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(608)266-5780 | State Capitol, Room 307 West, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 | rep.billings@legis.wi.gov

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Friends and Neighbors,

My Response to the Governor's Budget Address

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, Gov. Walker presented his biennial budget proposal before the Wisconsin State Legislature and Wisconsin State Senate. Read my statement below:

"Since taking office, Gov. Walker has slashed state resources to our local governments, our infrastructure and our public education. His budget proposal this year comes nowhere close to filling the hole he dug for working families in Wisconsin. One of the biggest concerns for people in our state is the condition of our underfunded roads and infrastructure. Instead of including a sustainable funding stream in his budget, the governor has again borrowed money and put off projects, leaving a greater mess for all of us down the road. The reality is that Wisconsin's roads -- like our schools and local governments -- have yet to recover from the governor's drastic cuts during the last six years, and this budget does not repair the damage that has been done."

February is American Heart Month

The beginning of February marks the start of American Heart Month, a nationally recognized, month-long heart health awareness campaign. According to the Department of Health Services, heart disease is responsible for one in every three deaths in Wisconsin, and it is for this reason that I chose to wear red and stand with both my legislative colleagues and those impacted by heart disease on National Wear Red Day.

For more information about access to preventative care and resources, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' webpage.

Interview on the Sexually Exploited Children Protection Act

Sen. LaTonya Johnson and I sat down at the WisconsinEye studio to discuss human trafficking in Wisconsin, as well as our Sexually Exploited Children Protection Act for child victims of human trafficking. While we made critical advancements in providing necessary services for these victims last session, children can still be convicted of prostitution although many are not old enough to give consent. It is time for Wisconsin to start treating these children as victims rather than criminals.

Click here to see my interview and learn more.

Advocacy Groups Visiting the Capitol

Mississippi River Parkway Commission

Rep. Lee Nerison and I met with Sherry Quamme and Alan Lorenz from the Mississippi River Parkway Commission. Sharon and Alan shared with us how we can be be leaders in protecting, preserving and enhancing the Wisconsin Great River Road National Scenic Byway. This Wisconsin State Highway 35 drive extends 250 miles along the Mississippi River takes travelers through 33 historic beautiful, historic towns.

Planned Parenthood

Democratic legislators joined Planned Parenthood advocates who lined the halls of the Capitol demanding that community family planning clinics -- like Essential Health in our district -- not be defunded so they can continue to help women across the state by providing life-saving screenings and family planning services.

Citizens' Water Lobby Day

I met with a number of people from La Crosse and the surrounding communities to learn about their concerns regarding water in our area and across the state. Major concerns included the fact that our groundwater is now only 120 days old, meaning that anything that affects the topsoil trickles down to the water source relatively quickly, as well as the fact that our groundwater is not recharging at sufficient rates. I felt fortunate to be able to step out of Assembly floor session to meet with these constituents, and hope to see many of them again at public meetings in our district.

Committee on Tourism

This week, the Assembly Committee on Tourism met with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. As the ranking Democratic member on this committee, as well as a member of the Governor's Council on Tourism, I am proud to say that Wisconsin's tourism industry is now employing 192,000 people and generating $19.3 billion for our state's economy. Moreover, I was excited to learn that, in 2016, La Crosse County ranked 9th out of 72 counties in Wisconsin for busiest tourist destinations in Wisconsin.

Please feel free to contact me with any tourism questions or concerns throughout this session.

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