Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Speaker Vos Provides More Details on 1:1 Funding Proposal

During a year-end interview with Wisconsin Eye, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos provided a few more details regarding his proposal to provide high school freshmen with 1:1 learning devices. He says they have changed the proposal, which is included in the Assembly Republicans’ Forward Agenda, to instead cover 1:1 technology.  Vos says this would allow schools to use the money in the way that is best for them and gave the examples of hiring instructors to teach computing, expanding broadband or buying laptops.


His full comments can be seen at the 14:06 minute mark of this video: http://www.wiseye.org/Video-Archive/Event-Detail/evhdid/11170

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Assembly Committee Chairs Announced

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced leadership for Assembly committees today. Representatives Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) and Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) remain the Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Assembly Committee on Education. Representative David Murphy (R-Greenville) remains the chair of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, and Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) replaces Representative Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) as Vice-Chair. Representative Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) will chair the new Assembly Committee on Science and Technology, and Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) will serve as Vice-Chair.
  
The full committee list is as follows:

  • Aging and Long-Term Care Chair: Rep. Weatherston, Vice-Chair: Rep. Petryk
  • Agriculture Chair: Rep. Nerison, Vice-Chair: Rep. Novak
  • Campaigns and Elections Chair Rep. Bernier, Vice-Chair Rep. Sanfelippo
  • Children and Families Chair: Rep. Kitchens, Vice-Chair: Rep. Gannon
  • Colleges and Universities Chair: Rep. Murphy, Vice-Chair: Rep. Tranel
  • Constitution and Ethics Chair: Rep. Allen, Vice-Chair Rep. Thiesfeldt
  • Consumer Protection Chair: Rep. Duchow, Vice-Chair Rep. Tittl
  • Corrections Chair: Rep. Schraa, Vice-Chair: Rep. Hutton
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety Chair: Rep. Spiros, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kremer
  • Education Chair: Rep. Thiesfeldt, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kitchens
  • Energy and Utilities Chair: Rep. Kuglitsch, Vice-Chair: Rep. Steffen
  • Environment and Forestry Chair: Rep. Mursau, Vice-Chair: Rep. Krug
  • Family Law Chair: Rep. Rodriguez, Vice-Chair: Rep. Bernier
  • Federalism and Interstate Relations Chair: Rep. Vorpagel, Vice-Chair: Rep. Schraa
  • Financial Institutions Chair: Rep. Katsma, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jarchow
  • Government Accountability and Oversight Chair: Rep. Hutton, Vice-Chair: Rep. Brandtjen
  • Health Chair: Rep. Sanfelippo, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kerkman
  • Housing Chair: Rep. Jagler, Vice-Chair: Rep. Allen
  • Insurance Chair: Rep. Petersen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Duchow
  • Jobs and the Economy Chair: Rep. Neylon, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ed Brooks
  • Judiciary Chair: Rep. Ott, Vice-Chair: Rep. Horlacher
  • Labor Chair: Rep. Kulp, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kuglitsch
  • Mental Health Chair: Rep. Tittl, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jagler
  • Rural Development and Mining Chair: Rep. VanderMeer, Vice-Chair: Rep. Mursau
  • Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage Chair: Rep. Kleefisch, Vice-Chair: Rep. Quinn
  • Public Benefit Reform Chair: Rep. Krug, Vice-Chair: Rep. Vorpagel
  • Regulatory Licensing Reform Chair: Rep. Horlacher, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ballweg
  • Science and Technology Chair: Rep. Quinn, Vice-Chair: Rep. Petersen
  • Small Business Development Chair: Rep. Tauchen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Edming
  • State Affairs Chair: Rep. Swearingen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Tauchen
  • Tourism Chair: Rep. Tranel, Vice-Chair: Rep. Swearingen
  • Transportation Chair: Rep. Ripp, Vice-Chair Rep. Spiros
  • Local Government Chair: Rep. Ed Brooks, Vice-Chair: Rep. Ripp
  • Urban Revitalization Chair: Rep. Gannon, Vice-Chair: Rep. Fields (D)
  • Veterans and Military Affairs Chair: Rep. Skowronski, Vice-Chair: Rep. VanderMeer
  • Ways and Means Chair: Rep. Macco, Vice-Chair: Rep. Katsma
  • Workforce Development Chair: Rep. Petryk, Vice-Chair: Rep. Weatherston
  • Joint Audit Chair: Rep. Kerkman, Vice-Chair: Rep. Macco
  • JCRAR Chair: Rep. Ballweg, Vice-Chair: Rep. Neylon
  • JFC Chair: Rep. Nygren, Vice-Chair: Rep. Kooyenga
  • Leg Council Chair: Rep. Rob Brooks
  • Tax Exemptions Chair: Rep. August
  • Retirement Systems Chair: Rep. Novak
  • Information Policy and Technology Chair: Rep. Knodl, Vice-Chair: Rep. Jacque
  • Review Committee on Criminal Penalties Chair: Rep. Jarchow
  • Law Revision Chair: Rep. Ott
  • Building Commission Chair: Rep. Swearingen, Vice-Chair: Rep. Katsma

