Today, I voted yes on the bipartisan state budget agreement negotiated by Governor Evers and legislative leaders. We could’ve done more, but with any compromise, we did what we could agree on. As we’ve seen in the last year since the HSHS hospital closures, our number one priority was shoring up our healthcare infrastructure. 

Today on the floor of the Senate, we’re debating several bills that, on paper, sound like great ideas. Bills that enhance safety for schools, bolster emergency services, and create more efficient public systems. Who could argue with those things? But if you take a closer look… past the headlines and the talking points… you’ll notice something important is missing: money.

Every two years, your state government crafts a budget that impacts everything from your local schools to our roads and healthcare. But here’s the thing: a budget written behind closed doors doesn’t serve the people.

I want to talk about open, accountable government. For anyone who cares about transparency and an honest exchange of ideas, you should be concerned about the loss of open debate in committees in the State Senate.

On May 22nd, Congressional Republicans passed a big tax break for the ultrawealthy by a single vote – this bill betrays working families so the rich can get richer. To fund their mega tax breaks, they slash healthcare and food assistance funding.

Memorial Day not only marks the beginning of summer, but to honor a solemn purpose: to remember and pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. 

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.