IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL?
LET THE PARENTS DECIDE.
BY SENATOR CHRIS KAPENGA (R-DELAFIELD)
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COVID-19 has presented a myriad of challenges for students, parents, and educators nationwide. Most school districts are adapting by implementing new instructional models including socially distanced in person instruction, a part-time in person component with a virtual option or moving to a completely virtual model with no in-person instruction. Parents have had to respond by becoming at home educators, taking time off work, leaving their jobs, or finding some type of daycare to fill the gaps. Countless sources have published data on how school closures are causing regression in our students, with some predicting as much as a full years-worth of educational gains lost. I don’t believe we can sacrifice the education of an entire generation of students. As taxpayers we universally agree that every child deserves a quality education, however, none of us could have foreseen a time where our schools and parents would disagree so vastly on how to do that.
Many districts finalized their plans to go virtual just weeks before the start of the academic year, leaving parents with no other options. This prompted me to introduce a bill that would empower parents to enroll their child into the school district best suited to meet their students and family’s needs. Currently, a parent must apply for open enrollment or the statewide school choice program in spring to get approval for the fall semester. With the challenges of COVID-19, parents would have been forced to make that decision far in advance of their home school district deciding on their plans for the upcoming school year.
This bill circumvents those deadlines by giving parents the ability to open enroll at any point during the school year if they believe it is in their child’s best interest. It also eliminates the cap on the state school choice program for this academic year to ensure all choice eligible parents seeking to find a better education for their kids have that option. Lastly, the bill eliminates the resident school district’s ability to veto the move, because no school district should be able to hold kids back from the education their parents feel is best. Make no mistake about it, parents know what is best for their child over any government bureaucrat.
Ultimately, this is about a parent’s ability to choose what’s best for their child, whether that be in person class or virtual education at home. We all pay property taxes to fund our schools, but have no recourse when the schools in our community refuse to open for our children. This bill empowers parents with their own tax dollars, to decide what’s best for their children instead of letting school boards choose for them. We have seen time and again how competition encourages excellence and it’s about time schools had to compete and earn the tax dollars we provide. I believe that parents know what’s best for their own children and I hope that the rest of my colleagues in the legislature and the Governor do too.
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NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL AND AROUND WISCONSIN |
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GOV. EVERS APPLIES FOR TRUMP UNEMPLOYMENT GRANT PROGRAM |
Earlier this month, President Trump signed three executive orders following Congressional inaction on providing additional COVID-19 relief. One of the three orders created the Lost Wages Assistance Grant, which would provide $300 per week to those receiving unemployment. The plan also asked states to pay an additional $100 per month.
Last week, Governor Tony Evers announced he would be taking advantage of the plan offered by President Trump. The Department of Workforce Development submitted a grant application to FEMA on Thursday and is awaiting final approval.
"Wisconsin workers continue to face financial burdens and stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are working hard to ensure folks across the state are able to access the support they need," said Gov. Evers. "While I am grateful to be able to provide an additional $300 to eligible claimants, Wisconsin needs Congress and the Trump administration to come to an agreement on a continued, robust response to the pandemic. Our unemployed workers deserve certainty regarding the support that will be available to them while our state and nation continue to weather this unprecedented crisis."
If approved, the LWA program will allow Wisconsin to fund an additional unemployment compensation benefit of $300 per week to eligible unemployment recipients. There was no mention of the additional $100 that states were asked to provide. When combined with the new program, the maximum possible benefit in Wisconsin will be $670 per week, before tax withholding, and will be retroactive the week ending August 1, 2020.
According to the Evers administration, to be eligible for this benefit under the federal guidelines set forth by the Trump administration, recipients must receive at least $100 un an Unemployment Insurance program and must certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The new payment will be in addition to Regular UI, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) payments currently available to eligible unemployed Wisconsin workers.
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DAYS AFTER ASKING TRUMP FOR HELP, EVERS REQUESTS PRESIDENT CANCEL VISIT TO KENOSHA |
Less than one week after Governor Evers requested the help of President Donald Trump and surrounding states in quelling destructive riots on the streets of Kenosha, on Sunday, Evers wrote to Trump to request he reconsider his trip to Wisconsin.