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Joint Finance Committee Taking Shape

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced the Assembly Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee today. There are two new Assembly Republican members this session—Representatives Mark Born and Mike Rohrkaste.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald previously re-appointed all current Senate Republican members to the Committee. No word yet on the Committee’s four Democratic seats.

Once Governor Walker introduces his 2017-19 budget bill, it will be referred to the Joint Finance Committee for consideration. 

Assembly Republican Members 

Chair, Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette)
Vice-Chair, Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)
Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton)
Rep. Mary Czaja (R-Irma)
Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam)

Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah)

Senate Republican Members

Chair, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills)
Vice-Chair, Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon)
Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)
Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)
Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst)
Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) 


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Senate Democrats Elect 2017-18 Leadership

Senate Democrats met Tuesday afternoon to elect their leadership for the 2017-18 legislative session.  

Senate Minority Leader: Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). This is Shilling’s second session as Senate Minority Leader. Former Senator Dan Kapanke announced Tuesday that he will seek a recount in his race against Shilling, which she led by only 56 votes after the official canvas.  

Senate Assistant Minority Leader: Senator Janet Bewley (D-Ashland).  Bewley replaces current Assistant Minority Leader Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) who did not seek re-election to the post.

Senate Minority Caucus Chair: Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona). He replaces Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) who will not be returning to the Legislature in 2017. 

Senate Minority Caucus Vice-Chair:  Senator Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville). She replaces current Caucus Vice-Chair Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) who did not seek re-election to the post.


All Caucuses have now chosen their leadership for the 2017-18 session.  Announcements will be made in the coming weeks regarding committee assignments in the Assembly and Senate.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) already re-appointed all Senate Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced that Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) will remain Assembly Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, but did not make any announcements regarding the five remaining Assembly Republican seats on the Committee. No word yet on who the four Democratic Joint Finance Committee members will be. 


Senate Majority Leader:  Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau)

Senate Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa)

Senate President: Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton)

Senate President Pro Tempore: Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)

Senate Majority Caucus Chair: Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)

Senate Majority Caucus Vice-Chair: Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)

Assembly Speaker: Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester)

Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore: Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva)

Assembly Majority Leader:   Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna)

Assembly Assistant Majority Leader:  Representative Rob Brooks (R- Saukville)

Assembly Majority Caucus Chair:  Representative Dan Knodl (R-Germantown)

Assembly Majority Vice-Caucus Chair: Representative Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake)

Assembly Majority Caucus Sargent at Arms: Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem)

Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary: Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek)

Assembly Minority Leader: Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha).

Assembly Assistant Minority Leader: Representative Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton)

Assembly Minority Caucus Chair: Representative Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit)

Assembly Minority Caucus Vice-Chair:  Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska)

Assembly Minority Caucus Secretary:  Representative Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield)


Assembly Minority Caucus Sargent at Arms: Representative Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee)

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

DPI Releases Second Half of Budget Request

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released the second half of its 2017-19 state budget request Tuesday. This request will be used by the Department of Administration and the Governor’s office to craft the 2017-19 state budget bill, which will be introduced in February. Many of the DPI funding items related to school library programs were included in the first half of DPI’s request, which was released in September. You can read our update on that portion of the request here.

DPI’s proposal would increase school funding by $707 million over the two-year budget (a 2.7% increase in the first year and another 5.4% in the second).

The budget focuses on four key areas:

  1. Funding and Finance Reform
  2. School-based mental health supports
  3. Investing in Rural Schools
  4. Summer learning and other innovative approaches

DPI’s full 2017-19 state budget request can be viewed here and State Superintendent Tony Evers’ statement on the budget request here.

