Weekly Columns

RSS
11/22/2023
The Alcohol Bill - An Overview
11/17/2023
Understanding the Brewers Stadium Deal
11/10/2023
Special Recognition for Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield Veterans
11/3/2023
Creating Mental Health Care Close to Home
10/27/2023
Bridging the Digital Divide: The Bright Future of Broadband in Wisconsin
10/20/2023
Session Day Recap: Middle Class Tax Cut, Child Care Package, Marklein Bills and More
10/13/2023
The Mississippi River: Our Original Commercial Highway
10/6/2023
The Cost of Living Makes Our Case for a Middle Class Tax Cut
9/29/2023
Why Does This Matter To Me?
9/22/2023
A Time of Transition
9/15/2023
Dull Legislation and Show-stopping Votes
9/8/2023
My Legislation Game Plan
9/1/2023
Recognizing the Workforce of the 17th Senate District
8/25/2023
Funding Healthcare in the State Budget
8/18/2023
Big Wins for Rural EMS
8/11/2023
Continued Progress in our State Parks
8/4/2023
Ag In Our Communities
7/28/2023
Meaningful Work on Mental Health
7/21/2023
The Long Story of Rural Broadband Infrastructure
7/14/2023
The Great Power and Responsibility of a Veto Pen
7/7/2023
Delivering Wins for the 17th Senate District in the State Budget
6/30/2023
The Best of Our Budget
6/23/2023
A 4.4 Billion Tax Cut!
6/16/2023
Rural Communities and Local Governments Win!
6/9/2023
Budget Bulletin & Ag Roads
6/2/2023
Budget Bulletin: Building Commission, Building Program and Tourism
5/26/2023
Budget Bulletin: Workforce Development, Taking Care of Veterans, Right-Sizing Government and Increasing Transparency
5/19/2023
Budget Bulletin: Public Safety, the Court System, Agriculture and Natural Resources
5/12/2023
Good News for Work on Water Quality
5/5/2023
The Train Has Left the Station
4/28/2023
What Comes Next In the State Budget Process?
4/21/2023
Reading Between the Lines of Recalls
4/14/2023
Bills to Bolster Wisconsin's Workforce
4/7/2023
Learning & Listening
3/31/2023
Proposing a New Ag-Roads Improvement Program (ARIP)
3/24/2023
Legislature Advances Public Safety, Law Enforcement Bills
3/17/2023
It's Not A Cut
3/10/2023
You Are Invited! Join Us for a Public Hearing
3/3/2023
What Is "Building From Base"?
2/24/2023
Spend, Spend, Spend
2/17/2023
The Legislature Will Write THE State Budget
2/10/2023
Responding to the First Responders: Continuing to Support Rural EMS
2/3/2023
Listening Session Summary
1/27/2023
The Outlook for Ag is Impacted by Costs and Economic Uncertainty
1/20/2023
A Constitutional Amendment Goes to the Voters
1/13/2023
2023-24 Legislative Session Begins
1/6/2023
Do Your Part for Better Broadband Policy
9/21/2022
Objecting For a Better Deal
9/8/2022
A Proven Plan for $31 Million to Attack the Opioid Epidemic
8/18/2022
Improving Juvenile Justice…and more
7/6/2022
Inflationary Reality
6/29/2022
The Battle for Better Broadband Continues
6/15/2022
A Meeting of Fiscal Minds
6/1/2022
Joint Committee on Finance Approves Funds for Health Insurance, Law Enforcement, Emergency Response and School Safety
5/24/2022
A Meaningful Memorial Day
5/19/2022
Accelerating Road Projects
5/9/2022
Celebrating Rural EMS Week and Our Neighbors Who Save Lives
4/28/2022
Inflation, Economic Activity or Both?
4/22/2022
Rural Wisconsin is Vetoed Again
4/15/2022
Legislative Report Card
4/8/2022
Will Federal Funding Reach Our Local, Rural Roads?
