January 8, 2015

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The new year is here, and the State Senate is off to a fast start already. Governor Walker and members of the Legislature were officially sworn in on Monday January 5th and the 102nd session of the Wisconsin Legislature is now underway.

Committee appointments have been finalized, bills are being introduced and legislators are preparing for upcoming policy debates and discussions. This e-update highlights the start of the new session, a few of the legislative proposals that have already been introduced and some recent news from the DNR.

I hope you find this information helpful, and don't forget to get out and enjoy all of the fun upcoming events in western Wisconsin!

Sincerely,

Jennifer K. Shilling
State Senator | 32nd District

102nd State Legislature sworn in

This week I had the honor of welcoming new and returning members to the legislature at the inauguration ceremony for the 102nd Session of the State Legislature in Madison. I am also pleased that Senate Democrats now have the largest percentage of women in a Wisconsin legislative caucus in state history with the addition of Senator Janet Bewley (D-Ashland) and Senator Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) to our caucus.

As the Senate Democratic Leader, I believe that this legislative session is a new opportunity to start fresh, rebuild relationships and find commonsense solutions to the challenges we face. Senate Democrats are united in our goal to stand up for working families, strengthen our communities and build a brighter future for our state. I look forward to working with Governor Walker and all of my colleagues on pro-growth policies that invest in our communities, expand economic opportunities and provide families with greater freedom and security.

Democrats seek to give Wisconsin workers a raise

The first bill of the session introduced by Senate Democrats would give thousands of working families in Wisconsin a raise. Legislation introduced by Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Somers) and co-sponsored by a number of legislators would raise Wisconsin's minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $10.10 per hour and index it to inflation.

As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I agree that working families deserve a raise. Parents who work hard shouldn't have to choose between putting food on the table and finding time to sit down for a meal with their family. This bill will help to lift thousands of working families out of poverty, decrease dependence on government assistance programs and encourage job growth as a result of increased consumer spending in local economies.
 

In Wisconsin, we know our state does better when we all do better. This session, I want to make sure that all working families are fairly compensated and have the flexibility they need to succeed and thrive in today's economy.

New accountability measures proposed for taxpayer-funded voucher schools

Senate Democrats unveiled legislation this week that would provide greater oversight, transparency and accountability for Gov. Walker’s private school voucher program. LRB 0887 would strengthen academic performance measures and prevent cases of waste, fraud and abuse that have come to light since Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans expanded the program statewide in 2013. Similar legislation received bi-partisan support last session but was ultimately blocked by Republican legislative leaders.

At a time when our local community schools are struggling to recover from the largest public education cuts in our state’s history, we need to ensure that every dime of taxpayer funding is being invested wisely. Currently, private voucher schools that receive public taxpayer funding are not required to hire licensed teachers, conduct staff background checks, meet state graduation standards, or be located in Wisconsin. Senator Nikiya Harris Dodd (D-Milwaukee) and Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) have proposed LRB 0887 in order to address these serious concerns.

Over the past decade, more than fifty taxpayer-funded private schools have been kicked out of the voucher program for issues ranging from financial mismanagement and fraud to student health and safety concerns. Last month, Travis Technology High School closed mid-term after whistle-blowers raised questions regarding the school’s staffing and financial stability. In 2013, LifeSkills Academy in Milwaukee made headlines after it closed mid-term. It was revealed that the LifeSkills Academy had received over $2.3 million in state taxpayer funding, however, none of the students were proficient in math and only one fourth grader was proficient in reading.

As a co-sponsor of LRB 0887, I believe that all taxpayer-funded schools should be required to hire licensed teachers, conduct staff background checks and meet basic graduation standards. Wisconsin has many great private and independent charter schools who already meet or exceed these commonsense standards, so these accountability measures would have little or no impact on high-performing programs. However, by helping to weed out low-performing voucher schools, this bill will save taxpayers millions, improve education outcomes and ensure that all Wisconsin students have the opportunity to get a quality education. I hope that we can continue to build bipartisan support for this bill and improve the safety and well-being of all students in Wisconsin.
 

WI vs. MN - A tale of two states

The following editorial was recently published in the La Crosse Tribune:

Our View: Minnesota is winning border battle

January 04, 2015 • Tribune editorial board

The governors of Wisconsin and Minnesota each presented their versions of new year’s resolutions in various media interviews last week. The comparison paints a stark contrast of where the states are headed in 2015.

Which approach is better? As we enter the new year, Minnesota is clearly winning by a long shot.
 

...Forbes ranks Minnesota as the ninth best state for business, No. 7 in economic climate and No. 2 in quality of life. Wisconsin is ranked 32nd, 27 and 17 on the same measures. The cost of doing business in Minnesota is 0.2 percent below the national average. Wisconsin is 1.7 percent above the average. The median household income in Minnesota is about $60,000. It’s just below $52,000 in Wisconsin.

...While Wisconsin faces an estimated $2 billion deficit — including a $750 million deficit in transportation spending — Minnesota has a $1.2 billion surplus. Minnesota has the luxury of being able to invest in its state; Wisconsin faces some challenging spending decisions.

...Which state is in better shape as we head in 2015? Economic measures of income and employment clearly favor Minnesota. At least Wisconsin has the Packers.

You can read the full column by clicking here.

Wisconsin DNR updates

News from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:

Thrills on the line as ice fishing season ramps up
Whether you prefer a high-tech, low-tech or no-tech approach, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources can help you hook into some fun this ice fishing season. - Read Full Article

More than 30 candlelight events scheduled at Wisconsin parks, forests and trails
If Mother Nature cooperates, there will be more than 30 candlelight events at Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails and nature centers this winter. - Read Full Article

A look back at natural resources issues, highlights of 2014
From new County Deer Advisory Committees and new frameworks for the deer season to successful facebook contests focusing on Wisconsin’s state park system properties, here is a look back at the natural resources issues and highlights of 2014. - Read Full Article

 

Calendar of Events

I apologize if any upcoming events in the area were left off. If you would like me to include an event in future e-updates, please email me the date, location and a website with details.

Senator Jennifer Shilling
P.O. Box 7882 - Madison, WI 53707

phone: 608.266.5490   

email: sen.shilling@legis.wi.gov

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