State & Local Government Relations
Last week I met with Town of Center Board Supervisor David VanderBloomen. We discussed the historic increase in shared revenue that was passed by the State Legislature and how local government and state government can work together better.
David said that one of the priorities for this new money is improving local roads.
Assembly Wraps up Floor Session
Last Thursday the State Assembly wrapped up its 2023-24 legislative session. Republicans worked hard to cut taxes, create affordable housing, invest in education, support small businesses, develop infrastructure and strengthen our economy.
From prioritizing our kids, seniors and most vulnerable Wisconsinites, to paving the way for our middle-class and rural areas to continue to grow and thrive, my commitment to conservative values has resulted in a Wisconsin that continues to move forward.
I’m especially proud of my work on the following bills.
Expanding the Appleton Airport – Assembly Republicans and I delivered over $11 million so the Appleton Airport can complete its expansion project. I’m very happy to help Appleton’s airport improve and increase its national reputation.
Eliminating the Personal Property Tax – This session, Assembly Republicans and I ended a profound burden on local businesses by repealing the personal property tax in its entirety. Everybody expects to pay property tax on their real estate, but no one expects to pay taxes on the stuff inside their property. That’s what businesses had to do prior this legislation. I remain committed to ensuring Wisconsin has a tax code that is fair, simple and low.
Modernizing Wisconsin’s Financial Aid System – I authored a bill to modernize our higher education financial aid system. My bill, made needed updates to eligibility calculations in state statutes, aligned Wisconsin law with Federal Pell Grant eligibility, and amended the Wisconsin Grant programs to be more student friendly.
Ensuring Fairness in State Hiring – I authored an amendment to our State constitution that will bring Merit, Fairness and Equality back to hiring at all levels of state government, including the University System. Our constitution needs an affirmative statement that all people should be treated equally. This amendment will assure fairness in the State hiring process, and make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to be successful.
Increasing Shared Revenue – This session, Assembly Republicans and I passed the largest shared revenue increase in in state history. I was especially pleased with this measure because municipalities in our district fared really well under this new law.
The City of Appleton will see a 20% increase, the Town of Dale will see a 165% increase, the Town of Grand Chute will see a 238% increase, the Town of Center will see a 234% increase, and the Village of Greenville will see a whopping 425% increase!
This new money will be used to improve the way local government works for you.
Cutting Taxes by $2.1 Billion – Assembly Republicans voted to return $2.1 billion to middle class Wisconsinites, families and senior citizens. The proposal would reduce income taxes by an average of 15%, including increasing the exemption for retirement income, expanding the child and dependent care credit, and repealing the marriage penalty.
All four bills that make up this package are important to the people of Wisconsin. I hope Governor Evers signs them all.
This session, more than 90% of the bills and resolutions that came to the Assembly floor received bipartisan support.
Session Committee Action
This session I also ushered a number of important bills through the committee I chair, the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities. Those bills include:
Assembly Bill 553 – The Campus Free Speech Bill. This bill ensures free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. It establishes due process in disciplinary proceedings and creates penalties for schools that violate students’ free speech rights.
Assembly Bill 551 – The Student Free Press Bill. This bill establishes that a K-12, UW-System or technical college student has a right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school sponsored media that is controlled by the school.
Assembly Bill 545 – Since technical college district boards have the power to levy taxes and borrow money, this bill requires that district board members be U.S. citizens.
Assembly Bill 370 – To keep Wisconsin’s best and brightest students in the state, this bill requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to establish a guaranteed admission program for students who rank at the top of their high school class.
Assembly Bill 239 – This bill expands the definition of “eligible veteran” for the purposes of a tuition and fee remission program for eligible veterans’ spouses and children. Under the bill, the tuition and fee program’s definition of “eligible veteran” is expanded to include a person who has served on active duty for 20 or more years and who is on active duty in the time immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person’s spouse or child registers at a technical college or UW System institution.
Assembly Bill 1065 – This bill prohibits the use of ideological loyalty oaths (so-called DEI oaths) as a condition for admission, employment, promotion, or tenure at the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical College System.
I am also a co-author of all of these bills.
State Capitol Tours
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The best way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Wisconsin’s Capitol building (located at 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53702) is to see it for yourself. It is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily, year round except on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tours start at the information desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (Monday – Friday), excluding holidays, during Memorial Day through Labor Day. Plan on spending 45-55 minutes for a tour. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are open during the summer months. Groups of ten or more can make an on-line reservation for a tour of the State Ca
