I'm happy that my top budget priority, the I-94 reconstruction, will soon be moving forward.

With the recent news that Foxconn is coming to the area, the project has received renewed interest and an aggressive timeline by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  The reconstruction now has a start date of 2019 and the rebuilding of the seven-mile leg, which includes the reconstruction of the Highway 11, Highway KR and Highway E interchanges is scheduled to be finished by January of 2021.  That is great news for our area.

The Foxconn package includes up to $252 million to assist with the rebuilding of I-94 and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will seek additional $300 million in federal dollars for the project.

Photo: Testifying in support of SB 320 regarding Wetlands with co-author Rep. Andre Jacque before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

The Capitol has been bustling with many committees, including mine, holding hearings and votes on bills in preparation for the fall floor days.  Many of my bills have been successfully moving through the process.  Below are bills I've co-authored that have seen activity in the past week. 

 

Assembly Bill 390- Operating a motor vehicle after revocation of the operating privilege and requirements of the court during sentencing
Assembly Bill 395- Participation in a riot and providing a penalty
Assembly Bill 396- Blocking a thoroughfare as part of a riot and providing a criminal penalty
Assembly Bill 397- Going armed with a firearm while participating in a riot and providing a criminal penalty
Senate Bill 177- drainage districts and regulating the removal of material from certain drainage ditches
Senate Bill 135- revocation of operating privilege for certain offenses related to operating while intoxicated
Senate Bill 258- preserving and transferring dental patient health care records, contracts for practicing dentistry or dental hygiene

 
Photo: Co-chairing the Joint Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, October 17th.

Hearing held in Committee
Senate Bill 303- participation in a riot and providing a criminal penalty
Senate Bill 304- blocking a thoroughfare as part of a riot and providing a criminal penalty.
Senate Bill 305- going armed with a firearm while participating in a riot and providing a criminal penalty
Senate Bill 320- the discharge of dredged or fill material into artificial wetlands and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority


Photo: Testifying in support of the riot bills in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, October 19th.

Wisconsin's Annual Fiscal Report was released this week, and showed the state ended the last fiscal year with a $579 million surplus, more than $100 million higher than was anticipated in May. This is the second largest closing balance since 2000, trailing only 2013 at $760 million.

The surplus was a combination of increased revenue growth, and lower-than-anticipated spending. This is quite the contrast to our neighbors in Illinois, and proof that our pro-growth and pro-taxpayer reforms over the last 7 years have been working. 

The Annual Fiscal Report can be found here: Click.

The Wisconsin Women's Council is seeking nominations for Woman business owners of Wisconsin-based companies, with sole or majority ownership by one or more women.  For more information, or to nominate someone for this award, visit: Click.

Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities

 
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  It is a time to educate about employment issues and celebrate the contributions of America's workers with disabilities.  Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to once again participate in one of my favorite events, Bring Your Legislator to Work Campaign,  organized by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD).  I joined Samantha at Reefpoint Brewhouse in Racine. 

The Bring Your Legislator to Work Campaign is a great program which highlights the importance of employment for those who have developmental disabilities and also the benefits for the communities and businesses that employee individuals like Samantha.  Over the past 6 years, Bring Your Legislator to Work Campaign has coordinated nearly 300 visits with 380 constituents with disabilities and almost 250 employers.

More information about the program can be found at: Click.

 
Earlier this week, Karcher Middle School from Burlington visited the Capitol.  Speaker Vos and I had the chance to speak to them about our jobs and answer questions about the legislative process.  Students also took an unofficial vote regarding eliminating summer break.  Though some of the parents liked the idea, the measure did not get much support from the students.

 
The Wisconsin Blue Book has been published annually since 1853.  It was initially an Assembly pocket manual to easily access information about state government.  Over the years, the Blue Book has changed size, color, scope and purpose.  Originally, the book was under 100 pages but in 2015 it ballooned to almost 1,000 pages.  The 2017-18 edition has 677 pages and includes information about current elected officials, legislative committees, units of state government and more.

I am happy to provide a free Wisconsin Blue Book to residents of the 21st Senate District.  If you would like a free copy, please send an email to: Sen.Wanggaard@legis.wi.gov providing your name and mailing address.  Please note, the Blue Book can not be sent to P.O. Boxes.