The following is a summary of items contained in the second half of DPI’s request:

School Library Aids (CSF) Re-Estimate

Since DPI submitted their first budget request in September, the projected state aid for school libraries (Common School Fund payments) have decreased. DPI is lowering their original estimates by $3 million in the first year of the biennium and by $1 million in the second year of the biennium. The updated estimates are  $35 million in Fiscal Year 2018 and $37 million in Fiscal Year 2019.

School Funding and Finance Reform

DPI’s budget request includes a school finance reform proposal called Fair Funding for our Future, which modifies the current school funding formula to provide minimum aid to school districts across the state ($3,000 per student), adds a hold harmless provision so that no school would lose money based on the funding formula changes,  incorporates a poverty factor into the equalization aid formula that takes into account the number of students in a district receiving Free or Reduced Price Lunch, and makes other technical changes to the formula.  The request also increases the per pupil revenue limit adjustment to $200 per full-time equivalent (FTE) pupils in 2018 and $204 per FTE in 2019, and updates state statute to increase that figure by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year, beginning in 2020. In 1996, the state established a per pupil “low-revenue” ceiling amount that allows districts to increase their per pupil revenues up to a state-determined figure per pupil without having to go to referenda. DPI is proposing to increase the current low-revenue ceiling from $9,100 in 2017, to $9,500 in 2018 and $9,900 in 2019. DPI is also proposing changes to the way summer school students are counted for revenue limit purposes.

Per Pupil Aid Weighting

DPI requests an additional $37.5 million to maintain per pupil aid of $250 and create a new weighting factor that would provide schools with additional aid for students in certain demographics (students in foster care, English language learners and economically disadvantaged students). For each student in one of these demographics, schools would get the $250 per pupil aid plus $50 for each weighting factor.

Investing in Rural Schools/ Rural Teacher Retention 

DPI proposes a new annual $5.5 million Rural Schools Teacher Retention Grant. Districts eligible for sparsity aid could apply for the grants, which are meant to help with teacher retention issues and could be used for things like tuition reimbursement, professional development or increased compensation. DPI estimates that eligible districts would receive a minimum grant of $5,000 (with payments of about $750 per teacher). 

DPI an increase of $7.7 million to fully fund sparsity aid and expand sparsity aid eligibility to additional districts. Under DPI’s proposal to create a second tier of sparsity aid, school districts  that have between 746 and 1, 000 students (averaging out to not more than 10 students per square mile) could get sparsity aid payments of $100 per student. 

DPI also requests increased transportation aid for school districts that transport students 12 or more miles and increased transportation reimbursement rates for summer school and high-cost transportation.  

Peer Review and Mentoring Grant Program

DPI does not request increased funding for this grant program,  which provides peer review and mentoring support to new teachers, but does request a statutory change to expand eligibility to all school districts. They also request increasing the allowable grant amount from $25,000 to $100,000.  Priority would be given to schools in the Teacher Equitable Access Program.

Allowing MPS to Start Classes before September 1

DPI is requesting a change to state statute that would allow Milwaukee Public Schools to begin classes before September 1 in an effort to prevent the “summer slide.”

School Based Mental Health

DPI proposes three school-based mental health initiatives. The first would create a $3 million annual appropriation used to partially reimburse schools that increase spending on social worker positions (76% of Wisconsin school districts currently do not have a social worker). The second is a $2.5 million annual grant program that would help fund school mental health efforts done in collaboration with community health care providers. The third is increased funding for DPI to scale up mental health training for schools around the state.

Special Education/ Transition Funding

DPI requests an $88 million increase for special education funding and a $4.2 million increase for high-cost special education funding as well as a statutory change that would reimburse 100% of eligible costs for  districts that exceed the $30,000 per pupil threshold. As part of its request to increase high-cost special education funding, DPI requests that current law “special education supplemental aid” funding be folded into the high-cost special education program.

The budget request also provides funding to support youth with disabilities that are transitioning into college or careers.  DPI requests an additional $6.3 million to fully fund the Transition Incentive Grant Program which provides schools districts with $1,000 for each student with a disability graduating college and career ready based on the Wisconsin Post-School Outcomes (WiPSO) survey.  They also propose a new program called the Special Education Transition Readiness Investment Grant which would make $1.5 million available to school districts to create new competitive work opportunities for students with disabilities.

