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JOINT FINANCE TODAY
Hello Neighbors,
As you may have seen in the news, the Senate and Assembly reached a budget deal this week and have gone into the final Joint Finance Committee meeting today to vote on the rest of the portions of the budget. Part of the deal that was struck includes removing Prevailing Wage and the Milwaukee Bucks Arena from the budget entirely. Those proposals will now be brought forward as separate pieces of legislation to be discussed by both bodies.
Regarding the Transportation budget deal, both houses agreed to reduce bonding levels from the Governor's budget to $500 million, a historic low for bonding levels in the last ten years. The budget would also give JFC the ability to approve an additional $350 million in bonding once they review a Walker administration plan for those funds. This plan would not delay work currently being done on the Zoo Interchange, but would affect work that has not begun on the northern loop. The plan would also delay $350 million in major highway projects, and $100 million in resurfacing and reconstruction projects around the state.
General Fund Taxes -- Income and Franchise Taxes
General Fund Taxes -- Sales and Excise Taxes
Department of Revenue -- Departmentwide
Department of Revenue -- Tax Administration
Sports and Entertainment District
Department of Transportation -- Transportation Finance
Department of Transportation -- Local Transportation Aid
Department of Transportation -- Local Transportation Assistance
Department of Transportation -- State Highways Program
The passage of the budget out of JFC this week will allow for the Assembly to take it up on the floor for a final vote sometime next week. It will be a very busy week at the state Capitol. I encourage you to follow the discussions and debate on Wisconsin Eye.
If you have questions or comments about these areas, or any other area of the budget you'd like to discuss, please let me know and we can set up a phone call in the near future.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
I hope all of you have a safe and relaxing Fourth of July, celebrating our great country's birthday! Please remember that a lot of people will be traveling this weekend, so be careful on the roadways. Feel free to check in at the 511 website to get traveler updates on traffic and weather.
GOVERNOR WALKER SIGNS SB 94
This last Wednesday, Governor Walker signed SB 94 into law, my bill that would help out our campground industry here in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s campground industry has recently encountered regulatory challenges because their seasonally-occupied cabins, or “camping units,” are currently considered and regulated under the dwelling code as if they were residences that are occupied throughout the year. This means that these camping units are held to the same electrical and plumbing requirements as primary residences.
Because of these regulations, campgrounds have struggled to invest here in Wisconsin. Because camping units are not occupied throughout the year, they should be treated differently than one-family and two-family dwellings. This legislation directs the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to promulgate rules for the dwelling code that would apply only to these camping units as long as the camping unit is located in a permitted campground.
These regulatory improvements will aid the campground industry by providing the appropriate level of oversight while still allowing for necessary flexibility for campgrounds to offer a unique rustic experience to Wisconsin and out-of-state campers! With clarity in the administrative rules regarding these camping units, Wisconsin will realize investments here that may not otherwise occur.
Thank you to constituents Bud Styer and Abe Degnan for diligent work on this bill with me over the last two years.
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Governor Walker signing SB 94 with Rep. Keith Ripp, Bud Styer, Abe Degnan, Jason Culotta of WMC, Lori Severson of WACO, Senator Luther Olsen, and Brad Boycks of the Builders.
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.