News from Nancy!
Hello
Everyone!
I hope you all
are doing well and enjoying the beautiful summer weather. There has been a
lot happening since the last time I sent an update. It has been an
energizing and motivating time meeting with constituents and attending
events in the district.
Over the last
few months, I have been working with my colleagues to improve the proposed
state budget. As many of you know, the 2015-17 budget bill was approved by the
State Legislature and recently signed into law by Governor Walker. This will
be a good opportunity to fill you in on why I voted against the budget and
to ask for you opinions on next week's legislation.
My Budget Vote Statement
Since Governor
Walker’s budget address in February, I have held many public listening
sessions throughout our district. These sessions proved to be invaluable in
not only soliciting feedback from many of you, but also allowed me to hear
first-hand what sort of effects the governor’s proposal would have on our
communities.
Over the past several months, I’ve taken those concerns to heart and have
been fighting to improve this budget. Prioritizing our public education
system, I’m pleased to report that this budget not only increases the
state’s investment in K-12 education by $200 million, but it also freezes UW
tuition for Wisconsin families. We were also able to make considerable
progress in moving to save the popular SeniorCare program and preserve
long-term care for our most vulnerable offered through FamilyCare and IRIS.
However, after much reflection and review of the finer details of this
budget, I ultimately cast my vote against its passage.
One of my primary concerns with the recently adopted budget is the level of
borrowing it requires to continue to fund our state’s transportation
network. With no real solution to solve the insolvency of our aging
infrastructure, I fear that a real, sustainable path forward was not
presented in this budget. I applauded the efforts of my colleagues to
significantly reduce the amount of transportation bonding initially proposed
by the governor, but more needs to be done.
Finally, I truly believe that this budget takes a number of positive steps
forward to help our schools, students and teachers. However, I also heard
from many of you that this budget simply does not do enough to maintain our
public school systems and I agree. I will continue to be an independent
voice on education and advocate to find ways to invest in the future of our
children.
Again, I appreciate hearing from so many of you on the many parts of this
budget. Please know that this was not an easy decision. However, I feel
confident that my vote ultimately reflects the will and wishes of our
district. It is and continues to be an honor to represent the 70th Assembly
district and I look forward to working with you to continue advocating for
our communities here in Madison.
Milwaukee Bucks Arena
Next Tuesday,
the State Assembly will be taking up
Senate Bill
209 (SB 209) relating to constructing a sports and entertainment arena
and related facilities and making appropriations. Recently, the Senate with
a bipartisan vote approved the legislation.
I would
encourage all of you to do some research and let me know your opinions about
SB 209. I want to hear what outcome you would like to see with this
legislation. With your help, my vote will hopefully best reflect the
opinions of the 70th Assembly District.
Related
material:
Sincerely,
 |
