Don't Forget to Vote April 2!

Wisconsin's Spring Election is April 2, 2019! Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

What's on the ballot: the only statewide race is for the Wisconsin Supreme Court between Judge Brian Hagedorn and Judge Lisa Neubauer. There are many local races across the state, including mayoral, school board and city council races. Find out what's on your ballot here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/PreviewMyBallot

How to Find Your Polling Place:You can find your polling place here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/FindMyPollingPlace


Absentee Ballot Deadlines: The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you is March 28. Your completed ballot must be received by your municipal clerk no later than April 2 at 8 p.m. 

In-Person Early Voting: In-person absentee voting (early voting) opportunities vary between municipalities. Some cities allow in-person absentee voting through March 31. Check with your local clerk for details: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/MyMunicipalClerk 

ALA Asking Stakeholders to Contact Congress About Net Neutrality

The American Library Association (ALA) is asking stakeholders to contact their members of Congress in favor of the Save the Internet Act of 2019, legislation introduced earlier this month that would re-instate Net Neutrality provisions. 

 ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo issued the following statement on the proposed legislation:

“A free and open internet is critical for equitable access to online information and resources for the nearly 120,000 libraries ALA represents and the communities we serve across America. And, according to a recent Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland poll, an overwhelming majority of people in this country — 86 percent — support strong, enforceable net neutrality rules that protect our lawful internet traffic against blocking, throttling and other interference. That’s why we continue to work on this important issue and appreciate the efforts of lawmakers today to restore net neutrality protections."

This is how you can find contact information for your members of Congress:

U.S. House of Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

U.S. Senate: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact 

Highlights from Governor Evers Proposed State Budget

Governor Evers introduced his 2019-21 state budget on Thursday. We are still analyzing the nearly 600-page executive budget document , but highlights so far include:

General Education

General School Aids and Fair Funding Proposal: Provides an additional $618,822,000 in general schools aids for the biennium. The Governor also proposes changes to the way state aid calculations are made and restores two-thirds state funding for schools. The Governor also increases the revenue limit and proposes indexing it to inflation.

Return to Work for Retired Teachers: Allows  districts to rehire a retired annuitant teacher if: (a) at least 30 days have passed since the teacher left employment with a district; (b) at the time of retirement, the teacher does not have an agreement with any school district to return to employment; and (c) upon returning to work, the teacher elects to not become a participating employee and to continue receiving his or her annuity.

School Libraries, Reading and Ed Tech

Personal Electronic Computing Device Grants: The Governor recommends eliminating grants for personal electronic computing devices in Fiscal Year 2021.  

TEACH Program: The Governor Proposes eliminating the educational technology training and technology curriculum grants. He also proposes several other changes to TEACH, including: extending the information technology infrastructure block grant program to June 30, 2021, at $3 million annually; and modifying current law to ensure that the department has the most accurate data when determining eligibility for the information technology infrastructure block grant awards.

Reinstatement of State Media Lab Funding: Restores State Funding to the media lab run by the Educational Communications Board. The Governor also recommends permitting the board to procure or publish instructional material related to the programs of the state educational radio and television network, and to establish a reasonable handling charge to cover the costs of providing such material.

Library Service Contracts:  Provides an additional $ 133,200 in the first year of the biennium and $ 168,100 in the second year of the biennium to fully fund the library service contracts.

BadgerLink and Newsline for the Blind: Provides an additional $345,800 in the second year of the biennium to fully fund BadgerLink contracts and Newsline for the Blind.

Deposit of Settlement Funds:  Repeals statutory language changes made in 2017 Wisconsin Act 369 requiring the Attorney General to deposit all settlement funds into the general fund. However, the budget creates a new appropriation for the deposit of discretionary settlement funds, which may be used by the Department of Justice at the discretion of the Attorney General.

Wisconsin Reading Corps:  Provides $700,000 in each year of the biennium for the Wisconsin Reading Corps. The program provides one-on-one literacy tutoring for students. Funding for the program is currently set to expire on June 20, 2019. The Governor is requesting that the program continue.

Public Libraries

Public Library System Aid: Provides an additional $2.5 million in funding for public libraries in the first year of the biennium and an additional $4 million in the second year of the biennium.

Recollection Wisconsin: Supports public library digital archiving efforts by expanding WISELearn authority.

