Progressive Thinking

Senator Smith highlights a new report on the state of childcare in Wisconsin which found that parents are giving up an estimated $1.1 billion in lost income to solve their childcare needs by leaving the workforce.

MADISON - The child care crisis in Wisconsin is undeniable and urgent. As child care centers continue to close across the state, the impact on our families, workforce and economy grows faster. This crisis is not just a result of the pandemic—it’s a symptom of decades of underfunding and unsustainable business models in early childcare and education.

Last year Republicans turned their backs on Wisconsin families by allowing the Joint Finance Committee to give up on the Child Care Counts Program. In response, Gov. Tony Evers directed $170 million in emergency funding to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) to continue the program at current levels through June 2025. With the consequences of inaction too great to ignore, we should address this issue head-on in January at the beginning of a new legislative session.

Child care providers in Wisconsin operate on razor-thin margins. Child care is labor-intensive and requires highly trained professionals. It’s been stretched to the breaking point. Staffing shortages plague the sector, with many classrooms closing due to a lack of qualified workers. This, in turn, forces parents—especially women—out of the workforce as they struggle to find affordable care for their children.

According to a new report by the UW Institute for Research on Poverty’s Department of Children and Families, the economic toll is staggering. Wisconsin is losing an estimated $1.1 billion per year in lost productivity, earnings and tax revenue due to child care challenges.

For most families in Wisconsin, child care is simply unaffordable. The average cost of center-based care for an infant is approximately $12,500 per year, or 16% of the median household income. This burden is comparable to the cost of tuition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Yet, child care must be paid upfront and in cash, placing a tremendous strain on young families. Even worse, the true cost of providing care—about $33,715 per infant—far exceeds what most providers can charge, leading to inadequate wages for child care workers and an unsustainable business model.

It’s clear that child care providers are being forced to choose between staying afloat and offering affordable, quality care. Teachers in these centers make an average of $13.55 per hour, far below the average wage of $28.34 for Wisconsin workers. Many lack health benefits, further exacerbating turnover and workforce shortages.

Child care providers continue to face rising costs, while too many Wisconsin families remain on waiting lists or are forced to leave the workforce altogether. The problem is systemic, and piecemeal reforms won’t be enough to fix it.

Wisconsin has an opportunity to lead the nation in addressing this crisis by investing directly in child care access, affordability, and workforce support. Before July, we must restore and increase funding to Child Care Counts, ensuring that providers have the financial stability they need to keep their doors open. Additionally, increasing Wisconsin Shares rates and expanding eligibility will make it easier for more families to afford care, particularly during the critical early years of their children’s lives.

We must also address the workforce shortages by offering better wages and benefits to early educators. These professionals are crucial to the development of our children and deserve to be compensated fairly for their work. By increasing scholarships, wage stipends, and professional development opportunities, we can attract more workers to the field and ensure that child care remains a viable career path.

The child care crisis in Wisconsin is an issue that affects us all. Without immediate action, we will continue to lose out on economic productivity, and more importantly, we will fail the families and children who depend on a strong early care system. It’s time for Wisconsin’s leaders to prioritize affordable, accessible child care and support the workers who make it possible. Our future workforce—and the future of our state—depends on it.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Senator Smith brings attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October by highlighting the work needed by policymakers to strengthen protections and justice for the victims of domestic violence.

EAU CLAIRE - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I am committed to advocating for increased awareness and action on this critical issue. Domestic violence is not only a violation of human rights but a public health crisis, leaving victims with long-lasting trauma. We must work to ensure that those affected by domestic violence are receiving the support, both physical and emotional, that they need.

The sad truth is that not all victims live through domestic violence. According to the 2022 End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin Homicide Report, someone is murdered every four days because of domestic violence in Wisconsin, and firearms were used in 88% of these murders. Nationally, the leading cause of death for pregnant women is being murdered. These are sobering statistics that underscore the urgency of improving our prevention efforts, supporting victims and ensuring justice.

Wisconsin offers various resources to assist victims of domestic violence, yet more can be done to reach the most vulnerable. The Safe at Home program, for instance, provides survivors with a confidential address, allowing them to protect their location from abusers. This is a vital tool for those seeking safety and peace of mind. However, we need to expand awareness of this program, especially in rural and underserved areas where access to resources can be limited.

Additionally, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) STOP program, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, funds essential services like victim advocacy, law enforcement training and prosecution of domestic violence crimes. We should increase support for these programs, particularly in communities with high rates of domestic violence homicides.