"I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing," Evers wrote. "I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together."
Evers also added, "I am likewise concerned that an in-person visit from you will require a massive re-direction of these resources to support your visit at a time when it is critical that we continue to remain focused on keeping the people of Kenosha safe and supporting the community's response."
Despite calls from local leaders on Monday for 1,500 national guard troops, Evers merely authorized 250, after only providing 125 the previous evening. Over the course of the week, violence escalated resulting in an Illinois teen firing his rifle on a group which appeared on several videos to be attacking him. The teen, Kyle Rittenhouse, has been charged with several felonies, including first degree intentional homicide. He is being represented by Pierce Bainbridge firm. Their statement can be viewed here.
President Trump said on Twitter today that he will still be visiting Kenosha on Tuesday. Trump's administration said he would be viewing the destruction with officials and meeting with locals.
Additionally last week, Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul released an update from the ongoing investigation being conducted by his department's Division of Criminal Investigation. That information can be viewed here.
On Friday, Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) released details from the Kenosha Professional Police Association regarding the officer involved shooting of Jacob Blake -- the incident which sparked the mass unrest in Wisconsin and several other cities around the country. "The recent officer-involved shooting in Kenosha has produced a variety of feelings and narratives; most of which are wholly inaccurate," their statement begins. The statement can be viewed here in its entirety.
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DWD: JULY LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT DATA RELEASED |
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The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) last week released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of unemployment and employment statistics for Wisconsin metropolitan areas, major cities and counties in Wisconsin for July 2020.
In brief, the non-seasonally adjusted data for Wisconsin shows:
- Preliminary July 2020 unemployment rates declined in all of Wisconsin's 12 metro areas over the month. The largest decline occurred in the Fond du Lac metro area.
- Preliminary July 2020 unemployment rates declined in all of Wisconsin's 33 largest cities. The largest decreases occurred in the city of Fond du Lac.
- Preliminary July 2020 unemployment rates declined in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties over the month. The largest decrease occurred in Jackson County.
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CONSUMER SPENDING JUMPS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED IN JULY |
Consumer spending in the United States last month rose more than expected, giving some experts stronger expectations as to how the economy will rebound following government-imposed shutdowns of businesses it deemed nonessential.
According to the Commerce Department, consumer spending rose 1.9% in July after a 6.2% increase in June. Consensus among some economists was that spending would rise by only 1.5%. Auto sales, dining, and lodging led the way.
Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of the American economy.
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LEGISLATURE WILL NOT TAKE UP DEMOCRATS' SPECIAL SESSION BILLS |
Following the officer-involved shooting in Kenosha last week, Governor Evers signed an executive order to call the legislature in to special session today, August 31. Evers laid out a bevy of bills that Democrats crafted over the summer, months after the legislature had adjourned its session for the year. Those bills can be found in the "legislation" section below.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced they would gavel-in the session but not take up any of the bills. Both chambers adjourned until Thursday, though it was not immediately clear if either house would take up measure
"After the tragic events this past week, the best way forward is not through division and partisan politics but through bipartisan cooperation," Speaker Vos' statement said. "The Speaker's Task Force is an opportunity to bring people together to find solutions."
Vos also said Republicans, Democrats, local leaders, and others have all expressed interest in participating in his task force, and that community members will also be welcome to participate.
Governor Evers released a statement Monday afternoon, scolding legislative leaders.
"The people of Wisconsin don't want another task force or more delays," Evers said. "...they want action and results, and they want it today, not tomorrow or some day months down the road."
To date, Governor Evers has created task forces on student debt, climate change, prescription drugs, caregiving, broadband access, rural prosperity, redistricting, and more.
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DFI: WISCONSIN'S STATE-CHARTERED BANKS REPORT STRONG MID-YEAR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE |
Wisconsin's state-chartered banks continue to report strong financial performance through the second quarter of 2020, according to data released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).
Key financial indicators for Wisconsin's 139 state-chartered banks include:
- Total assets increased 8.5% from $57.2 billion in the second quarter 2019 to $62.1 billion as of June 30,2020.