Broadband

Broadband Expansion Funding: Increases expenditure authority for the  broadband expansion grant program to $39.3 million in each year of the biennium, including: (a) a minimum of $2 million annually in funding that is already budgeted from the universal service fund; (b) a transfer of $6.9 million in FY20 and $17.3 million in FY21 from the Department of Administration e-rate funds; and (c)an allocation of $30.4 million GPR in FY20 and $20 million GPR in FY21 to the grant program. The Governor also recommends increasing expenditure and position authority to provide an additional position in the State Broadband Office to assist with the expanded broadband expansion grant program.

Initiatives to Expand Broadband: Includes several initiatives to encourage the expansion of adequate broadband access to all Wisconsin residents, including: (a) modifying current law to specify that it is the goal of the State of Wisconsin that by 2025 all homes and businesses within the state have access to high-speed broadband that provides a minimum download speed of at least 25 megabits per second and an upload speed of at least 3 megabits per second; (b) modifying current law to adjust the definition of broadband "underserved" as an area that lacks access to service of download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 3 megabits per second and "unserved" as an area that lacks access to service of download speeds of at least 10 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 1 megabit per second; and (c) modifying several statutory provisions that discourage municipalities from providing broadband service to residents in broadband "unserved" and "underserved" areas.

Transfer of E-Rate Funds to the Broadband Expansion Grant Program: Transfers $6.9 million in FY20 and $17.3 million in FY21 in federal e-rate funds to the Broadband Expansion Grant Program at the Public Service Commission.

Comprehensive Broadband Report:  Directs the Department of Administration and the Public Service Commission to submit a joint report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than June 30, 2020, that provides updates on emerging broadband technologies, recommendations on how to provide incentives to telecommunications providers to serve unserved or underserved areas of Wisconsin and proposals on how existing state resources can be leveraged to serve those areas.

Secretary of State and State Treasurer

New Resources for the Secretary of State: Provides funding for the Secretary of State to hire a new records management specialist position for the office.

New Resources and Roles for the State Treasurer: Provides an additional $662,100 to allow the Treasurer to hire three new staff: a chief of staff, financial specialist and constituent services and scheduling specialist. The Governor also recommends naming the State Treasurer to the private sector retirement security plan committee and the student loan refinancing study committee.

Moves Secretary of State and State Treasurer Offices: Provides funding to move the offices of the Secretary of State and State Treasurer to a new location. They are currently located in the basement of the Capitol.

Attend a Local Listening Session with Your Lawmaker!

State legislators are holding in-district listening sessions across the state to help inform their decision-making on the state budget and other legislative proposals. Listening sessions are a great way to form relationships with your local legislators and to educate them on issues that matter to you. If you live in one of the districts listed below, please consider meeting with your legislator to discuss the Common School Fund, staffing shortages and other WEMTA priority issues with lawmakers. You can view WEMTA's legislative agenda here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MO3_H-HYjs0IZE_zMdxXVoKeJtzjpc5f/view?usp=sharing

Representative John Macco (R – Ledgeview)

Friday, February 22

Village of Bellevue Public Safety Building/Village Hall at 3100 Eaton Road.

11:00 am to 12:30 p.m.

Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay)

Friday, February 22

Kaukauna City Hall

144 W 2nd Street, Kaukauna

2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Ashwaubenon Village Hall

2155 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon

4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Representative LaKeshia Myers (D-Milwaukee) and Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee)

Friday, February 22

West Granville Presbyterian Church (6935 North 107^th Street, Milwaukee, WI)

6 p.m. 

Representative Romaine Quinn (R-Barron)

Monday, February 25

Cumberland

Cumberland Public Library

9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Shell Lake

Shell Lake Arts Center

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Rice Lake

Rice Lake Municipal Court

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Cameron

Cameron Public Library

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)—Joint Finance Committee Member

Friday, March 1 with Rep. Tony Kurtz, 50^th Assembly District
9-10 a.m.                     Mauston City Hall Council Chambers
                                    303 Mansion St., Mauston, WI  53948
 
1-2 p.m.                       Reedsburg City Hall Council Chambers
                                    134 S. Locust Street, Reedsburg, WI  53959
 
Monday, March 4
10-11 a.m.                   Darlington Municipal Bldg. - Council Room
                                    627 Main St., Darlington, WI  53530
 
12:30–1:30 p.m.          Monroe Public Library – Upstairs Program Room
                                    925 16th Ave, Monroe, WI  53566
 
Monday, March 11 with Rep. Travis Tranel, 49^th Assembly District
10:30-11:30 a.m.         Schreiner Memorial Library – Community Room Two
                                    113 West Elm St., Lancaster, WI  53813
 
