November is Adoption Month

As you may know, adoption and foster care issues are areas that I am particularly passionate about improving in our state. As part of this effort, I prepared a joint resolution declaring November as Adoption Month. This week, my colleagues and I in the State Assembly unanimously passed this legislation. I sponsored this resolution to recognize families who adopt and to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care. Adoption is invaluable to strengthening families in our state and communities. For more information about adoption resources in our state, contact Adoption Resources of Wisconsin.

On the Assembly floor speaking about Adoption month.

Wilmot Band Students in Madison

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to meet with present and former band students from Wilmot Union High School and their music teacher, John Sorensen, in Madison. I attended a legislative breakfast at the Wisconsin State Music Conference, a conference of music teachers from across Wisconsin. At the event, I was able to hear performances from different student bands as well as meet with present and former students from our area. It was a great experience!

Rep. Kerkman with present and former Wilmot band students and teacher John Sorensen.

Tour the Executive Residence

I know many of you have come to Madison for a tour of the State Capitol building, but did you know that the Governor's residence also offers tours at designated times of the year? The Executive Residence will be open for holiday tours in December. Visitors will be able to view the main rooms on the first floor and learn some history about the home. This year, the Governor and First Lady have partnered with Second Harvest Foodbank, and all tour participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate. The residence will be open for tours December 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, and 17, from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm. No reservations are necessary for groups smaller than 20 and admission is free. Check out the First Lady's website for more information about the home and tours. If you've never visited the Executive Residence, I highly encourage you to plan a trip to Madison for this unique opportunity!

Special Session Update

All this week and last, we at the Legislature have been in session and hard at work on legislation developed to grow our economy and provide a healthy environment for job creation. One bill I've been eagerly working on in the Financial Institutions committee is Special Session AB 21, nicknamed "Wisconsin's Next Generation Jobs Act." The purpose of this bill is to create a fund that will be used to make grants, loans, and direct investments in Wisconsin bioscience companies. The funds would come from tax revenue from the bioscience industry. The bill also creates a board to oversee the funds. Bioscience is an exciting industry, employing over 24,000 Wisconsinites at an average salary of over $69,000. This proposed legislation would do a lot to encourage bioscience growth in Wisconsin, creating jobs in the process. This proposal has received strong support from members of both parties, and I'm excited about the potential this bill has for our community and our state.

DOT Info Available Online

You may not know that many of the state's agencies offer a great deal of information and services to the public from their websites. The Department of Transportation has a comprehensive site where you can change your residence address, renew your driver license and plates, or request a copy of your driving record, for example. Make sure to check out their site the next time you need DOT services. You may be able to save yourself a trip to the DMV!

If you are interested in tracking the progress of legislation introduced this session, please visit http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ and click on the Notification Service link found on the homepage.