs our state lost during the recession. Our policies over the last four years have significantly impacted our state’s successes, and I am proud to celebrate them today.
While we have made some tremendous strides in the right direction, there is still more hard work to be done. Governor Walker highlighted his priorities for the future, goals that will continue this hard work and that are in line with the Assembly Republican Forward Agenda we laid out last October. Together, I believe we have a reasonable and effective plan to further reform government, to improve our education system, and to create a better business climate.
I am eager to continue our work moving Wisconsin forward and to focus on solutions that will use taxpayer dollars in the most responsible and efficient ways possible. On behalf of my constituents, I will work with Governor Walker and my colleagues in the Legislature to continue making Wisconsin a better place to live, work, travel to, and retire for families and businesses now and in the future.
IN DISTRICT DAY WITH LT. GOV. KLEEFISCH
Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of hosting Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in the Poynette and Lodi areas for some business tours and local stops.
Our first tour was at a fantastic manufacturing company in Poynette called Aprilaire. They mainly manufacture residential de-humidifiers and humidifiers. Thanks to Bill Priske and others, we were able to take a very informative tour of the plant and talked with many of the employees working.
Rep. Ripp and Plant Manager Bill Priske talking with an Aprilaire employee
Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. Ripp with Aprilaire employees
We were also able to take a great tour and watch a presentation from the folks at Anteco Pharma in Lodi, a leader in lyophilization and freeze drying solutions for specialty food, pharmaceutical, and biological industries. A relatively new company founded in 2003, it was great to see their progress over the last 11 years.
Rep. Ripp watching the Anteco Pharma presentation with employees
Rep. Ripp and Lt. Gov. Kleefisch with the owners of Anteco Pharma
It was a fascinating day for the both of us that ended at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner where we were able to talk with business leaders in the area. I hope to cotinue tours like these around the district in the future.
BIG DAY FOR THE GREEN BAY PACKERS
This Sunday, the Green Bay Packers will battle the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle's CenturyLink Field for the NFC Championship. I'd like to wish Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the team the best of luck; Wisconsin is pulling for them! Be sure to tune in at 2:05pm Central Standard Time on FOX.
SNOWMOBILING IN WISCONSIN
It's that great time of year again where we can get back out on the snowmobile trails our great state has to offer. I wanted to provide some information with you regarding this great recreation. Please remember Safety First!
Wisconsin is the birthplace of snowmobiling and continues to offer some of the best snowmobiling opportunities you are likely to find, especially in northern Wisconsin. More than 200,000 registered snowmobiles hit Wisconsin's 25,000 miles of groomed trails each winter, making safety an important part of the ride. Ride smart from the start - take a snowmobile safety course!
If you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1985, and are at least age 12, you must complete a snowmobile safety certification course to operate a snowmobile on Wisconsin public snowmobile trails and areas. DNR recreational safety specialists recommend snowmobile operators complete a safety course.
Snowmobile Safety Course Requirements
Any person who is born on or after Jan. 1, 1985 and who has reached the age of 12, must have completed and received a snowmobile safety certificate in order to operate a snowmobile in Wisconsin. The certificate must be carried while operating the snowmobile and displayed to a law enforcement officer upon demand.This does not apply to the operation of snowmobiles upon lands owned or leased by the operator's parent or guardian. Leased lands do not include lands leased by an organization of which said operator or the operator's parent or guardian is a member.
No person under the age of 12 may operate a snowmobile unless the person is accompanied either by a parent or guardian or by a person over 18 years of age. Accompanied means to be on the same snowmobile as the operator.
Other states and provinces that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers will be honored in Wisconsin.
Snowmobile Safety Course Information The snowmobile safety course consists of six hours of basic instruction in the principles of snowmobile safety. The course is comprised of six hours of classroom study and an optional two hours of hands-on snowmobile operation or optional snowmobile ride simulation.
Length of Snowmobile Safety Course This course requires a minimum of eight hours but may be longer depending on the instructor and the student's learning ability.
Snowmobile Safety Course Availability Courses vary depending on the area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Visit DNR’s enrollment webpage to search for a recreational safety education course.
Cost of Snowmobile Safety Course
$10
Internet Snowmobile Safety Courses Operators of snowmobiles have an online method to receive snowmobile safety certification. The Internet courses are available at Snowmobile Ed and Snowmobiecourse.com.
Students MUST be 16 years of age or older in order to become certified by these online courses.
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.