Dear Friends,

Congratulations to Northway Fence in Menomonee Falls, Lannon Stone in Sussex, and women-owned Tremmel-Anderson Trucking in Sussex! They are among the first 28 contractors selected to work on building the Foxconn project. This is just the beginning. Foxconn officially broke ground this week, so there are many more opportunities for state companies to come!

This week, Governor Scott Walker recognized another company in our area for excellence. Gehl Foods from Menomonee Falls received the 2018 Governor’s Export Achievement Award. The Governor is recognizing Gehl's success in global business development. They've had a 55% increase in international sales since 2015. Congratulations Gehl CEO Eric Beringause!

Speaking of exports, Wisconsin's exports are up 2.6% in 2018. State companies delivered nearly $5.46 billion in goods and services in the first quarter of the year. Much of the growth comes from increased shipments to Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Wisconsin is becoming a powerful trading partner in the world.

Recently, I attended the funeral of trailblazer Vel Phillips. Vel was the first African-American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison law school, the first to win a Milwaukee City Council seat, the first to become a judge in Wisconsin, and the first to become Secretary of State. She was a remarkable and important woman in our state's history. If you'd like to read more about this legend, click here.

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!

Alberta
Tele-town Hall on Tuesday
I want to hear from you!

Join me on Tuesday, May 15th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm for a Tele-town Hall. I will send out more information on how to reach me early next week. You will be able to listen in and ask me questions.

I look forward to this opportunity to listen to your concerns.
Child Sales Tax Rebate Sign-up Starts Next Week
Staring next week, parents with a child aged 18 or younger can start claiming a Child Sales Tax Rebate! Families who qualify are eligible for a $100 rebate per child for sales and use tax paid in 2017. Click on the picture above for more details.

Thanks to Republicans' careful budgeting and a growing economy, our surplus has grown. But it's not our money, it's yours. That's why I voted to send a large portion back to you with a $100 per child tax rebate and to create a sales tax holiday. 

This adds to the $8 billion in tax relief Republicans have delivered since 2010. Wisconsin's economy is booming, and we are making sure you are benefiting.
Saluting Our First Responders
This week, Representative Janel Brandtjen and I attended the Hometown Heroes Service on Sunday hosted by Pastor Wayne Van Gelderen and Falls Baptist Church in Menomonee Falls. The event honored our area's first responders, especially as they deal with the effects of the opioid crisis.

We are truly blessed with so many outstanding men and women who are always ready to answer the call for our families and neighbors. I am inspired by their courage and compassion. Thanks to each and every one of you who protect and serve our area!
Senator Darling Recognized by Wisconsin Reading Corps
I was honored for my support of the Wisconsin Reading Corps this week. They are an outstanding group that provides Americorps volunteers to help Milwaukee school children who are struggling at reading. Next year, they are planning to expand their operations to other districts.

I'm proud to support their efforts to help encourage children in the lifelong joy of reading!
Teacher Appreciation Week
Nurse Appreciation Week
It's also Nurse Appreciation Week! Thank you to all of the nurses that take care of people and save lives. Your work is truly appreciated!

A special thank you to one of my favorite nurses, Senator Leah Vukmir!
Wisconsin Proud!
  • Not only was Wisconsin's GDP growth of 3.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017 the 8th best in the nation, it also was number one in Midwest - easily outpacing our neighboring states.
  • Wisconsin leads the nation in manufacturing jobs gained in 2018.
  • Our unemployment rate remains at an all-time low of 2.9%.
  • The state's Rainy Day Fund is $320 million - the highest ever.
  • For the third straight report, Wisconsin led all Midwest states in the Chicago Fed's Midwest Economy Index.
  • State funding for K-12 education reached an all-time high in actual dollars in the most recent state budget - $11.5 billion!
Around the 8th...
Photo: Menomonee Falls School District
Congratulations to all of the Riverside Elementary fourth graders who took part in the nationwide, problem-solving Noetic Learning Math Contest.

Alex Grant , Gavin Loucks and Natalie Yeung made the honor roll. Abigail Ward, Anderson Stehli, Eli Karpinski, Finn Taylor, Gavin Close, Grant Barron, Jackson Jeserig, Joshua Mims, Kaylee Harder, Keerthana Allu, Lacey Fischer, Mahi Agrawal, Nicholas Uhing, Nishanth Suthan, Noah Velie, Parker Zimmerman, Sahishnu Vadheraju, Scott Casper, Shambhavi Ganesh, Sydney Redding, and Tanish Dharme. were honorable mentions.

Also, the Menomonee Falls School District was named one of the best workplaces by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That's four years in a row! Congratulations!
Glen Hills Middle School in Glendale visited the Capitol.
Stormonth Elementary School in Fox Point visited the Capitol recently.
St. Joseph Parish School in Grafton visited the Capitol on Wednesday.