There's more proof our reforms are working. According to the non-partisan Wisconsin Policy Forum, the tax burden in Wisconsin dropped more over the last 20 years than nearly any other state! Back in 1999, state and local taxes took up 12.2% of personal income. That was the fourth-highest in the nation. By 2019, the percentage dropped to 10.3%. Now we are ranked 23rd in the country.

While there is still more to be done, I'm very proud of our work in lowering the tax burden in our state. It didn't happen by accident. The budgets I worked on put taxpayers first. We were careful with the money you provided. Our budgets were balanced, we cut taxes, and returned millions to taxpayers.

Recently, we prevented billions in tax hikes and deficits that Governor Evers' proposed budgets would have caused. Instead, we sent him the largest tax cut in state history. I'm proud of my work on behalf of taxpayers and promise to continue to fight for you in Madison.

Good luck to Homestead High School! The Highlanders play to make it to state in the WIAA Football Tournament on Friday!

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.

Senate Bill 454 was introduced by Senator Kathy Bernier of Chippewa Falls and co-authored by Senator Darling. The bill will screen schoolchildren on their reading abilities earlier and more often, notify parents of concerns, and create a clear direction to get kids back on track to succeed. The bill is based on successful models in other states, including Mississippi, which dramatically increased reading levels after passing similar legislation. Spotting reading problems sooner dramatically increases the chance that a child will succeed in school and life.

Sixty-four percent of fourth-graders are not proficient in reading. Our state ranks dead-last in reading achievement among black students. Hispanic students dropped from 1st in the nation to 28th while white students fell from 6th to 27th. Despite historic funding for public education, less than one-third of students are proficient in English or math. 

Sexual assault survivors are one step away from having access to information about their sexual assault kits. On Thursday, the Wisconsin State Assembly unanimously gave final approval to a bill authored by State Senator Alberta Darling that will create a Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System.

My bill will create a database for health care professionals, law enforcement, state crime laboratory personnel, and prosecutors to update information on the location and status of a sexual assault kit. The bill also enables victims to track the location and status of their kit.

Senate Bill 94 empowers survivors of sexual assault as their case goes through the legal system. I’ve worked with members of both houses and both parties to ensure that the Wisconsin statutes protect victims and prevent another backlog of cases.

The bill now heads to Governor Evers, and I hope he signs this important bill.

This week, I had the honor of touring an amazing and moving exhibit at the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.

It features stories from local Holocaust survivors, and it is incredible. Click on the picture and you can experience a virtual tour of the exhibit.

The new Wisconsin Blue Books will soon be here!

The Blue Book is an invaluable resource about our state's history, demographics, and data.

If you would like a copy, please click on the picture and fill out the form. We will mail one out to you at no cost.

We expect the Blue Books to arrive in a couple of weeks. My office will ship them out as soon as they are available.

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.

Hunger Task Force is conducting a virtual food drive. Click on the video for more information on how you can help people in need this month.