Dear Friends, Just like I promised, the State Senate will make sure people with pre-existing conditions don't lose their health care coverage if and when Obamacare is finally struck down in the courts. Next week, we will go back into session and put it into state law. Despite the rhetoric you heard on the campaign trail, Wisconsin protected people with pre-existing conditions long before Obamacare was forced on the American people. Obamacare is a disaster and must be replaced. If the multi-state lawsuit is successful, we can finally fix our health care system with protections already in place for the people of Wisconsin. So just like I promised, Republicans will continue to protect those with pre-existing conditions regardless of what happens at the federal level. Congratulations to Titan Spine of Mequon. The company, which makes titanium spinal implants, raised nearly $17 million to expand and grow. They raised more than any other tech company in the Milwaukee area. Speaking of investing in exciting Wisconsin companies, a bill I authored in 2013 is paying off. You can read more about that below. 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!

Plan to End Homelessness Released

A little over a year ago, Governor Walker signed a bill I authored with Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke of Kaukauna to combat homelessness in our state. This week, the council we created to help coordinate efforts to reduce homelessness issued their first report. And the report is promising. Wisconsin has departments in eight state agencies and four federally designated regional groups to fight homelessness, but no way for them to collaborate and make sure money is spent wisely. Our bill created a council to review and update statewide policies to better coordinate help for the homeless. This will ensure money is spent wisely and families can access the services that best suit their needs. The sooner we are able to get people off the streets and into a home, the sooner they can become productive members of society. The report, "A Hand and a Home: Foundations For Success," focuses on getting people off the streets and into permanent housing first and then connecting them to services like drug counseling. That model is very successful in other states and can eventually lead to getting people into good paying, family-supporting jobs. In 2015, more than 27,500 people received services or shelter for being homeless in our state. It's my hope this report is the first step in getting more people off the streets and get them on the road to success.

ICYMI: Revenue Projections Top $2 Billion

Last week, we received some great news. Revenue projections show Wisconsin has an additional $2.1 billion in revenue: This is the highest revenue estimate since 2002. Even after delivering $8 billion in tax cuts and the largest real-dollar increase for public education in state history, our state is seeing huge economic growth. Governor Walker is leaving Wisconsin in much better fiscal shape than what he inherited. Thanks to our reforms, tax cuts, and common sense budgeting, our state is expected to generate an additional $2.1 billion. There have been misleading reports about the state having a deficit. It's not true. In fact, Wisconsin is projected to end the current budget with a $662 million surplus. The media reports claim there is a deficit because state agencies are asking for more money in the next budget. Agency budget requests are just that - requests.  State agencies rarely get all of their requests, but that decision is up to the new governor. His agency alone requested more than $1 billion in new funding. Wisconsin is on the right track and this report proves it. With the amount of money coming into the state, we can continue to fund priorities like education, continue to cut taxes, and balance the budget.

More Entrepreneurs Will Get a Chance Thanks to Darling Bill

The next great idea may have a "Made in Wisconsin" label on it. A bill I authored is showing great promise in helping entrepreneurs in our state. In 2013, I authored legislation creating the Badger Fund of Funds to keep our state competitive by investing in homegrown start-ups. At the time, entrepreneurs were struggling to get their ideas into the marketplace. The Badger Fund of Funds is a Limited Partnership formed by the state of Wisconsin to invest in state-based venture capital funds that will invest in new Wisconsin-based ventures. Recently, Rock River Capital Partners announced it raised $23.5 million and will make their first investment this week. The group expects to make more than a dozen investments in the coming years. So far, there are seven new funds in our state: the Idea Fund of La Crosse, Bascom Ventures, the Winnebago Seed Fund, Rock River Capital Partners, 30Ventures, NM Future Ventures, and CMFG Ventures. Those funds have raised more than $130 million to invest in start-ups. Click on the video below to see how Rock River Capital Partners in Janesville is ready to make investments in our state's future.

Thank you, Speaker Ryan

As he wraps up his term as Speaker, I want to take a moment to thank Paul Ryan for his service to our great country and our great state! Even when he became Speaker, Paul never lost touch with Wisconsin. His has made a huge positive impact on our state. I'm proud to call him a friend and look forward to his next venture.

Get the Facts

Wisconsin ranks second in the nation and best in the Midwest for manufacturing jobs created over the past year. Wisconsin ranks number one in the Midwest for Health Care Access and Patient Safety. Wisconsin's unemployment rate remained at 3% or below for nine consecutive months. Over the last three months, Wisconsin added more manufacturing jobs than any other state. Business Insider ranked Wisconsin's economy as the 10th best in the nation. Fifty of Wisconsin's 72 counties met or broke their all-time low unemployment rates in May. CNBC ranks Wisconsin as the 17th best state in the nation for business. All 12 of the state's metro areas and all our 32 largest cities have seen a year-over-year drop in unemployment.  The number of people employed in Wisconsin is at an all-time high of 3,090,200, and the unemployment rate is at all-time low at 2.8% for May. Construction wages in Wisconsin are up 7.5% from 2016-2017.

Around the 8th...

My grandson Liam and I enjoyed the Whitefish Bay Holiday Stroll Parade while dining at Moxie’s owned by Tamela Greene and Anne Marie Arroyo.

‌ ‌ ‌