Dear Friends,

Starting March 29th, Wisconsin is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccines to people with pre-existing conditions. Anyone over the age of 16 with medical conditions that have a greater risk of severe infection will have access to the vaccines.

The state's vaccine registry is live. However, only a few health departments are currently included. The registry will ask questions to determine eligibility. People who are eligible will be able to sign up for an appointment. If you are not eligible yet, you will be put on a waiting list. While not every county is included yet, it is a start. You can also sign up for information from area pharmacies including Walgreens, CVS, and Northshore Pharmacy.

If you are eligible and having trouble finding the COVID-19 vaccine in your area, the State of Wisconsin now has a map of vaccine providers. The website not only helps link people to the vaccine but also provides information on how the state is distributing doses. The state also has a COVID-19 Vaccine Assistance Hotline. The hotline is offering personal assistance for vaccine-related questions. The toll-free number is 1-844-684-1064.

While it's encouraging to see more and more communities easing their restrictions, please be careful and continue to follow CDC guidelines. That includes wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands.

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.wisconsin.gov.

On, Wisconsin!
Election Story Exposes Need for Reforms
 After this bombshell story in Wisconsin Spotlight exposed partisan groups taking over elections, I immediately called for Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul to further investigate. As millions of outside dollars flowed into the state to influence the election, the city of Green Bay pushed aside the local clerk and actually gave keys and access to ballots to an outside, partisan activist before November 3rd.

This story raises significant questions about how Green Bay, and possibly other communities in our state, handled the November election. While we work to pass legislative reforms, I urge Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul to conduct an investigation into these findings further to help restore confidence and integrity in our elections.

Findings in the story include:
  • A Democratic operative had access to absentee ballots and given keys to the central count area before November 3rd. 
  • Outside operatives sought to assist in correcting absentee ballots returned to the city clerk’s office in Green Bay.
  • Outside Operatives may have assisted Milwaukee with rejected absentee ballots. 
  • The Clerk’s office made local political leaders aware of the frustrations and possible violations but was largely ignored. 
  • Despite these complaints from the Green Bay clerk, the outside operators were given more control over the election.
  • Brown County’s clerk said Green Bay went “rogue.”

Local political leaders took outside money and let partisan operatives take control of the election process in Green Bay. Wisconsin law is clear. Clerks are in charge of the elections, not outside groups. Emails obtained suggest Green Bay’s election was run by a partisan group that had access to ballots and were calling the shots. It is time to reform our elections and restore confidence in our system.

Recently, I joined Senator Duey Stroebel to unveil a package of ten bills to help restore trust in state elections.

The Darling/Stroebel Election Reforms Include
  • Prohibiting Private Funding of Elections: Direct any non-government entity seeking to donate funds or resources for election administration to send the money to the Elections Commission, which distributes the money on a per-capita basis statewide. 
  • Ballot Integrity Act: Reinforces state law that says voters, not clerks should fix any errors on a ballot.
  • Ballot Security Act: State law doesn’t allow for the use of drop boxes, even though many were used in the 2020 election. This bill will make sure drop boxes are a safe and secure option for voters.
  • Election Observer Protection: Will make sure the public has equal access when observing the election process.
  • Standardizing Absentee Ballot Requests: Everyone who votes absentee in Wisconsin will fill out the same form.
  • Security of Returned Absentee Ballots: Clarify that a family member, guardian, or non-candidate, unpaid designee for those without family may return completed absentee ballots for others. A designee may only return one non-family member’s ballot per election. 
  • Absentee Ballot Uniformity: Ensure that all absentee voters who possess a photo ID to present that ID in order to receive an absentee ballot. 
  • WEC Meeting Minutes Transparency: Require the Elections Commission to publish their meeting minutes (to include votes taken and motions considered) on their state website. 
  • Long-term Care Facility Voter Integrity: Ensure family members know when voting occurs in long-term care facilities and nursing homes, prohibit any employee of such a facility from influencing a resident’s decision to vote or not vote.
  • Indefinitely Confined Voter Reform: Require statements of indefinite confinement to be made under oath with penalties for false statements, clarify that a pandemic does not grant indefinitely confined status. 
Committee Approves Holocaust Education Bill
I'm happy to report my bill to require teaching about the Holocaust in our schools received unanimous support in the Senate Committee on Education. The bill is now available for a vote in front of the full State Senate.