4/1/2022
Bipartisan Work in the Legislature
3/25/2022
Ag Committee Action
3/18/2022
Pain at the Pump, Rising costs and Pressure on the Pocketbook
3/11/2022
Session Day Summary
3/4/2022
We Saved $22 Billion
2/25/2022
Drama-Free Legislation Re-cap
2/18/2022
Better Broadband Policy
2/11/2022
The Budget Beat Goes On
2/4/2022
Positive Outlook for Ag
1/28/2022
Wisconsin's Extraordinary Surplus
1/21/2022
Talking Cows In the Capitol
1/14/2022
Constitutional Amendments for Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability
1/7/2022
2022 Preview
12/17/2021
2021 Year In Review
12/10/2021
Billions and Billions and Billions for Broadband
12/3/2021
We're Back On the Roads
11/19/2021
Treasured Traditions
11/12/2021
Election Audit Results Delivered, Mostly
11/5/2021
Reminders of Service
10/29/2021
Session Day Summary
10/22/2021
Counting Kids
10/15/2021
Take a Moment, Save a Life
10/8/2021
Promoting Sporting Freedom
10/1/2021
Senate Session Recap
9/24/2021
Unintended Consequences of Emergency Declarations
9/17/2021
Continuing to Protect Our Kids from the Dangers of Tobacco and Vaping
9/10/2021
What’s the Dairy Hub-bub
9/3/2021
Wisconsin Hospitality at Fort McCoy
8/27/2021
Big Decisions on Back-To-School
8/20/2021
Rain Check
8/13/2021
More Progress In Our State Parks
8/6/2021
Creating a Highway to Honor the Purple Heart
7/30/2021
The Best Legislation Comes From You
7/23/2021
Celebrating the Return of County Fairs
7/16/2021
Keeping My Eyes on the Roads
7/9/2021
The Governor Signed the Legislature's Budget with 50 Vetoes
7/2/2021
Our Bi-Partisan Budget Heads to the Governor
6/25/2021
Budget Bulletin - Legislature Wraps Up Budget Process
6/18/2021
Budget Bulletin - $3.4 Billion Tax Cut, Two-Thirds School Funding, Extraordinary Investments in Healthcare
6/11/2021
Budget Bulletin: Transportation, Building Commission, Stewardship Program, Water Quality, Corrections, Courts…and more.
6/4/2021
Budget Bulletin: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Workforce Development & Safety and Professional Services
5/28/2021
Budget Bulletin: K-12, Higher Education
5/21/2021
Workforce Recovery Bill to Encourage Return-To-Work
5/14/2021
Dialing-In Funding for Broadband
5/6/2021
First Votes on the State Budget
4/30/2021
Dear Governor: You're Invited. Please Join Us.
4/23/2021
Spring Clean Your Prescription Drugs
4/16/2021
One Down – More To Go: Removing Obstacles for Rural EMS Volunteers
4/9/2021
A Responsible Stimulus Plan to Spend Federal Funds in Wisconsin
4/2/2021
To Understand, Than to be Understood
3/26/2021
Big Broadband Investments for Southwest WI
3/19/2021
Senate Session Recap
3/12/2021
Supporting Our Rural EMS
3/5/2021
New Law Prevents Frivolous COVID-19 Lawsuits
2/26/2021
Looking Into Our Elections
2/19/2021
Funding Our Priorities While Respecting Taxpayers
2/12/2021
Ag Bills On the Mooooove
2/5/2021
The Economic Outlook for Agriculture Has Improved
1/29/2021
State Revenues Projected Much Higher Than Expected
1/22/2021
There Is No Bill, But There Is a Solution
1/15/2021
Senate Passes COVID Compromise
1/8/2021
COVID-19 Relief Bill Is In the Works
12/18/2020
2020 Year In Review
12/11/2020
Committee Assignments Play to My Strengths
12/4/2020
It’s Simple: Use Medicaid Surplus to Continue COVID-19 Operations
11/20/2020
Thankful, Grateful & Blessed
11/13/2020
What Does This Mean for You?
11/6/2020
Reach Out For Veterans Day
10/30/2020
Record Attendance at State Parks Amid Pandemic
10/23/2020
My Summer Jobs
10/16/2020
Unemployment Audit Results Disappointing
10/9/2020
Vote!
10/2/2020
Rural Road Safety For Fall Color Tours
9/25/2020
More Than Just Masks
9/18/2020
Hunting: An Important Social Distancing Activity
9/11/2020
The Pending Cliff
9/4/2020
The State of Our State's Finances
8/28/2020
Session Recap: Healthcare
8/21/2020
Session Recap: Agriculture and Rural Issues
8/14/2020
Session Recap: Roads
8/7/2020
Session Recap: The State Budget
7/31/2020
Successful Session
7/24/2020
The Fair Must Go On
7/17/2020
Building Broadband
7/10/2020
Back To School?
