Dear Friends,

Congratulations to several of our area high schools for making US News and World Report's Top 20 High Schools in Wisconsin! Cedarburg High School is ranked number one, Whitefish Bay is number four, Homestead is number nine, Nicolet is number 13, Hamilton is number 17, and Menomonee Falls is number 18. We are blessed to have so many great schools in our area!

Speaking of Nicolet, their girls high hurdle team of Najiah Abdullah, Destiny Huven, and Kynnedi Malone set a modern day record in Wisconsin. At the North Shore Conference Relays, the ladies ran a time of 47.02, which broke a record set in 2014. Congratulations!

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wi.gov .

On, Wisconsin!
Budget Voting Begins Next Week
Last week, the Finance Committee wrapped up its final public hearing on the Governor's recommended budget. These hearings are a valuable component to the budget process and are important as we move into the voting process. The committee is scheduled to start work on the state budget next week. 

We will begin by voting to remove non-fiscal policy items from the governor's budget. The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has identified over 70 items that are non-fiscal policy. This is the second highest amount of non-fiscal policy in a Governor's budget recommendations since 2001. For many of these items, we expect the Governor to reach out to the legislature to pursue them as separate legislation.

Republicans will live within our means and continue to make major investments in the people's priorities.
Wisconsin's Economy Still Rolling!
Wisconsin's economy continues to be very strong. Not only are we at our 14th straight month of unemployment at or below 3%, Wisconsin's gross domestic product (GDP) grew to its highest level since 2010!

Our real GDP grew to 2.5% in 2018, which is second in the Midwest and 17th in the nation. Wisconsin outpaced Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. Michigan was slightly higher at 2.7%.

According to BizTimes, manufacturing led the growth in Wisconsin. This is more proof that Governor Evers' proposed taxing and spending is wrong for our state. His budget even tries to remove many of the reforms that helped our state grow the GDP to this level. That will only move us backward.

The governor's proposed budget spends so much, it digs a "Doyle-sized" deficit in two years. The next budget would start with a $2 billion structural deficit. The bottom line is his budget is unsustainable, irresponsible and jeopardizes the progress we've made in the last eight years. 

As I work on the state budget, I'm keeping you, the taxpayer, in mind. I'm not going to let the governor take our state backward - especially when our economy continues to grow!
Evers Budget Hurts Farmers
It's always tough to be a farmer. Unfortunately, Governor Tony Evers' budget will make it more difficult.

The Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit directly impacts companies in every corner of Wisconsin. In fact, 87 percent of claimants are small businesses and many of those industries serve Wisconsin farmers. Multiple studies show this tax credit is benefiting our economy.

Democrats are proposing a half-billion dollar tax increase that will have dramatic impacts on manufacturers and the thousands of family-supporting jobs they create. That's why we are going to remove this anti-farmer and anti-business tax hike from the budget.
Kids at the Capitol
The Wisconsin State Senate is offering two exciting opportunities for kids who want to learn more about state government.

For kids aged 6-11, the Senate is offering "Kids at the Capitol." It's a half-day program that gives them an up-close look at how state government works.

Students in middle or high school may be interested in the "Page for a Day Program." Our pages help make the Senate operate smoothly. Students will learn what it is like to work in the Capitol and may spend some time in a Senate office.

For more information on these programs, click on the picture above.
Go Bucks!
Around the 8th...