Dear Friends,

This week, I was honored by the state's largest business group with their Working for Wisconsin Award. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) released their annual scorecard for legislators. I am proud to not only have a high score but also that WMC included two bills I authored and another bill from my Empowering Parents Agenda as key votes.

In this session, I authored Assembly Bill 967 & Assembly Bill 968. The bills created a system to streamline the process of replicating high-performing charter schools and create a statewide charter board. I co-sponsored, Assembly Bill 970, which would let every parent in Wisconsin decide the best option for their kids by expanding the school choice program statewide. Unfortunately, Governor Evers vetoed these common-sense bills that would increase opportunities for more students and families statewide.

I'm not giving up. I will continue to fight for parents and students to make sure every child in the state has access to a quality education.

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!

Violent crimes and murders are up in our state. In many places, crime is out of control. We've seen riots, car thefts, and vandalism go on without consequences. This has to stop. That's why I supported legislation to protect everyone from these crimes.

The riots in Kenosha and Madison exposed some potential gaps in our laws. I voted for a bill that better-defined riots and added criminal penalties for participating in one. I also supported legislation that might have protected the historic statues that were torn down and destroyed by rioters at our State Capitol. Those bills passed with overwhelming support. Unfortunately, they were vetoed by the Governor.

Carjackings continue to be a big problem throughout our state. It's not only the loss of a vehicle that is a problem, but car thieves often drive recklessly and lead to chases that put drivers and police at risk. So far in 2022, more than 6,000 cars were reported stolen in Milwaukee. That's up 131% from just two years ago and it only seems to be getting worse. I supported Assembly Bill 777 because it helped local governments put more cops on the street to stop car thefts. That bill was also vetoed.

While I am disappointed those bills didn't become law, we did make progress in the fight against Fentanyl. I co-sponsored and supported Senate Bill 352 which enhanced criminal penalties and gave law enforcement more tools to fight this dangerous drug. 

Next session, I will continue to work on protecting everyone in Wisconsin and make sure our police have the tools they need to keep us all safe.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) officially removed its guidance that allowed clerks to correct errors on ballots. WEC allowed clerks to correct errors for several years, even though it was illegal. I am glad they are finally following the law, but it shouldn't take legal action for a state agency to obey the laws on the books.

Last week, a Waukesha County judge ruled that Wisconsin law states only voters can correct information on their ballots. This week, he refused to pause his ruling, forcing WEC to rescind its guidance to clerks.

Whether you live in Milwaukee, Manitowoc, or Marinette, the process for voting should be the same for everyone. WEC's guidance meant that didn't happen. Some clerks followed the law and some followed the guidance. That's not fair.

That's why I authored Senate Bill 212. It ensures that only legitimate ballots are counted while providing voters the opportunity to correct errors on their ballots. It creates a system for voters to check if there was a problem with their ballot and made sure outside groups weren’t allowed to alter ballots. 

Ballot curing is based on arbitrary guidance, not the law. My bill would make that process clear. Fixing problems on a ballot is a good thing. Who fixes those mistakes is also important. Until the vote is counted, the ballot should belong to the voter, not a clerk or an outside group. While Governor Evers vetoed this reform, I am not giving up and will introduce this bill again next session.

As children start heading back to school, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) is updating its School Data Dashboard. WILL calls it a "one-stop shop" for information on every school district in the state. 

By clicking on the picture, you can find everything from school funding to performance.