2015-2016 Blue Books Have Arrived

The newest version of the 2015-2016 State of Wisconsin Blue Book has arrived. Each legislative office is authorized to distribute a limited amount of these highly informative guides to Wisconsin government to our constituents.

The State of Wisconsin Blue Book is the primary one-volume reference sources about the state, documenting the organization of the state's three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial).

This session's editions of the Blue book features an article on the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the end of the Civil War. The authors of the Blue Book partnered with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum to tell the story of brave Wisconsinites who fought to preserve the Union.

The Wisconsin Blue Book is a wonderful hard cover reference guide to Wisconsin. Students, organizations, and individuals often find it a useful tool for learning detailed information about the workings of our state government, as well as for obtaining statistical information about the state of Wisconsin.

Please contact me by phone at (888) 534-0066 or by email at Rep. Mason@legis.wi.gov to request a Blue Book today.

Proposals To Change Key Components To Wisconsin Retirement System

The legislative recess is coming to a close and the State Assembly will be back in session this week. A few of the proposals to keep an eye on this session are a pair of proposed changes to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

Senator Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin) have proposed raising the minimum age for most workers in the WRS from 55 to 57, or 52 to 50 for those in protective services jobs. This change would apply to those under the age of 40 years old.

In addition, Senator Stroebel and Rep. Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) have proposed changing the retirement payout formula from an average of the highest 3 years of salary to an average of the highest 5 years of salary. This change would apply to those retiring five years from now.

According to a report issued this summer by the Legislative Audit Bureau, the WRS is stable and remains fully funded. The WRS is recognized as one of the strongest not only in the nation, but the entire world. These proposed changes are merely a solution in search of a problem. There is no need to attempt a system that not only isn't broken, but is a model for other retirement systems near and far.

The Wisconsin Professional Police Association has already come out against these changes to WRS which will make it more difficult for our state's first responders to retire.

As the ranking Assembly Democrat on the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement systems I will fight to protect the strength and solvency of the Wisconsin Retirement System for police, firefighters, and other public servants of this state.