On Wednesday, January 31st, I joined hundreds of people in attending the Opioids: Killing More Than Pain conference at UW-Parkside. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), in Wisconsin, the 2016 opioid-related hospitalization rate of 73 per 100,000 meaning that out of every 100,000 people, there were 73 hospitalizations due to opioid-related ailments.  Also, in 2016, there were 827 deaths from opioid overdoses in Wisconsin.  That is a 35% increase from the year before.  There were more opioid deaths in Wisconsin than killed in car crashes. 

To address this epidemic, Wisconsin has passed more than 28 pieces of legislation addressing the opioid crisis.  Many of the recommendations stemmed from the Task Force on Opioid Abuse working to address the issue.   

On January 19, Governor Walker signed two executive orders acting against the opioid crisis, directing multiple state agencies to adopt the Task Force on Opioid Abuse co-chairs’ recommendations to improve awareness and prevention practices regarding opioids. The executive orders also provide increased access to treatment and addiction care providers throughout the state.

We need to continue to work toward addressing the opioid crisis.

 

When a judge is setting bail, the Wisconsin Constitution requires that the judge only set an amount required to get a defendant to return to court. We've seen where that can lead us. People out on bail that commit more crime, sometimes with tragic results. 

I've offered an amendment to correct this mistake. Flight risk should be just one of many factors when setting bail. My amendment would allow a judge to consider flight risk, public safety, criminal history and other factors when setting bail. 

This legislation was heard in the Senate  this week, and will advance from an Assembly committee next week. It could come before voters as soon as April 2019.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is underway with the reconstruction of the east and west frontage roads.  Here is an updated look at the work and closures scheduled for the next phase of this project. 

If you would like to see the latest project information, visit: Click.

On Monday, January 29th I participated on a panel at the annual Legislators' Breakfast at the Kenosha Achievement Center. I was joined by M.T. Boyle- Racine County, Senator Bob Wirch, County Executive Jim Kreuser, Representative Samantha Kerkman, Christine Weyker Executive Director KAC, Representative Peter Barca, and Mayor John Antaramian.

Last week members of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's visited the Capitol for their annual Ag Day.  My office met with members from Kenosha and Racine Counties.