As spring turns into summer, the importance of protecting Wisconsin’s native pollinators—bees, butterflies and so on—cannot be overstated. That’s why I’ve introduced a series of bills to raise awareness, change how we manage our land, and give local communities more tools to protect pollinators.

Over the last few weeks, hundreds of Wisconsinites participated in the Joint Finance Committee’s four public hearings. What many of the people may not have known was that Republicans said they were planning to throw out Governor Evers’ budget proposal before the ink was even dry back in February.

This week, the DHS said Wisconsin could lose up to $16.8 billion over the next decade if new cuts proposed by the US House are passed into law. That means our state—and our taxpayers—would be forced to make up the difference, or we’d be forced to cut benefits, and slash payments to hospitals and caregivers.

The State Senate did something that’s rare these days — they came together, Republicans and Democrats, and passed a bipartisan bill to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage beyond 60 days to a full year. Now it is up to the State Assembly to pass it as well.

This week I discuss the impending child care crisis facing Wisconsin if Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee do not continue funding for the Child Care Counts Program.  A new report found that 1 in 4 childcare centers could close without continued support.

This week, Senator Smith discusses a resolution him and his Democratic colleagues have introduced that would put people over profits and voices over dollars. If this passes, voters will get to answer a simple question: "Should Congress overturn Citizens United?"

This week Sen. Smith discusses how practical research leads to applicable opportunities for Wisconsin businesses and our society as a whole as well as why that makes our university system one of a kind.

This week Sen. Smith discusses the recent Trump Administration's cuts to federal grants for the Department of Health and Human Services and the serious impacts it can have on our Wisconsin communities.