Bilingual/Bicultural Aid

DPI requests an additional $9.1 million to increase the reimbursement rate paid to school districts that are required to offer bilingual/bicultural programs to 12%.  

They also request $4.3 million to create a Supplemental Bilingual-Bicultural Aid program that would provide $100 per English learner in any district that is not served by a bilingual/bicultural aid program.  

In addition, they request funding to create two new grant programs. The first would create a $4.4 million grant program that provides targeted funding to districts with English learners. Districts, including those eligible for the two Bilingual-Bicultural Aid programs discussed above, would receive $100 per English learner that is assessed at proficiency level 1, 2 or 3.  The second is a $750,000 ESL and Bilingual Capacity Building Grant to help schools increase the number of existing teachers and paraprofessionals that are certified English as a Second Language (ESL) and bilingual education teachers.

Dual Language Planning and Start Up grant

DPI requests $750,000 to create a  Dual Language Planning and Start Up Grant that would provide start-up funding for school districts that want to create a dual language immersion program.

Gifted/Talented Programs

DPI requests $1.5 million in additional funding for gifted and talented programs. They hope the increased funding will help serve students that have been historically underrepresented in gifted and talented programs (such as economically disadvantaged students, students of color, students with physical or learning disabilities, and English Learners). The request also expands eligibility to all school districts in the state.

Tribal Language Revitalization Grants

DPI Requests $562,200 to create a new Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization initiative. This initiative will begin the exposure and development of the tribal heritage languages starting with Head Start and 4K and continue implementation of the program in Kindergarten through eighth grade in future biennia.

School Breakfast Program

DPI requests additional funding in order to fully fund the $0.15 reimbursement rate for each breakfast served. DPI also proposes expanding eligibility for the school breakfast reimbursement program to several new entities: independent charter schools, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and residential care centers for children and youth (RCCs).


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Assembly Democrats Elect 2017-18 Leadership; John Nygren Re-Appointed to JFC

Assembly Democrats met Tuesday to select their leadership positions for the 2017-18 legislative session.  


 Assembly Minority Leader: Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha). This is Barca’s fourth consecutive session as Minority Leader.

Assembly Assistant Minority Leader: Representative Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton). Hesselbein replaces current Minority Leader Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) who did not seek re-election to the position.

Assembly Minority Caucus Chair: Representative Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit). Spreitzer replaces current Minority Caucus Chair Andy Jorgensen (D-Milton) who is not returning to the Legislature in 2017.

Assembly Minority Caucus Vice-Chair:  Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska). Doyle replaces current Minority Caucus Vice-Chair JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee) who did not seek re-election to the position.

Assembly Minority Caucus Secretary:  Representative Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield). This is her second consecutive session in this role.

Assembly Minority Caucus Sargent at Arms: Representative Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee). Sinicki replaces current Minority Caucus Sargent at Arms Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) who did not seek re-election to the position.


In other news, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos re-appointed Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) as Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) re-appointed all Senate Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee last week.

Rep. Nygren. To serve third term as Joint Finance Co-Chair.

Speaker Vos. Announces JFC Assembly Chair

Monday, November 14, 2016

Assembly Republicans Elect 2017-18 Leadership

The Assembly Republican Caucus met Monday to elect 2017-18 leadership positions for their 64 member caucus—the largest Republican majority since 1957.

Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester) ran uncontested and was unanimously elected to serve as Assembly Speaker for the third consecutive session.

Vos told member of his caucus that they are going to work on figuring out a long-term funding structure for transportation, continue to find ways to invest in public schools and continue to work to make sure the “state government is as efficient and effective and small as it possibly can be while still getting things done for the people.”

The Full 2017-18 Assembly Republican Leadership team is:

Assembly Speaker: Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester)

Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore: Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva). Like Vos, August was uncontested and unanimously elected.

Assembly Majority Leader:   Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna). Steineke survived a challenge by Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca). This is Steineke’s second session as Majority Leader.  “There’s bigger, bolder reforms coming,” Steineke told the caucus after winning election.