On Thursday, the Assembly Committee on State Affairs held a public hearing on the Holocaust Education bill. I'm encouraged that the bill is making progress quickly this session.

My bill adds Holocaust education to the model academic standards for social studies. Also, it guarantees that Wisconsin students learn about the Holocaust at least once during middle school and once during high school. Our goal is to ensure that Wisconsin students understand the important lessons of the Holocaust and the dangerous consequences of rising Antisemitism and religious bigotry.

As the number of living Holocaust survivors and witnesses dwindle, it is up to us to ensure that the unforgivable events of the Holocaust are never forgotten and never repeated
Act 10 Turns 10
Thursday is the 10th anniversary of Governor Scott Walker signing the state's landmark reform, Act 10. According to research from the MacIver Institute, taxpayers saved nearly $14 billion thanks to Act 10!


Despite all of that, Governor Evers' budget plan does away with Act 10. He wants to turn back the clock to the days of job loss, high taxes, and out-of-control spending.

In 2011, Wisconsin was at a crossroads. Mismanagement from Governor Doyle and Democrats left the state with a $3.6 billion structural deficit. Not only did they spend more than we had, but they also stole millions from the Injured Patients Compensation Fund and Transportation Fund.

Instead of raising taxes and making our economy worse, Republicans rolled up our sleeves and reformed state government. After all the threats and protests, passing Act 10 was the right move then and it's the right move now. We can't go back.

Wisconsin is in great shape financially. Not only did Act 10 save money, but it also saved thousands of jobs. There were no mass layoffs, state attractions remained opened, and bills were paid on time. Act 10 worked, and it's still working to save you money.
Help Sex Trafficking Victims
Please Donate Blood, Plasma
One way you can help is by donating blood. If you have recovered from COVID-19, please especially consider donating your plasma.

You can find out where to donate here and here.
COVID-19 Cases in Our Area
The table above contains data reported on March 10, 2021 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on coronavirus cases in our area.
Emergency Room Visits with COVID Symptoms
COVID-19 Testing Available
Around the 8th...
You can sign up for emails to stay updated on when you can be vaccinated by visiting our county health department websites. Click on your county's health department for more information.





The Wisconsin Department of Health Services also recommends that you contact your healthcare provider to sign up to be vaccinated. You can also register with Meijer Pharmacy and they will notify you when the vaccine is available.
8th Senate District Schools Status
Brown Deer School District
Students are now meeting four days per week of in-person learning. Wednesdays are held virtually.

Erin School District
In-person 5 days a week baseline.

Fox Point-Bayside School District
Hybrid model

Germantown School District 
All of its schools are in-person, five days a week.

Glendale-River Hills School District
Its schools are all virtual. On March 8th, students will return to school in-person four days a week. Friday will be a virtual learning day.

Grafton School District
All schools are in-person, five days a week.

Hamilton School District
All schools are in-person.

Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District
Its K4, K5, and first-grade students are in-person four days a week. Students in grades 2-8 are in a hybrid model in which students attend school in-person two days a week and virtually three days a week.

Menomonee Falls School District
All schools are in-person

Mequon-Thiensville School District
All schools are in-person.

Milwaukee Public Schools 
All schools are virtual. There is a proposal to phase-in a return to school in April.

Nicolet Union High School District
On January 28th, students returned to in-person learning four days a week, with Wednesdays as a virtual learning day.

University School of Milwaukee
The pre-K through 12 campus offers in-person learning. University School of Milwaukee students and employees need negative COVID-19 tests before they can return,

Whitefish Bay School District
Most students will begin a phase-in to four days of in-class learning in March.