Another week, another e-update packed with new information! Let’s dive in!
Last week, the legislature met and voted on an array of bills. I voted in favor of all but one.
AB 47: This bill reforms the Wisconsin Parole Commission in order to address a serious lack of transparency. In order to do so, a few changes must be made, such as eliminating the open meetings law exception, requiring the Department of Corrections (DOC) to publish a meeting notice with names of those being considered for parole, and requiring DOC to publish statistics on those who have been granted or denied parole and those who have had their parole revoked.
This bill passed in the Assembly.
AB 51: This bill makes DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients eligible to be hired as police officers and sheriff’s deputies. I voted against this bill because it provides opportunities for people who entered the US illegally that are not offered to those who immigrated to the US properly.
AB 54: On the April 4th election, you will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow judges to consider a criminal’s violent record when setting bail. This bill defines “violent crime” and “serious harm.” It also gathers all of those definitions and incorporates them into the appropriate statutory locations in state law to implement the Constitutional Amendment if you pass it in April.
AB 55: This bill doubles nearly all the penalties for endangering safety by negligent operation of a vehicle, second offense negligent operation, bodily harm by negligent operation, great bodily harm by negligent operation, and reckless driving on train tracks.
I originally voted no on this bill in committee but have since changed my mind. The reasoning behind this is that although there are judges in certain areas of the state, such as Milwaukee, that will not use this legislation to help better our cities and state, I do believe there are good judges in our area of the state whom I trust to enforce these additional penalties.
This bill passed in the Assembly.
AB 56: This legislation would allow municipalities to pass an ordinance authorizing law enforcement to impound a vehicle that was previously cited for reckless driving and has a prior reckless driving conviction for which the fine has not been paid.
AB 57: This bill requires a prosecutor to get the court’s approval to dismiss or amend a number of crimes, with specific requirements for crimes pertaining to illegal possession of a firearm. It will also require judges to put out a report explaining to the public why they decided to dismiss these violent crime charges. This should hold weak judges accountable to the public.
This bill passed in the Assembly.
AB 58: Under this bill, the minimum sentence for a violent felon in possession of a firearm will be set at 5 years.
This bill passed in the Assembly.
AB 70: Under this bill, anyone who intentionally incites another to commit a riot is guilty of a Class I felony. Intentionally committing an act of violence while participating in a riot is a Class H felony. This aligns Wisconsin with current federal definitions of rioting. We must always respect the right of the public to protest and be heard, but we should also maintain law and order.
This bill matches federal law and passed in the Assembly.
To hear Representative Myers (Democrat) discuss this bill and show support towards riots, click here.
To hear Representative Spiros (Republican) discuss the bill and encourage others to defend the safety of innocent people and businesses, click here.
Reminder: Early Voting Has Now Started
Early voting for the 2023 general spring election began on Tuesday, March 21st, and runs until April 1st! Election Day is April 4th. You can watch the Tuesday debate between the two Supreme Court candidates here.
Explanation of the three referendum questions:
Bail Reform Q1 would give judges more flexibility to place restrictions on a defendant pre-trial. Under the current constitution, judges can only place restrictions on defendants to prevent “serious bodily harm.” If adopted, a judge would be able to place restrictions on defendants to prevent “serious harm.”
Bail Reform Q2 would give judges more flexibility when determining the amount of cash bail required for violent crimes. Under the current constitution, a judge may only consider the likelihood of a defendant returning to trial and seek to prevent the intimidation of witnesses when setting a cash bail amount. If adopted, a judge would be able to consider the “totality of the circumstances” including previous convictions for violent crimes, the need to protect the community from serious harm, the probability that a defendant will return to court, and potential affirmative defenses of the defendant.
Welfare Reform Q3 is a non-binding, advisory question that simply asks whether an able-bodied adult should be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded benefits, i.e. Medicaid and FoodShare programs.
Beep Beep…Students Coming Through!
In the past week, I’ve had the opportunity to join in on two school tours! Thank you to the students and teachers of St. Clare Catholic and Notre Dame of De Pere for taking time to chat with me and allowing me to answer questions to share what is going on with our state government!
ABATE of WI Visit
Thank you to ABATE (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments) of Wisconsin for stopping by the Capitol last week to share some concerns of theirs regarding driverless cars and the availability of gas fuel.
FYI – Licensing Changes Coming Soon
The White House has announced that it plans to end the Presidential national emergency proclamation on May 11, 2023. Accordingly, a temporary license for a person who applied for the temporary license without also applying for a regular license will expire 30 days after that, on June 10, 2023.
To sum it up, if a person has a 2021 Act 10 license only under the Presidential national emergency proclamation that’s ending in May, all they need to do is apply for the regular license, and DSPS will be able to identify and manage the files to maintain the person’s 2021 Act 10 active license status while the regular application is pending.
In-District Events
Friday, March 31st, will be the Annual Fish Boil Fundraiser at the Mishicot Fire Station (214 S. Main St., Mishicot) between 3 and 9 p.m. If you pay in advance, it’ll be $14 and it’ll be $15 if you pay at the door.
Saturday, April 1st, will be the Easter Eggstravaganza at O.H. Schultz Elementary School (510 Woodlawn Drive, Mishicot). This event will take place between 9 and 11:30 a.m. and is free, but donations are appreciated!
Friday, April 7th, is the Two Rivers Fire Department Fish Boil at the Two Rivers Fire Station (2122 Monroe Street, Two Rivers), from 3 to 7 p.m. It will cost $15 for adults and $6 for children.
Saturday, April 8th, the Way-Morr Lions Club (3832 Park Rd, Greenleaf) will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 8th, will be the Annual Brat Fry at the Mishicot Sportsman’s Club (13804 Jambo Creek Road, Mishicot) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 8th, will be the Larrabee Sportsman’s Club Egg Hunt from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 16306 Harpt Lake Road in Mishicot. At noon, it will be for children 5 and under, and at 1 p.m., it will be for children ages 6 to 12.
Head on down to the library for some friendly competition! Every Tuesday from 6-7:30pm, the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers (1001 Adam St.) hosts a Family Game Night. Games and popcorn are provided.