Assembly Assistant Majority Leader:  Representative Rob Brooks (R- Saukville).  Brooks was uncontested and unanimously elected.  He replaces current Assistant Majority Leader Dan Knodl (R-Germantown), who did not seek re-election and instead ran for Caucus Chair.

Assembly Majority Caucus Chair:  Representative Dan Knodl (R-Germantown). Knodl won a three-person race between himself, Representative Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) and Representative Bob Kulp (R-Stratford).

Assembly Majority Vice-Caucus Chair: Representative Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake). Quinn won a three-person race between himself, Representative Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth) and Representative Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum).

Assembly Majority Caucus Sargent at Arms: Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem). This is Kerkman’s fourth consecutive session in this position, and she is now the most senior member of the Assembly Republican caucus.

Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary: Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek). This is Rodriguez’s second consecutive session in this position.




Bill Would Allow Licensed Guns at Private Schools

Representative Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) announced plans to introduce legislation during the 2017-18 legislative session that would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry weapons on private school grounds. Kremer expects to author additional legislation to allow concealed carry permit holders to carry weapons on public school grounds and college campuses. He sponsored similar legislation during the 2015-16 session regarding concealed carry on UW system and technical college campuses as well as public school grounds, but those bills did not advance. In addition, Kremer voiced his support for allowing licensed teachers and school staff keep guns in schools.

Bill would allow licensed guns at private schools
 Bruce Vielmetti , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel5:04 p.m. CST November 12, 2016

Town of Jackson — A state lawmaker said Saturday he would introduce a bill to allow licensed gun owners to carry weapons on the grounds of private schools, and he expects to advance similar bills aimed at public K-12 schools and college campuses.
State Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) said the state's concealed carry law, which restricts permit holders from taking their weapons on school grounds, needs to be adjusted to match the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, which includes an exception for those with CCW licenses. He said the effort is targeting private schools first because "it's an easier lift" politically.
Kremer also believes schools should be permitted to let licensed, trained teachers and other staff keep guns in schools as a means to stop deadly mass shootings like those at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech University and Sandy Hook Elementary.
"This is a real issue," he told an audience gathered Saturday at a forum on school security he organized at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. "This is not fear mongering."
About three dozen people listened and some posed questions to a panel made up of teachers, concealed-carry advocates, parents, law enforcement officials and the host school's superintendent.  The panel and those who spoke favored giving schools more authority to include armed teachers as part of their security plans. Former WITI-TV Channel 6 reporter Katrina Cravy served as moderator.
Michael Maas, a middle school teacher at Morning Star Lutheran School in Jackson, said that when his school does a lockdown drill, "I grab my aluminum baseball bat. It's the best weapon available to me," though it would do little to stop someone firing a gun into his classroom.
The discussion ranged from whether school staff can use Tasers or pepper spray (not Tasers, possibly spray)  to the value of special locks on classroom doors to how much training is required to get a concealed-carry permit (none involving live fire) and even whether teachers with guns is anti-Christian.
Hartford Mayor Tim Michalak said even Jesus' disciples used swords at Gethsemane. "You have the right to defend the life the good Lord blessed you with," he said to applause.
Kremer's bill would only allow permit holders to keep their guns on school property. It would be up to each private school, he said, to set policies about taking the weapons inside buildings.
Panel member  Kevin Michalowski, editor of Concealed Carry Magazinesaid under current law parents who carry a gun must remove it and put it back on every time they enter and leave school grounds to drop off or pick up students. That kind of "administrative handling" is when many unintentional firearm discharges occur, he said.

David Bartelt, superintendent at Kettle Moraine Lutheran, said the school's security planning is always evolving and arming staff is still only a concept. He said he hasn't yet surveyed parents because he doesn't want to cause division, but said he was a little surprised no one turned out Saturday to strongly oppose the idea.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Senate Republicans Elect 2017-18 Leadership

Senate Republicans met in an open caucus on Thursday to elect leadership roles for the 2017-18 legislative session, which begins in January 2017.

All senators seeking leadership roles ran uncontested and were unanimously elected.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Republicans will hold an off-site political caucus meeting in the coming weeks to determine their agenda for next session. 

The full 2017-18 Senate Republican Leadership team is:

Senate Majority Leader: Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau). This is Senator Fitzgerald’s fourth consecutive legislative session as Majority Leader.

Assistant Majority Leader: Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa).