- Net income increased by 2.02% from $339.3 million as of June 30, 2019 to $346.2 million as of June 30, 2020.
- Total interest income decreased slightly by 7.24% to $1.1 billion as of June 30, 2020 compared to $1.2 billion in the second quarter of 2019.
- Capital ratio of 11.02% in the second quarter 2020 was a decrease from 11.94% as of June 30, 2019.
- The return on average assets ratio remained at 1.23% as of June 30, 2020 compared to second quarter 2019.
- Net loans increased from $42.7 billion as of June 30, 2019 to $44.6 billion as of June 30, 2020.
- Delinquent loans as a percentage of loans declined to 1.22% compared to 1.32% as of June 30, 2019.
- Loan losses remained steady at 1.29% as of June 30, 2020 matching the second quarter of 2019
- As of August 8, 2020, the SBA reported 89,615 Wisconsin businesses were approved for the Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling $9.9 billion from all Wisconsin banks.
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WEEKLY INITIAL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS |
Weekly Unemployment Insurance Claims:
Sunday, 1,648 (2020) vs. 419 (2019)
Monday, 3,615 (2020) vs. 936 (2019)
Tuesday 2,200 (2020) vs. 622 (2019)
Wednesday 1,816 (2020) vs. 559 (2019)
Thursday 1,673 (2020) vs. 609 (2019)
Friday 1,702 (2020) vs. 524 (2019)
Saturday 468 (2020) vs. 149 (2019)
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WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS |
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What do you think of Tommy Thompson's increased spending plan for the UW System? |
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A combination of sounding cuts and reprioritizing might be better
College degrees are over rated
a good way to bring up the poor in WI is to give them a good education
WE have had record increases in collage speending in the last 15 years, time to hold off and do an evaluation. Look for waste, changes in demand, and how the new remote learing is going to effect the system.
letting in students who can't make the grade have historically not worked out - can't do the work and crime increases. all for underprivleged kids getting a chance if can make the grade - isn't that what scholarships and grants are for? no skin in the game usually equals no value attached to what's given
Where does he think the money is going to come from?
That is a whole lot of money to be borrowing and taking from the budget when he came out initially he said major cuts were needed. Now he wants to eliminate student debt for teachers, embolden race based scholarships, and other things. Same ole Tommy...
They need to cut back and spend less. They waste too much money and produce little success.
Nope. Bad deal. They overspend so badly, and so lavishly. Why not get someone in there who knows how to actually manage money?
That's a lot of money! I thought the governor asked them to cut expenses.
I think the timing is terrible!
Cut spending plan in half.
I really question this , if they won't waste so much money they would not all these funds
I hate to say it, but Tommy needs to retire. Free tuition for people of color? By the time winter is done, I'm a pale lily white. It usually takes me until July to have been in the sun long enough to become a person of color. By then, it's probably too late in the summer for me to apply for and receive my free tuition.
why should we as taxpayers have to pay for free tuition. Our children worked and saved for their tuition. Students of color should not have special scholarships.
It should rebuild the trades and skills programs that have been slowly dismantled. Maybe the "Blue Ribbon Rural Prosperity Tour of Listening, Showboating and Grandstanding" will come up with that as an answer.
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Do you support the idea of Wisconsin hosting a presidential debate prior to the start of absentee voting? |
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But how many voters are really undecided at this point?
Yes it is a great idea!
political grandstanding
A critical thing to have before voting. packaging can decieve more that a real time event.
That would be great, elections begin earlier and earlier.
A good move, would love to see it happen. Does Biden have a basement in Wisconsin somewhere?
I can't imagine that anyone is on the fence about who to vote for. Haven't we had enough of this Trumpster fire?
I think it would be great to have an early debate.
maybe it will convince a few more republicans what a crapshow trump is...
Wasting their time ! Since they both want to be governor they got to keep their names out there.
I like the idea
Good idea!
I think their idea for a debate is really unkind to Joe Biden. They just want to embarrass him.
what is the use, waste of money and time, we can see it all on nat'l media
right on!