6/26/2020
Wisconsin Is Under Siege
6/19/2020
Connecting With Agriculture to Champion Rural Wisconsin
6/12/2020
Short Deadlines for Farm and Small Business Grants
6/5/2020
Dairy Innovation Hub Update
5/29/2020
Do Dairy Month Differently + The Numbers Matter Update
5/22/2020
The Numbers Matter
5/15/2020
Wisconsin Is Open!
5/8/2020
A Day of Fiscal Reckoning Is Coming
5/1/2020
GOOD NEWS EDITION - COVID-19 Update
4/24/2020
COVID-19 Update
4/17/2020
The First COVID-19 Relief Bill in Wisconsin
4/10/2020
Legislative Action On COVID-19
4/3/2020
The Election and COVID-19
3/27/2020
COVID-19 Update
3/20/2020
The 17th Senate District and COVID-19
3/13/2020
Hire Howard Part II
3/6/2020
It's Something...But It's Not Enough
2/28/2020
Listening To You
2/21/2020
Session Recap
2/14/2020
Supporting Farmers AND Protecting Natural Resources
2/7/2020
Special Interests From the 17th Senate District
1/31/2020
The State of Ag in Wisconsin
1/24/2020
Session Recap and the State of the State
1/17/2020
Local, Rural Road Funding Should Be Used to Fix Local, Rural Roads
1/10/2020
What Is Happening With Tobacco21?
1/3/2020
My Plans for 2020
12/20/2019
2019:Year In Review
12/13/2019
Building Stronger Bridges
12/6/2019
My First Response to My EMS Summits
11/22/2019
Help Instead of Prosecute
11/15/2019
Eight Bi-Partisan Marklein Bills Are On the Governor's Desk
11/8/2019
Marklein Bills Pass the Senate, Assembly
11/1/2019
Incentivizing Investment in Broadband Infrastructure
10/25/2019
The Battle Continues
10/18/2019
Continued Focus on Rural Broadband Expansion
10/11/2019
Supporting Rural EMS Volunteers
10/4/2019
Wisconsin: Dairy Superpower
9/27/2019
UW Platteville Building Project Update
9/20/2019
Almond "Milk" is Not Milk, Veggie "Burgers" are Not Burgers and Fake "Swiss" is Not Cheese!
9/16/2019
Our Rainy Day Fund is Ready
9/6/2019
Working With Rural Schools
8/30/2019
Streamlining the Disaster Assistance Process in Wisconsin
8/23/2019
Progress In Our Parks
8/16/2019
Tobacco21
8/9/2019
Delete It!
8/2/2019
Dump Your Deer Right Here
7/26/2019
Leveling the Sales Tax Playing Field for Retailers
7/19/2019
There is more to the vetoes than meets the eye…
7/12/2019
Crossing the Border to Fill the Tank
6/28/2019
Legislature Passes Transportation Reforms
6/21/2019
Legislature’s Budget Invests in the People of Wisconsin
6/14/2019
Budget Bulletin V
6/7/2019
Budget Bulletin IV
5/31/2019
Budget Bulletin III
5/24/2019
Budget Bulletin II
5/17/2019
Budget Bulletin I
5/10/2019
A Matter of Fairness
5/3/2019
Dairy Innovation Hub Bill to Address Dairy Crisis
4/26/2019
In Memory of My Friend Ed Brooks
4/19/2019
Protecting Life In Wisconsin
4/12/2019
Heroes From Our Hometowns Serve on the Southern Border
4/5/2019
Real Potential For Real Results
3/29/2019
My Personal Approach to the State Budget
3/22/2019
I Heard "Roads," "Roads," "Water," "Roads!"
3/15/2019
Leading Blue Ribbon Ideas on School Funding Reform
3/8/2019
What Are You Doing About Water?
3/1/2019
Summary of the Governor's Budget Message
2/22/2019
Hiring the Leaders of State Agencies
2/15/2019
Let's Talk Dollars and Ideas
2/8/2019
We Have Gone Half-Way, But Nobody Has Met Us Yet
2/1/2019
Is There a New “Normal” for the Ag Economy?
1/25/2019
The Things I Heard and Didn't Hear in the State of the State
1/18/2019
Making Progress with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
1/11/2019
It All Starts With Inauguration Day
1/4/2019
Priorities, Plans and a Request
12/21/2018
2018 Year In Review
12/7/2018
Tell Me More About the Lame Duck
6/22/2018
State Park Reforms Are Working!
