Larson Weekly Report - July 26, 2012

July 26,   2012

Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487
Email:   Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov

Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
  
Web Site: 
SenatorChrisLarson.com                                                                 

Dear Friend,

With balance restored to Wisconsin's Legislature, it's time for committees to get to work on furthering bipartisan, job-creating initiatives. Continue reading for more information about the newly restructured committees.

I also encourage you to find me on Facebook and Twitter for timely updates on legislative activities.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or opinions you may have about our community or our state.

  Sincerely,
  Chris Larson
  State Senator, District 7
 ==================

Roadblocks to Work
The public has spoken loud and clear.   They want balance and integrity restored to Wisconsin. Just last week, I joined my colleagues on the Senate Floor completing the transition of power within Wisconsin’s Legislature. In order for us to get Wisconsin's economy moving in the right direction, we needs leaders that are willing to show up and do the work. I am proud to say we finally have those leaders.

Senate Democrats will hold public hearings, conduct meetings, and call   upon the governor to hold a special session to turn back the extreme policies that have led to job losses for our state. Such efforts must be continued until our family, friends, and neighbors are no longer desperately hunting for jobs.

I look forward to working with legislators on both sides of the aisle in   public hearings and special session to ensure taxpayer money spent on   economic development is being invested wisely on programs that will create immediate jobs for Wisconsinites. By working together on the issues facing our state, we can once again get Wisconsin on track towards   economic prosperity.
  
Committees have been reorganized and were announced earlier this week.   While it is possible that some adjustments will be made, the committees I have been appointed to are reasonably firm. Please continue reading for more information about the new committees to which I have been appointed and the goals we hope to accomplish through bipartisan efforts.
  
Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules
I have been appointed Co-Chair of the   Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules, a committee comprised of five senators and five representatives. This committee is codified in Wisconsin's statutes and tasked with ensuring that our state agencies are correctly interpreting and implementing our laws to reflect the   intent of the legislation.
  
Through this committee, we will also   strive to increase accountability and transparency in our state, including more accurately tracking the effectiveness of job creation   efforts. I have been reaching out to fellow committee members of both parties and am eager to work with them on these challenging endeavors.
  
Joint Committee on Finance
I am honored to be appointed to the Joint Committee on Finance, the most prominent committee in the Legislature. Comprised of eight senators and eight representatives, this committee was statutorily created to monitor the finances of the state and allocate funding to the various agencies.
  
Because of the continued financial crisis our state and the rest of the country has been experiencing, our tax dollars need to stretch further than ever. Therefore, the overarching goal of Joint Finance will be to make wise investments with state funds to ensure citizens are not being held responsible for failing programs or ineffective projects. Further, we need to promote   greater accountability and transparency for the agencies, businesses, and individuals that continue to receive state funds. This committee can also be a vital catalyst for job creation to help rebuild and renew our currently stagnant economy.
  
Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Another committee I will be serving on is the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. As required by state statutes, this committee of five senators and five representatives is a strong instrument in making sure our taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.   By requesting audits, this committee is able to take an up-close, thorough look at state program efficacy and determine whether they fail or succeed. The results of the audit then drive committee recommendations for timely changes of Wisconsin's state programs.
  
One of the priorities of this committee will be to examine the concerns recently raised about the potential mismanagement of the new Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Additionally, the Audit Committee will want to examine best practices for increasing economic development in our state.
  
Senate Committee on Education and Corrections
After serving on the Senate Education  Committee during the 2011-2012 Legislative Session, I have once again been appointed to the committee, which will focus on holding public hearings on legislation affecting K-12 students and schools, as well as correction-related issues.
  
Many neighbors have expressed great concerns over the state of our community schools. The harsh reality our children and schools are facing is a direct result of staggering budget cuts, a loss of one-time federal dollars, and the siphoning of funds away from our neighborhood schools and directed towards a growing number of unaccountable schools.
  
Unfortunately, things are not expected to get any easier during the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. According to a survey done by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA), most school district in Milwaukee County expect to make the same or deeper cuts to balance their budgets for the next school year, with only one of the 18 school districts in Milwaukee County reporting that they expect to make fewer cuts next year compared   to this year.
  
To ensure we are making the most of limited financial resources and providing quality education to our children, I look forward to working on enhancing accountability and transparency measures for all schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including public, charter, and voucher schools.
  
Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Tourism
I have also been re-appointed to the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Tourism. During the   most recent legislative session, I fought to protect our investment in Wisconsin's natural resources, as tourism dollars help keep our state's economy headed in the right direction.
  
Many concerns remain and were not adequately addressed during the most recent legislative session. I hope that we can work together to further examine these troubling issues:

*  Increased efforts to privatize hunting in Wisconsin

*  Growing concerns about the lack of  enforcement of pollution controls that can result in poisoned drinking water.

*  The crippling impacts of climate change on our tourism and agricultural economies and workers in those industries.

The efforts of these committees to create immediate jobs, further economic development, and increase accountability and transparency can only succeed with bipartisan support in both the Senate and the Assembly. Therefore, I hope that we can all band together to produce truly bipartisan policies that gets the Wisconsin we all know and love moving forward.

Competition vs. Collaboration
Milwaukee and Chicago--two cities   that have much in common, including lakeside geography, heavy industry, and a   struggle for a role in the emerging global economy. Today, Chicago ranks among the top 10 global cities, and Milwaukee is rapidly becoming the freshwater capital of the world. This, however, has not always proven to be enough to set them apart from their global competition. China alone has 30 cities that are bigger than Chicago and 100 bigger than Milwaukee. In an economy that rewards collaboration, Milwaukee and Chicago remain in competition, risking irrelevance.
  
To try and get Milwaukee and Chicago   moving on a path towards symbiotic success, discussions have recently begun to address a stronger regional approach and potential cooperative partnership between these sister cities. On July 17, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Marquette University Law School kicked-off the conversation between the two cities by holding a conference called "Milwaukee's Future in the Chicago Megacity."

The agenda of the conference was based on a recent territorial review published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This review encompassed the Chicago tri-state area, a 21-county region that includes Milwaukee, Chicago, and northwestern Indiana. The organization condemned the current rivalry between the states arguing that it prevents any real cooperation to increase mutual economic prosperity. One economist even commented that he had never seen such "hostility" toward neighbors as   displayed by these state governments.
  
 Click here to view video from the conference.

Many agree that the quickest way to bring these cities closer would be to connect them better physically with a fast rail link. This infrastructure investment would allow residents of one city to work in the other and also allow businesses to work together more efficiently. Unfortunately, Milwaukee's attempts to pursue such an endeavor have been repeatedly blocked, including when the most recent budget dissolved the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority along with three other authorized Regional Transit Authority groups.   This action effectively halted plans to build a commuter rail line that would link Milwaukee to Kenosha, Racine, and surrounding suburbs. The planned Commuter Link would have offered 15 round trips each weekday, promoting commerce and development, attracting   future businesses to the area, raising property values, and providing   our workforce with a means to get to and from their jobs. Additionally, federal aid would have covered most construction and operating costs.

In addition to connecting the two cities by rail, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce also wants to create a Tri-State Alliance for Regional Development. This group would gather civic and business leaders from the region and begin the process toward broader cooperation. Other suggestions include an initial project that focuses on Milwaukee’s specialty--water. Linking researchers specializing in water from universities in Milwaukee and Chicago could create a standard of best practices. In an increasingly dry world, anything the two cities do to establish themselves as a freshwater hub   would benefit both. Ideas like these could enable both cities to leverage their combined strengths, so they can better thrive in this   increasingly global and competitive economy