Celebrating a Milestone Adoption
I had the honor this week of attending the adoption of Grace, a six-year-old girl who was the final foster child at Innovative Care Services in Green Bay. Congratulations to Grace, her family, and all of the staff who’ve worked tirelessly to give her the best life they could.
It was a truly joyous occasion full of optimism from many wonderful people. The miracle of adoption is always worthy of celebration, and I cannot thank the organization enough for inviting me and allowing me to witness such a special moment.
Recognizing Critical Investment
I was glad to join my colleagues this week at the Port of Green Bay to discuss the $20 million in the state budget to support port development. Given that a segment of our state surplus is one-time money, it is logical to utilize a portion of it for one-time spending. In doing so, many causes and projects can vie for the opportunity, and we were able to include this essential undertaking in the final budget. Expanding the Port of Green Bay truly is an investment in the sense that the increased effect on commerce will engender an economic impact that will be huge for the area and the state.
This is a project to be proud of, but infrastructure investments in the budget totaled more than $1 billion towards roads, bridges, clean water, and other local construction projects. Importantly, a balancing act is required when budgeting between properly funding priorities and maintaining fiscal stability. The budget we passed makes vital investments in infrastructure while bonding less than initially proposed by the Governor to avoid burdening future generations.
Moreover, we balanced the needs of all communities to ensure every part of the state receives the necessary funding. The budget includes $150 million in the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, $50 million in the Local Projects Program, and several impactful projects throughout Wisconsin. Infrastructure is a common priority for constituents, so it is terrific to see such investments become a reality.
Gutting Proper Oversight
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision this week to remove legislative oversight of rulemaking authority has eliminated a long-standing practice that ensured appropriate supervision from a democratized branch of government over impactful regulations. This decision undermines the procedural safeguards that ever justified such agency authority.
I am deeply concerned about the ramifications of empowering the executive bureaucracy over accountable officials, as this removes protections for the many affected by government regulations while granting excessive power to the governor and state agencies. This new concentration of authority is detrimental to Wisconsin and damaging to governance.
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Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104, or email me at Rep.Steffen@legis.wisconsin.
