Larson Report - May 30, 2013

Dear Friend,

Wisconsin is still waiting to see what the Republican budget will hold related to voucher expansion. Continue reading for more information on these and other important topics including changes to unemployment compensation, public transit, and the opening of my new, shared district office.

Sincerely,

Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7

L-R:
Senator Nikiya Harris & Senator Chris Larson

Milwaukee Office Now Open!

Senator Nikiya Harris and I are excited to announce that our new, shared district office in Milwaukee is officially open! Our shared district office is part of an ongoing effort to make our community a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

We are committed to increasing accessibility and better serving our neighbors. The district office will serve as a home base in our community, a resource for our neighbors, and an opportunity for us to showcase the work being done every day in the 6th and 7th Senate Districts. As our community grows, we are here to provide assistance, gather feedback, and recognize the people in our neighborhoods who work tirelessly to improve our quality of life and build a brighter future for us all. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, let us know what is going on in the community, suggest events for our electronic newsletters, or give us a heads-up on any individuals in the community who are doing stand out work and deserve recognition. We encourage you to contact us to set up an appointment or drop by.

Below, you will find the contact information for the district office staff members should you have any questions or need assistance on behalf of our offices.

Jonathan Brostoff
District Director, Senator Chris Larson
Email: jonathan.brostoff@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone: (414) 273-1509

Lisa Bahr
Communications Director, Senator Nikiya Harris
Email: lisa.bahr@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone: (414) 273-1555

Put Blame Where Blame is Due, Not on Workers

Once again Republican Joint Finance Committee (JFC) members have used the budget to force an extreme, anti-middle class policy on the state of Wisconsin. Yesterday, JFC approved a provision making it more difficult for Wisconsinites who have lost their jobs to access our unemployment safety net.

For roughly 80 years, the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council (UI Council), made up of employer and employee representatives, has set this policy. However, Republicans pushed through the aforementioned anti-worker measures without any public hearing or scrutiny, and without the support of the UI Council. Refusing to respect recommendations of the longstanding UI Council for the third time in two years, Republicans in JFC unilaterally decided to defiantly pass policies that will raise taxes on construction and manufacturing companies and hurt Wisconsin workers affected by Wisconsin's stagnant job growth.

The Republican changes could prevent an employee from receiving unemployment benefits after being fired for something as simple as having their car towed. Wisconsin workers should not be punished for the failed policies of this administration, which include the corruption and failure of Wisconsin's flagship economic development agency, WEDC. Wisconsin is 44th in the nation in job growth and, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's most recent publication of projected economic activity for all 50 states, is one of only five states projected to see decreased economic activity over the next six months. We should support Wisconsin's unemployed workers and help get them back on their feet by creating jobs, not using them as a scapegoat.
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