Senate President: Roger Roth (R-Appleton)

Senate President Pro Tempore: Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)

Senate Majority Caucus Chair: Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls)


Senate Majority Caucus Vice-Chair: Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) 

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

2016 Election Results

In a shocking upset, Donald Trump reached 279 electoral votes early Wednesday morning and will become the 45th  President of the United States. Trump was declared the winner of Wisconsin, 48%-47%. A Republican presidential candidate has not won Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan in 1984. 

Hillary Clinton publicly concede the race on Wednesday morning.  Republicans maintained control of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Official turnout numbers have not been released yet but it is estimated that a record number of Americans cast ballots in the presidential race.  Turnout in Wisconsin was estimated at 2.9 million voters on Tuesday. More than 821,000 Wisconsinites voted early, shattering the state’s previous record of 659,444.  

Turning to the local level, there were several surprising upsets.Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) lost her race against Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), and Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) lost to Treig Pronschinske (R-Mondovi).  One crucial race is still too close to call. Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) is in a nail-biter in her rematch against former State Senator Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse). Shilling currently leads Kapanke by just 44 votes. She previously beat Kapanke in the 2011 Recall Election.

State Assembly Races

Going in to Election Day, Republicans controlled the Assembly with a 63-36 majority. Of the 99 Assembly seats, only 52 seats are up for grabs on Election Day.  Republicans will start the 2017-18 Legislative Session with a 64-35 majority.  

In the biggest surprise of the night, Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) lost his seat to Treig Pronschinske (R-Mondovi), 48%-52%.

Former State Representative Many Wright (D-Wausau) was not able to reclaim her Assembly Seat. She lost to Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield), 47%-53%, in the race to fill outgoing Representative Dave Heaton's (R-Wausau) open seat. 

Representatives Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City), Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) and Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) all held on to their seats despite projections that they were in close races. 

Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) will fill outgoing Representative Dean Knudson's (R-Hudson) open seat in Assembly District 30. Ron Tusler (R-Appleton) will fill retiring Representative Al Ott's (R-Forest Junction) open seat in Assembly District 3. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) will fill Robb Kahl's (D-Monona) open seat in Assembly District 47. Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee) will reclaim his seat in Assembly District 11 after he won the August Primary to fill Representative Barnes's open seat. Democratic Staff David Crowley (D-Milwaukee) will fill Senator-elect LaTonya Johnson's (D-Milwaukee) open seat in Assembly District 17. Don Vruwink (D-Milton) will fill Representative Andy Jorgensen's (D-Milton) open seat in Assembly District 43. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego) will fill Senator-elect David Craig's (R-Big Bend) open seat in Assembly District 83.

State Senate Races

Republicans went into the Election with a 19-14 majority in the Senate. They will begin the 2017-18 legislative session with at least a 20 seat majority.  

In addition to the upset of Senator Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and the too-close-to-call race for Senator Shilling (D-La Crosse) discussed above, there were several key races to watch on Tuesday.  

Republican Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac) won the open Senate seat in Senate District 18. He beat Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris (D-Oshkosh), 57%-43%, to replace Senator Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) who passed away earlier this fall.  

Despite reports that he was facing a tight race in Senate District 14, Senator Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) won re-election over Brian Smith (D-Waupaca), 57%-43%. Senators Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) and Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), two seats previously identified as possible pick ups for Democrats, both won their elections by wide margins. 

After trailing for most of the night, Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) was able to hold on to his seat in Senate District 30. He beat Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay), 51%-49%. 

Two Senate races were previously decided by the August primary, Representative LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) will replace outgoing Senator Nikiya Harris Dodd (D-Milwaukee), and Representative David Craig (R-Big Bend) will replace outgoing Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin). 

U.S. Senate

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Oshkosh) won his re-match with Russ Feingold (D-Middleton), 50%-47%.  Johnson unseated former Senator Feingold in 2010.  

U.S. House of Representatives

Mike Gallagher (R-Green Bay) handily defeated Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson (D-Appleton), 63%-37%, in the race to fill U.S. Representative Reid Ribble’s (R-Sherwood) open seat in District 8.

All of Wisconsin's incumbent Representatives held on to their seats. 

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) easily beat Ryan Solen (D-Mount Pleasant), 66%-29%, in District 1. 

In District 2, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) beat challenger Peter Theron (R-Madison), 69%-31%. 