It can give us something to replace the DNC.
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The Pabst Theater Group and many live music venues around the state are seeking CARES Act funding from the state. Do you support their request? |
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Get it from donors
These venues bring a lot of business to independent small businesses
government shut them down and won't let them host events, they need to help them
Money for a Theater Group? come on.
Ok, is arts, are businesses, have lost revenue...they qualify
No more support should be given to agriculture
Why not?
They are really taking a hit, not 100% coverage, just let them have their programs
They can struggle like many otger small businesses. They don't deserve special treatment. They're entertainment. Maybe they should just shut down and suck it up like Noah's Ark and all the restaurants.
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This week marks 92 years since Babe Ruth hit a towering game-winning home run in the ninth inning to give his team a 5-4 victory during an exhibition game in Milwaukee. Lou Gehrig also played in this game (Source: Wisconsin Historical Society)
What are some of the more memorable sports moments that you have witnessed over the years? Have you, yourself, ever had a victorious sports moment that you recall (from high school, college, etc)?
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First ever regular season home opener at Miller Park, George Bush throwing out the first pitch. And beating number 1 ranked Ohio State at Camp Randal on a Saturday night
After what the Bucks and Brewers did on Wednesday, I no longer give a rats a** about anything dealing with professional sports. I hope professional sports fall apart and the drama queens can all see what it is like to work a "real job"
2011 Brewers. 2018 Brewers. So close!!
Vince Lombardi led Packers winning the first Super Bowl
miracle on ice
I'll never forget the summer of 2020 when all of college sports athletes rioted for the right to play!
Ball sports?? Nah...thats for the kids! Even at college level I find it unhealthy...
Had a bad moment playing football, a badly sprained wrist.
Packers Bears first instant replay game, Brewers magic run 13 in a row 1987, 1982 World Series game 5, Meeting Reggie White in person
Peterson Brothers from Barron County winning gold and silver in wrestling at the olympic games
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LRB-2694 Use of Force Board (Wanggaard, Van) The creation of an independent use of force advisory board.
LRB-6341 Use of Force Policies (Wanggaard, Van) Law enforcement agency policies on the use of force.
LRB-6346 Policy Access (Wanggaard, Van) Public access to policies regarding the use of force by law enforcement.
LRB-6339 Police and Fire Commissions (Wanggaard, Van) Boards of police and fire commissioners and protective services departments in populous cities.
LRB-6348 Shared Revenue (Wanggaard, Van) Decreasing shared revenue payments to municipalities based on decreased funding for law enforcement officers.
LRB-6349 Grant Program (Wanggaard, Van) Community-oriented policing house grant program and making an appropriation.
LRB-6338 Choke Hold Prohibition (Wanggaard, Van) Prohibiting the use of choke holds by law enforcement officers in use of force policies.
LRB-6350 Use of Force Reporting (Wanggaard, Van) Reporting of law enforcement use of force incidents.
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AUGUST SPECIAL SESSION BILLS |
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LRB-6273 Use of Force Policies (Bewley, Janet) Law enforcement agency policies on the use of force.
LRB-6274 Use of Force Training (Bewley, Janet) Law enforcement training on use-of-force options.
LRB-6275 Violence Interruption Grants (Bewley, Janet) A violence interruption grant program and making an appropriation.
LRB-6276 Chokeholds (Bewley, Janet) Prohibiting use of choke holds by law enforcement officers in use of force policies.
LRB-6277 Public Policy Access (Bewley, Janet) Public access to policies regarding the use of force by law enforcement.
LRB-6281 Summoning Police (Bewley, Janet) Unnecessarily summoning a police officer and creating a civil cause of action.
LRB-6283 Use of Force Reporting (Bewley, Janet) Reporting of law enforcement use of force incidents.
LRB-6289 No-Knock Warrants (Bewley, Janet) Prohibiting no-knock warrants.
LRB-6292 Law Enforcement Standards Board (Bewley, Janet) The responsibilities of the Law Enforcement
Standards Board and disclosure of employment files when recruiting former or current officers.
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