One of the key components of victim support is data collection and analysis, which helps us understand the scope of the problem and target resources effectively. The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Taskforce of which I am a member is an example of how data can be used to address systemic issues within specific communities. Indigenous women face disproportionately high rates of domestic violence, and the task force's findings will provide crucial insights into the challenges these communities face. We should commit to implementing the task force's recommendations to combat this crisis facing Indigenous communities.

While supporting victims is essential, we must find ways to prevent these acts in the future. One of the most effective ways to prevent homicides stemming from domestic violence is to close gaps in our gun laws. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 made significant strides in addressing domestic violence by prohibiting domestic violence abusers from owning firearms.

In addition, Wisconsin should enact an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law, which allows law enforcement and family members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a danger to themselves or others. ERPO laws have been proven to reduce gun violence, including in domestic violence cases. Twenty-one other states have already implemented such a law, and Wisconsin should follow suit to prevent further tragedies.

Domestic violence is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. Wisconsin has made progress, but we must continue to prioritize both prevention and accountability. By expanding access to resources, closing dangerous legal loopholes, and ensuring that perpetrators face justice, we can make our state a safer place for everyone.

If you or anyone you know may be affected by domestic violence, there are resources available by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

This October, I encourage all Wisconsinites to support survivors and stand up together against domestic violence. Let us commit to creating a future where no one has to live in fear of violence in their own home.

Sen. Smith encourages anyone affected by domestic violence to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Senator Smith writes about green energy tax credits now available to homeowners thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act which passed in 2022.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - As the ranking Democratic member on the Senate Utilities Committee, I’ve spent much of my career fighting to make utility costs more affordable for families while addressing the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy.

There’s only so much we can do as policymakers for families to afford their energy costs. Oftentimes, it takes planning and action from individuals to capitalize on new incentives. There are a lot of opportunities for families to save money with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by the federal government in 2022. Now is a great time to consider taking concrete steps to help your family lower the cost of owning and maintaining your home. By providing incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades and solar panels, and even electric vehicles, the IRA is not only helping Wisconsinites save money, but also moving us to a greener economy.

The IRA offers substantial support for energy-efficient home upgrades, which can have a massive impact on both utility bills and environmental sustainability. For instance, proper insulation and air sealing can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20%. With tax credits available for these improvements, homeowners can now afford to make those critical upgrades that pay off in the long run. And for anyone unsure where to start, the IRA covers the cost of home energy audits, so families can get expert advice on how to make their homes more energy efficient.

In addition to making homes more efficient, the IRA also makes it easier for families to generate their own clean energy. One of the most effective ways to do this is by installing rooftop solar panels. Tax credits now cover 30% of the installation costs, and these can be combined with state-level incentives to bring the cost down even further. Families who install solar panels can save about $300 per year, or $9,000 over the life of the system.

Heating and cooling costs are a great way to save money too. Heat pumps can transfer heating and cooling more efficiently through the home and they are becoming more efficient than traditional systems. In Wisconsin’s brutal winters, heat pumps can make a significant difference. Through the IRA, families can claim tax credits of up to $2,000 for heat pump installations, with state programs offering additional rebates that cover up to 90-100% of the costs for low-income households. This means that thousands of families in our state could have new, energy-efficient systems installed for little or no cost.

Here in Wisconsin, we’ve received $150 million to help homeowners make these green upgrades. Under our HOME Rebates program, families can receive up to $4,000 for energy-efficient retrofits, and under the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program, low-income households can receive up to $14,000 for electrical upgrades.

While taking advantage of home efficiency incentives, people can also save money while going to and from home with the expansion of tax credits for electric vehicles (EV’s). These credits are available now for up to $7,500 for new vehicles, or $4,000 for used ones, and are helping families save an average of $950 per year on fuel costs. To qualify, a married couple would need to make less than $300,000, or $150,000 for individuals which ensures the credits are targeted toward middle and low-income households. The vehicles must also be built in North America.

By taking advantage of these new incentives, families can make their homes more affordable, save money while also helping us tackle the climate crisis. Now is the time to act for energy efficiency so you can keep a little extra of your hard-earned money.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Senator Smith writes about the glaring gap in school funding for special needs students which is contributing to the price tag of referendum questions asking voters to make up for the shortfall.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - Over the past decade, you’ve probably noticed more and more referenda questions on your ballot to help fund your local school districts. While there are many reasons for why a school would request an increase in funding, such as facility improvements, better teacher pay or even to cover their standard operating costs, it seems Wisconsin’s lack of state funding for special education could be an underlying motivator.

Under federal law, Wisconsin’s public schools are required to meet the needs of students with disabilities, regardless of how much it costs to provide that service. Currently, our public schools receive a base reimbursement rate of 33% from the state to help pay for special education, but this then leaves them to pay the remaining costs. While some public schools in wealthier districts can help cover these expenses with referenda, our rural public schools in Western Wisconsin are not always able to.