U.S. Representative Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) was uncontested in District 3.

U.S. Representative Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) beat her Libertarian challenger Robert Raymond, 75%-13%, in District 4.  

In District 5, U.S. Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls) beat Khary Penebaker (D-Hartland), 67%-29%, to hold on to his seat.

U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman (R- Glenbeulah) fended off a challenge by Sarah Lloyd (D-Wisconsin Dells), 58%-36%, in District 6.

U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (R-Wausau) beat Mary Hoeft (D-Rice Lake), 62%-38%, in District 7.


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Take Action to Support Ed Tech Funding TODAY!

ISTE needs your help to get full federal funding for ed tech! Here is an update on how you can help them achieve this goal TODAY:

Please join ISTE  today, October 26th, for a national Day of Action to urge Congress to fully fund the Title IV, Part A block grant.

This grant, authorized at $1.65 billion as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is in danger of being funded at significantly lower levels by both the House and Senate.

In order to keep the pressure on Congress to fully fund the block grant, ISTE has joined forces with over 100 hundred organizations to form the Title IV, Part A Coalition, a united voice in urging Congress to provide maximum funding for the program. 

Here's what to do:
·         Send a prewritten letter to Congress here
·         Tweet using the hashtag #MoreTitleIV. Sample Tweets can be found here
·         Call your senators and representatives with help from the Find Your Representative tool. A sample script can be found here.


Take action along with thousands of educators today to support digital age learning and teaching! 

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Council on Library and Network Development Council Recruiting New Members!

The Wisconsin Council on Library and Network Development, which advises State Superintendent Tony  Evers on issues related to libraries, is now accepting applications for new members! The full description, which includes information on how to apply for Council membership, is available below. There are currently four vacant professional seats and one vacant public member seat. 
Wisconsin Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND)
Created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1979, the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) advises the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (DPI) to ensure that all state citizens have access to library and information services.
The 19-member council, appointed by the governor, functions as a forum through which librarians and members of the public identify, study, and collect public testimony on issues affecting Wisconsin libraries and other information services. Members serve three-year terms.
Organizations interested in nominating individuals to serve on COLAND, as well as individuals interested in self-nominating to serve on COLAND, should contact the Governor’s office at (608) 266-1212 or complete the application form found on the Governor’s appointments site.

Council findings are communicated as advisory recommendations to the state superintendent, governor, and Legislature.
Ensuring Access
Key responsibilities:
·         promoting free access to knowledge, information, and diversity of ideas by all Wisconsin residents;
·         facilitating the most effective use of library resources through interlibrary cooperation among all types of libraries;
·         promoting cooperation and resource sharing among public libraries, school libraries, other types of libraries, and related agencies; and
·         planning, coordinating, evaluating, and setting statewide priorities for the development of networks to enable library cooperation and resource sharing within Wisconsin.
COLAND holds open meetings six times per year and conducts hearings on library policies and publications. Members offer advice as part of the DPI biennial budget request and provide testimony on state and federal legislation. Council members also provide advice to DPI on publications, policies, and products, such as
·         BadgerLink, electronic information resources
·         WISCAT, statewide library catalog
·         WISCAT, interlibrary loan
·         Internet policy

Representation on COLAND

COLAND works closely with the DPI Division for Libraries and Technology. Membership includes nine professional members who represent public, school, academic, special, and private libraries as well as library educators. The remaining ten council positions are held by public members with a demonstrated interest in libraries or other types of information services. COLAND members serve three year terms, ending on July 1 of each year, and are appointed by the Governor.
Members of the library community and the general public are welcome to attend council meetings and to address the group or a committee on specific questions under consideration. To ensure that adequate time will be available, requests should be submitted to the council chairperson or appropriate committee head three weeks before a meeting.
Wisconsin's Libraries
Wisconsin has a wealth of library and information resources, which include:
·         79 public and private academic libraries
·         389 public libraries with more than 450 locations
·         2,015 public K-12 school library media centers
·         750 private K-12 school library media centers
·         451 special libraries (includes government, health, corporate, and organizational libraries)
·          
COLAND is committed to making these resources accessible to the state's residents through library cooperation and resource sharing.
For more information about the council and its work, or for a schedule of meetings, contact the Division for Libraries and Technology at 608-266-2205.