6/14/2018
School Safety Grants Awarded To Our Schools
5/9/2018
Road Work Ahead
4/13/2018
New Laws Impacting Rural Wisconsin
4/6/2018
Delivering Results for the 17th Senate District
3/30/2018
Legislature Passes School Safety Funding and Juvenile Corrections Reform
3/23/2018
Delivering For Rural Health Care
3/16/2018
The Impact of Freezing Tuition
3/9/2018
Marklein Legislation On the Move
3/2/2018
Terrorist Threat Law Working in Rural Wisconsin
2/23/2018
Wisconsin Steps Up to Stabilize the Affordable Care Act
2/16/2018
Relief for Thrifty School Districts
2/9/2018
The Wisconsin Farm Center Offers Support for Farmers
2/2/2018
Supporting Wisconsin's Apprentices
1/26/2018
Looking Ahead for Agriculture
1/19/2018
The White Space Opportunity for Rural Broadband
1/12/2018
Hard Work on Good Policy
1/5/2018
2018 Goals, Plans and Opportunities
12/22/2017
2017 Legislative Year In Review
12/15/2017
Bang From Our Bucks: An Update on the Milwaukee Arena Project
12/8/2017
Numbers Matter to Schools
12/1/2017
Hire Howard for the Day
11/22/2017
Happy Thanksgiving
11/17/2017
Thanksgiving is a Good Deal in Wisconsin
11/10/2017
Get Ready for the Deer Hunt
11/3/2017
Local Ideas Approved by the Senate
10/27/2017
Locals Know Their Community Best
10/20/2017
A Small Thank You for Those Who Volunteer to Keep Us Safe
10/13/2017
Renewing My Commitment to Rural Schools
10/6/2017
Let Children Learn From Their Parents
9/29/2017
Corn Mazes, Pumpkins, Wine and More Draw Tourists to Rural WI
9/22/2017
Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of Us
9/15/2017
The "Good" in This Budget
9/8/2017
Rural Roads Finally a Priority in State Budget
9/1/2017
$639 Million More for Schools and $78 Million for UW Platteville
8/25/2017
Foxconn Facts
8/18/2017
Tough Decisions Paying Off: Moody's Upgrades Wisconsin
8/11/2017
Housekeeping For Voter Registration
8/4/2017
White Mound County Park - Sold for $1!
7/28/2017
Welcome to Wisconn Valley?
7/21/2017
H.O.P.E. Bill Expands Addiction Specialist Training
7/14/2017
I'm Glad We Didn't Finish the Budget Yet
7/7/2017
My Education Priority Report Card
6/30/2017
There Is No Crisis
6/23/2017
Taxing Cows, Pigs & Chickens
6/16/2017
The Risk Is Not Worth the Reward
6/9/2017
Clearing the Way for Emergency Service Providers
6/2/2017
Budget Bulletin IV: Natural Resources, Library Aids and Workforce Development Among Topics Covered This Week
5/26/2017
Budget Bulletin III: Higher Education and Health Services Highlight the Week
5/19/2017
Budget Bulletin II: Marklein Motions Are Making a Difference in the 17th Senate District
5/12/2017
Budget Bulletin: 911, Broadband and Occupational Licenses
5/5/2017
Borrowing To Pay Ourselves Sales Tax
4/28/2017
Going Through the Motions of the State Budget
4/21/2017
Encouraging ATV Safety
4/14/2017
A Closer Look at Wisconsin's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
4/7/2017
UW Platteville: Loud & Clear
3/31/2017
Being Good Stewards of Stewardship Funds
3/24/2017
Give Southwest Wisconsin a Voice In the State Budget Process
3/17/2017
Wisconsin Tourism: Big Fun Is Big Business
3/10/2017
The DOT Audit: Finding Funding Via Efficiencies
3/3/2017
Making Progress on Phosphorus
2/24/2017
Building Slides For Cliffs
2/17/2017
Working Together to Expand Broadband
2/10/2017
Summarizing the Governor’s Budget Address
2/3/2017
The Survey Says
1/27/2017
This Is What I’m Hearing: Summarizing My Listening Sessions
1/20/2017
What Is On the Horizon for Agriculture?
1/13/2017
Summarizing the State of the State
1/6/2017
New Year, New Session, New Ideas
12/9/2016
2017-18 Legislative Survey
12/2/2016
Our Gift to the Economy
11/18/2016
High Expectations For the Hunt
11/11/2016
Investing In Veterans
11/4/2016
Six Reasons to Love Rural Wisconsin
10/28/2016
Do You Know What You Need To Do To Vote?