This system is not sustainable for Wisconsin. This last spring, only 60% of all school referenda throughout the state were passed. While those of us in western Wisconsin tend to pass referenda to fund schools, this is not a viable long-term solution. In the last state budget, Governor Evers recognized this funding shortfall and put forward a plan to get the state to a 60% reimbursement rate while paving the way to achieve 90% in future budgets. But, Republicans in the state legislature rejected the proposal, leaving our public schools high and dry.

This gap in funding means school districts have to supplement the cost of special education in other ways. Most often, this means our schools are required to pull funding from their general fund to cover the rest of the special education cost. The lack of state funding for special education does not only impact the students who require special education services, it impacts the entire student body. Whether that be the need to cut back on teachers’ salaries or not being able to purchase classroom materials, school districts in western Wisconsin are struggling to make do with the little funding they receive.

On the November 5th ballot this year, the Eau Claire Area School District will be asking for a 4-year $18 million per year referendum to help cover their operating costs. When comparing this to the unfunded special education costs the school faced in the 2022-23 school year, the result is shocking. The school district had to pay roughly $17.9 million on special education, meaning that roughly 99.6% of the Eau Claire Area School District’s shortfall could be attributed to the state’s lack of special education funding.

Public schools are federally mandated to educate all children with disabilities by providing them with a free public education they deserve. But when our Republican-controlled state legislature continuously fails to provide funding for these services, citizens are on the hook for continual referenda to raise taxes.

As we head into the new year and approach another budget session, we must remember this funding gap and push state legislators to do their job for our schools. Increasing the special education reimbursement rate will help all students in our Wisconsin school districts by freeing up funding that could go to the entire student population. Republicans must be held accountable for failing our state’s public schools.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Senator Smith writes about the innovative approach some county health departments are taking to address the opioid overdoes epidemic by offering free vending machines with Narcan, and other items like gunlocks and fentanyl test strips.

MADISON - Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is typically used to treat severe pain following major surgeries with strict oversight from nursing staff and doctors who understand how life threatening even a small amount can be. It only takes a two-milligram dose (equal in size to a few grains of salt) to cause an overdose of an average sized adult. Now that fentanyl is getting laced with other street drugs, people young and old are dying at an alarming rate by mistake. Even though the risks of accidental overdoses are real, the good news is that these deaths are preventable.

More and more, awareness is increasing about how effective overdose reversal drugs like Narcan are at saving lives and give people struggling with drug addiction another chance at recovery. The introduction of harm reduction kiosks in Eau Claire and Dunn Counties reflects an evolving, pragmatic approach to this public health nightmare. These kiosk vending machines provide free access to items like naloxone (aka Narcan), which can quickly reverse an opioid overdose. Other items at these vending machines include fentanyl test strips people can use to see if the something they are about to take has been laced with the powerful drug.

Since making a free vending machine available to the public last June at the Eau Claire County Jail lobby, they have dispensed a total of 2,188 doses of Narcan and 3,090 fentanyl test strips.

Dunn County installed their vending machine in July at the Health Department building and they go even further by offering additional items like gunlocks, Deterra bags to neutralize and dispose of drugs, menstruation products, condoms and even socks.

Earlier this summer, Eau Claire, Chippewa and Dunn County each released a community health report regarding the biggest issues facing each community. While the three main concerns facing all three counties were alcohol misuse, accessible childcare and access to health care, the report also noted substance abuse as a major issue.

Between 2018 and 2022, 82 people died due to drug overdoses in Eau Claire County and 62 of those deaths (76%) were opioid-related. During the same timeframe, more than 488 suspected nonfatal opioid overdoses occurred in Eau Claire County.

In 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found that fentanyl caused 91% of opioid deaths statewide. Provisional data from DHS shows there were 1,358 opioid overdose or poisoning deaths in 2022, a slight decrease from 2021, but it was still a 62% increase from five years ago.

I want to applaud the work of our county health departments for coming up with innovative and accessible solutions like these harm reduction kiosks. They may not be the silver bullet for solving incredibly complicated issues, but they provide a bridge to treatment and recovery services while reducing the burden on emergency services by helping individuals avoid fatal overdoses.

It’s clear these vending machines are practical and effective because they are anonymous and free for anyone to use. My plea for families is to have these lifesaving products in your home, in your car or any place you could find someone who might need them. People who need these items may not use the kiosks, but citizens having these items nearby might just be the way to save a friend or family member who struggles with addiction. You might just save someone’s life, or your own, one day.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.