The Wisconsin Legislature works on a two-year cycle and the business of the people needs to be enacted before the end of session - which is quickly approaching - otherwise it needs to be reintroduced the following year at the beginning of the next session. As you can imagine, this is crunch time for the Legislature. Here are some of the things I would like to see done before we close for the year:
CORE Act
The CORE Act was launched in Middleton at the Sologear factory; CORE stands for Connecting Opportunity, Research, and Entrepreneurship. The act contains measures the business community has requested, and that have a proven track record of promoting job growth and business success. CORE follows a structured approach built on creating new jobs and businesses, retaining and building existing Wisconsin businesses, and educating and training our workforce to prepare individuals with the skills they'll need to compete for new jobs in new industries. The Assembly has not yet taken action to approve CORE; I hope they take action before the end of session.
BadgerCare Basic
The BadgerCare program and its expansion to cover more eligible families and single adults in Wisconsin with low cost health care coverage has been an important part of health care reform in Wisconsin. The BadgerCare CORE plan to cover childless adults that cannot get health insurance from anywhere else has run out of money. Because of the economic downturn more and more people with limited incomes have qualified for the program, leaving a waiting list of individuals in need of affordable health care. In an effort to offer some type of affordable coverage for individuals and families on the waiting list the BadgerCare Basic program has been created. Without tax dollars, the BadgerCare Basic program offers a simple plan for individuals unable to receive health insurance anywhere else. It is my hope we will be able to pass this bill before the end of session to offer an alternative for the 20,000 eligible people currently on the waiting list.
Medical Marijuana
As the co-author of the Jacki Rickert Act, I would like to see forward progress on the medical marijuana bill for the people of this state that would benefit from the legal, physician authorized use medical marijuana. Medicinal marijuana can be an effective treatment for some medical conditions and for end of life patients. The bill would strictly regulate the legal distribution of medicinal marijuana. Currently the bill is stuck in committee.
TIF administrative Procedure Bill
This bill creates a more comprehensive approach to TIF administrative procedures that have arisen around the state. Not everyone knows what TIF's are, but odds are if there was a business that recently located in your town, they got TIF support to build that business and bring those jobs. This bill is awaiting Senate action; I feel it should pass.
Campaign Finance Reform
Recently the US Supreme Court dealt a strong blow to those that want campaign finance reform. As the author of SB 43, the issue ad regulation bill, I am working hard to come up with a solution for how we can place the strongest requirements allowed legally for corporations and general funds that now have to be treated like all other groups that choose to electioneer in Wisconsin. SB 43 is in the Assembly awaiting amendment and action.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach,
D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
CORE Act
The CORE Act was launched in Middleton at the Sologear factory; CORE stands for Connecting Opportunity, Research, and Entrepreneurship. The act contains measures the business community has requested, and that have a proven track record of promoting job growth and business success. CORE follows a structured approach built on creating new jobs and businesses, retaining and building existing Wisconsin businesses, and educating and training our workforce to prepare individuals with the skills they'll need to compete for new jobs in new industries. The Assembly has not yet taken action to approve CORE; I hope they take action before the end of session.
BadgerCare Basic
The BadgerCare program and its expansion to cover more eligible families and single adults in Wisconsin with low cost health care coverage has been an important part of health care reform in Wisconsin. The BadgerCare CORE plan to cover childless adults that cannot get health insurance from anywhere else has run out of money. Because of the economic downturn more and more people with limited incomes have qualified for the program, leaving a waiting list of individuals in need of affordable health care. In an effort to offer some type of affordable coverage for individuals and families on the waiting list the BadgerCare Basic program has been created. Without tax dollars, the BadgerCare Basic program offers a simple plan for individuals unable to receive health insurance anywhere else. It is my hope we will be able to pass this bill before the end of session to offer an alternative for the 20,000 eligible people currently on the waiting list.
Medical Marijuana
As the co-author of the Jacki Rickert Act, I would like to see forward progress on the medical marijuana bill for the people of this state that would benefit from the legal, physician authorized use medical marijuana. Medicinal marijuana can be an effective treatment for some medical conditions and for end of life patients. The bill would strictly regulate the legal distribution of medicinal marijuana. Currently the bill is stuck in committee.
TIF administrative Procedure Bill
This bill creates a more comprehensive approach to TIF administrative procedures that have arisen around the state. Not everyone knows what TIF's are, but odds are if there was a business that recently located in your town, they got TIF support to build that business and bring those jobs. This bill is awaiting Senate action; I feel it should pass.
Campaign Finance Reform
Recently the US Supreme Court dealt a strong blow to those that want campaign finance reform. As the author of SB 43, the issue ad regulation bill, I am working hard to come up with a solution for how we can place the strongest requirements allowed legally for corporations and general funds that now have to be treated like all other groups that choose to electioneer in Wisconsin. SB 43 is in the Assembly awaiting amendment and action.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach,
D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