2-3 p.m.                       Linden Municipal Building – “Senior Citizen Room”
                                    444 Jefferson St., Linden, WI  53553
 
Monday, March 18 with Rep. Tony Kurtz (50) & Rep. Travis Tranel (49)
10:30-11:30 a.m.         Brewer Public Library – “Story Time Room” in basement
                                    325 N. Central Ave., Richland Center

Representative Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee)

Wednesday, February 27
Waukesha Public Library
Community Room
7-8pm
xxx
Wednesday, March 27
Sussex Public Library
Quad/Graphics Room
7-8pm
xxx
Wednesday, April 24
Pewaukee Public Library
Community Meeting Room
7-8pm

Legislative Council Committee Votes to Introduce CSF Study Committee Legislation

Representative Terry Katsma (R-Oostburg) presented the StudyCommittee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds’ final report and recommendations to the full Joint Legislative Council Committee this morning. He told Committee members that he was “somewhat disappointed that we weren’t able to increase the returns” for the Common School Fund.  

The Legislative Council Committee voted unanimously to introduce the two draft bills authored by the Study Committee, which will now be given bill numbers and move through the typical legislative process. They are:

1    LRB 0438-1, which increases the length of terms that banks can make loans to municipalities from 10 years to 20 years.

2    LRB 0848-2, which gives SWIB the ability to invest Common School Fund dollars in the same manner as BCPL in the event that BCPL chooses to delegate some investment authority to SWIB.  

Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) said she noticed in the final report that there were a couple of items that the Committee couldn’t come to consensus on and asked if they had any recommendations related to those topics. Representative Katsma told her that BCPL is already using some new investment strategies, like putting funds into a smoothing account, and that the Study Committee wanted to see how that develops.

The full recommendation by the Study Committee reads as follows. The Study Committee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds:

• Appreciates the importance of the school trust funds to fund beneficiaries.
• Supports the goal of ensuring intergenerational equity through increasing the returns on the funds.
• Recognizes the value of recent legislative changes relating to the investment of the funds.
• Acknowledges that implementation of these changes is ongoing.
• Recommends that the Legislature further study issues relating to the investment of the funds, in consultation with beneficiary groups, once information on the results of the changes becomes available for study.

Study Committee on BCPL, Common School Fund Releases Its Final Report

The Study Committee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds has released its final summary report.

The report outlines the Committee’s final recommendation and the two draft bills they voted to approve. It also provides a description of each of the meetings they held and the feedback they received from invited speakers, including WEMTA. 

This report will be given to the Joint Committee on Legislative Council.

WEMTA members outside the State Capitol after presenting to the Study Committee 

Gov. Evers Delivers State of the State, Outlines Education Priorities

Governor Evers delivered his first State of the State on Tuesday night before a joint session of the Legislature.

“The state of our state is that we've got work to do, and we're ready for bipartisan solutions,” said Evers.

His remarks focused heavily on the importance of bipartisan collaboration and “connecting the dots”, which he said will be the theme of his first state budget.  Evers told lawmakers that he expects them to take up his budget instead of crafting their own proposal.

“Connecting the dots means recognizing that what's best for our kids is best for our state,” said Evers. “The investment we make in our kids today will yield dividends for generations.”

Evers talked extensively about education, economic growth and technology, transportation, and health care. 

He also offered the following preview of this proposed state budget, which he said will include:

• Restoring two-thirds state funding for schools.
• A $600 million dollar increase in special education funding.
• Closing the achievement gap for low-income students and students of color, which includes proposals to expand early childhood education and summer school grant programs.
• A five-fold increase in mental health programs for K-12 students.
• Expanding Medicaid to cover an additional 76,000 Wisconsinites.
• Declaring 2019 is the Year of Clean Drinking Water in Wisconsin.
• A 10% tax cut for everyone making up to $100,000 and families making up to $150,000.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos delivered the Republican response to the address. “No matter what you’ve heard, the state of our state is incredibly strong,” said Vos. He cited the fact that Wisconsin has the lowest tax burden in 50 years, our low unemployment rate and other economic statistics as examples of Wisconsin’s success, which he attributed Republican proposals implemented over the past eight years.  

"We will work to keep the tax burden lower and affordable for the middle class. We will protect those with pre-existing conditions. We will make record investments in K-12 education. And we will move Wisconsin forward," said Vos.