Wishing You a Happy Independence Day

This Fourth of July I hope that you are able to enjoy time with your friends and family but also that you take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. As we take the day to celebrate our independence, we should remember the many brave patriots who have fought and sacrificed so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom.

There are a number of local parades taking place over the coming weeks and I encourage you to attend and to take part in the summer fun:

Delafield Parade – July 4th at 10:00 AM
Stone Bank Parade – July 4th at 11:00 AM
Pewaukee Parade – July 4th at 4:00 PM
Sussex Lions Daze – July 13th at 9:30 AM
Dousman Derby Days– July 28th at 11:00 AM

Governor Walker Signs Budget

This past Sunday, Governor Walker signed into law the 2013-15 State Budget which provides nearly $1 billion in tax relief for hardworking taxpayers, $322 million in additional state aid for public schools, and a $100 million investment in workforce development. I am very proud of this budget and what it does to benefit the future of Wisconsin.

This spending plan shows that our state has its priorities in line by increasing the number of insured individuals by over 224,000 and ensuring that everyone has access to affordable health care. It expands the school choice program while simultaneously increasing funding for our public schools. This budget invests in tourism and infrastructure without increasing gas taxes or fees. We also answered the call from taxpayers to simplify our tax code and to continue to hold the line on property taxes.

Additionally, after being contacted by many constituents as well as judicial, legal, and law enforcement professionals regarding the bail bondsmen provision in the budget, I authored a letter to the Governor requesting that he veto this controversial and worrisome aspect from the bill. Our request was heard and the bail bondsmen program was among the provisions struck from the budget. Introducing bail bondsmen into the system would provide little to no benefit and would have injected uncertainty, waste, and confusion into our state’s current system. I was pleased to see that it had been vetoed.

The 2013-15 State Budget helps to further our efforts to provide the best environment possible for job creation and keeps us on the path of fiscal responsibility. The tough choices we have made over the past few years are allowing us to begin to reinvest in our state and to move Wisconsin Forward.

Governor Walker to Take Action on Three Farrow Bills

On Friday, July 5th Governor Walker will be taking executive action on 17 pieces of legislation and signing them into law. I have had the privilege to author three of the seventeen bills being signed into law by Governor Walker.

The first bill that will be signed by Governor Walker is Assembly Bill 77, which relates to reports by the Dwelling Code Council on the one- and two-family dwelling code. This bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate by a voice vote and received overwhelming bipartisan support.
Next, the Governor will take action on Assembly Bill 106, which I co-authored with Representative Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee). This law will prohibit a municipal utility from releasing customer information without the customer’s consent. This bill also received unanimous support in both the Senate and the Assembly.

 The Governor will also sign into law Assembly Bill 214, which I also co- authored with Representative Honadel. This bill will resolve the uncertainty in statutory language by clearly defining that the ban on ex parte communication does not apply to the Executive Assistants of the Public Service Commission. This law will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Commissioners and staff at the PSC.

Joint Hearing on WiscNet to be Held July 8th

Although the State Senate has adjourned for the summer months, work continues within the State Legislature as we prepare for the upcoming fall session. One issue that has been addressed by the 2013-2015 State Biennial Budget and has also been in the news over the last few weeks is the purpose and function of WiscNet, which many believe has been a publicly subsidized broadband provider for most public entities throughout Wisconsin.

The Senate Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications which I chair, and the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, chaired by my colleague Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), will be hold an Informational Hearing regarding WiscNet and its long standing relationship with the UW-System, and how it has affected the telecommunication industry in Wisconsin.

The Joint Informational Hearing will be held on Monday, July 8th at 1:00pm. Since it is a joint hearing and we are expecting a large number of participants, the hearing will be held in the large Senate Hearing Room in 411 South. Only invited speakers are being allowed to address the committee, but as always we welcome everyone to come and take part and see our democracy in action.