10/21/2016
Winning Numbers - The Impact of Lottery Income on Property Taxes
10/14/2016
Fall Clean Your Old Medications Statewide Drug Drop-off Day is October 22, 2016
10/7/2016
Great Coaches From the 17th Senate District
9/30/2016
Purposeful Passion at Work In Wisconsin
9/23/2016
Kids In the Classroom Means Dollars In the Budget
9/16/2016
Help! It's a State of Emergency!
9/9/2016
Collaborating to Connect Rural Wisconsin
9/2/2016
When Federal Decisions Become Wisconsin Problems
8/26/2016
Main Street Vitality in Rural Wisconsin
8/19/2016
A Field Trip to Taiwan
8/12/2016
Monitoring State Government: the Open Book and Agency Dashboard
8/5/2016
Summer School for Legislators: Legislative Council Study Committees
7/29/2016
Understanding the Electric Transmission Line Process
7/22/2016
The “Wisconsin Cares” Agenda: Supporting Those With Alzheimer’s and the People Who Care For Them
7/15/2016
Get Ready To Vote
7/8/2016
Corn: The Original Economic Indicator
7/1/2016
Celebrating Our Unique Independence
6/24/2016
Outcomes-Based Funding: Paying For Results
6/17/2016
Keeping Our Minds On the Road
6/10/2016
H.O.P.E. for Ending Drug Addiction & Abuse
6/3/2016
June is Dairy Month!
5/27/2016
Focus On Our Nation’s Legacy this Memorial Day
5/20/2016
Phosphorus: Regulating Ourselves into the Poorhouse
5/13/2016
May is Beef Month!
5/6/2016
Caring for Wisconsin’s Women
4/29/2016
Committee Work Ethic
4/22/2016
Capitalizing on Campsites
4/15/2016
Rebound After a Raid
4/8/2016
67% Success!
4/1/2016
“You’re Taking Nine Months of Vacation?”
3/25/2016
Legislative Session Wrap Up Part 2: Bills Passed on March 15
3/18/2016
Legislative Session Wrap Up Part 1: Marklein Bills
3/11/2016
Broadband Expansion for Rural Wisconsin
3/4/2016
Collaboration Works Across Government
2/26/2016
Choosing Among Public Schools: Open Enrollment in the 17th Senate District
2/19/2016
UW System by the Numbers
2/12/2016
Working in My Wheelhouse
2/5/2016
Legislating Common Sense
1/29/2016
Ag Day at the Capital
1/22/2016
It’s Tax Time!
1/15/2016
The College Affordability Legislative Package
1/8/2016
The Wisconsin Veterans Employment Initiative
12/11/2015
Rural Healthcare Matters
12/4/2015
Gun Deer Data
11/25/2015
Listening Sessions, Survey, Daily Communications
11/20/2015
Thanksgiving
11/13/2015
UW Platteville: A Good Investment
10/30/2015
Cranberries. Another Kind of Ag
10/23/2015
State of Wisconsin Annual Fiscal Report
10/16/2015
Helping the Harvest
10/9/2015
Civil Service Reform
10/2/2015
Improving the Financial Situation in Wisconsin
9/25/2015
Wine Walks Legislation Demonstrates the Strength of Grassroots
9/18/2015
School Membership Count
9/11/2015
Roundabouts in Wisconsin
9/4/2015
Listening Sessions for Fall
8/28/2015
Legislative Survey
8/21/2015
UW Colleges
8/14/2015
Sparsity Aid to Rural Schools
8/7/2015
A Closer Look at Spending
7/31/2015
Agri-Tourism
7/24/2015
Wisconsin's Credit Card
7/17/2015
We Have the Beef!
7/10/2015
Summarizing the State Budget
7/2/2015
In Rural Wisconsin Five Minutes Matter
6/26/2015
Summer in the 17th - Tourism
6/19/2015
Transportation Funding
6/12/2015
Bucks Arena Deal
6/6/2015
JFC DNR and UW
5/29/2015
Ice Cream for Breakfast in June
5/15/2015
JFC Restores ADRCs, Public Radio & TV
5/8/2015
Reform vs. Repeal
4/24/2015
Studying the Details and Making Decision


Madison Office: 316 East, State Capitol Mailing Address: PO Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707-7882
Phone: (608) 266-0703 E-mail: Sen.Marklein@legis.wi.gov