Issue Position: Protecting Wisconsin

Issue Position

From taking on issues related to children and families, the environment, mental health and addiction, Scott is always on the fore front of protecting things that are important to you.

As chairman of the Children and Families committee, I remain committed to the effort of protecting children and strengthening families. Achievements in this area included funding for child support enforcement actions, child neglect/abuse programs, restoring adoption assistance funding for private adoptions and even creating a technical college grant program for highly skilled students. In the state budget I also fought for funding for the Wisconsin Rapids Boys and Girls club to start a STEM educational program, as well as starting a job assistance program for non-custodial parents.

HOPE/Mental Health

I am very proud that the legislature will take a new approach to addiction issues in our criminal justice system. It has long been my belief that without treatment, addicts in jails and prisons learn how to become better criminals. It is time we focus on treatment and the Heroin, Opiate Prevention and Education bills take that first step. Individuals suffering from mental health issues often fall through the cracks as well. I worked to have child mental illness problems dealt with more systematically than ever before in Wisconsin as a part of a set of bills that have been said to be the most comprehensive set of reforms in the country.

Education

For the first time ever we were able to institute a tuition freeze slowing the growth of student loan debt for students and families. We created a dual enrollment program for students in high school to be able to receive even more college credit for their knowledge and experiences. In K-12 we increased per pupil funding each year of the biennium and added funds to rural school districts for the high costs of transportation.Parents all over the state of Wisconsin now have the ability to participate in the School Choice program for the first time. Meaning that they can use their tax dollars as they see fit in the education of their children. A school accountability bill that will hold every tax dollar receiving school accountable is also a goal of this legislature.

Our Beautiful State

The discussion on high capacity wells and groundwater took the majority of my time this session. Looking for a balance in allowing access to water for industry and protecting the resource for recreational and future generational use is a top priority going into next session. My groundwater advisory committee composed of both agricultural and environmental interests remains intact and engaged in ongoing dialogue.

In the state budget I created the analysis and implementation requirements to follow a six year study of the Wisconsin River, this is very important for both Lake Petenwell and Castle Rock Lake which draw massive amounts of tourists each year. I was also able to secure stewardship money for the creation of ATV/UTV trails, new positions to monitor the rapidly growing sand mining industry, and so much more.

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