Progressive Thinking

Senator Smith points out the consequences of inaction by the Joint Finance Committee, including a measure to increase the Trout Stamp to support stream habitat improvements.

MADISON - When a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? How about when the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) removes an agency’s funding request before it even sees the light of day?

That’s exactly what happened last year when the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requested a $5 increase to Inland Waters Trout Stamp (IWTS) at the request of angling groups, in addition to another $234,000 needed to fully operate fish hatchery operations. The Governor listened – he included it in his version of the budget. Legislative Republicans didn’t include it in theirs. It wasn’t discussed, it was rejected outright for no reason except that it came from the Governor.

There are scores of examples just like this that never see the light of day. Political decisions by Republicans on JFC to leave out vital requests from agencies like these have downstream consequences that are playing out as I write this. Especially in this case when fisheries now lack the money needed to transport the fish they have already raised this year. Now we are hearing from anglers in western Wisconsin that this year’s crop of fingerlings may not be able to get to the streams they were intended to end up in.

As a result of JFC removing the DNR’s request to increase the Inland Waters Trout Stamp (IWTS) from $10 to $15, sportsmen are missing out on an estimated $800,000 annually. That money would have gone directly to supporting habitat restoration work needed for streams, and more specifically, for the end goal of sustainably stocking fish. After all, it would make no sense to breed fish if there is no place to put them where they can thrive and reproduce on their own.

The last time there was an increase to the Trout Stamp was in 2006, and since then inflation has risen approximately 55%. So what was intended to be $10 from each stamp 18 years ago is now less than half of the money going to stream restoration. Trout Unlimited and their members are the ones asking for this increase because they understand what’s at stake.

The DNR’s Bureau of Fisheries management is tasked with the very time intensive and expensive work of rearing trout and getting them into specially designated waterways to ensure their survival. Citing structural deficits to their funding in the 2023-2025 Biennial Budget, they are now forced to pause their trout and salmon production this year. Although the $5 increase in trout stamp offered by the Governor at the request of anglers wouldn’t go directly to fish rearing, it would however alleviate an already strained budget.

Without this vital work being done - from start to finish - the future of our trout fishing heritage will suffer in Wisconsin due to politics at its worst.

In talking with folks who care deeply about what it means to pass on our sporting heritage, our state government needs to do more to ensure these opportunities exist for the next generation.

Next year when we start the entire budget process again in February, the Inland Waters Trout Stamp fee increase needs to be requested yet again, in addition to allowing the money raised from it to go directly to tireless work of trout stocking. Now that we see the true ramifications playing out from chronically underfunding state agency programs like this, I hope everyone keeps a keen eye on the Joint Finance Committee. After all, no one hears the tree fall in the woods unless someone is listening for 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 highlights the record-breaking gains we are seeing from our tourism industry statewide, which is fueling small businesses in small towns all over Wisconsin, and especially in the Chippewa Valley.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - You know the feeling. The car is loaded up. The cooler is packed. The kids are buckled up and you are backing out of the driveway for that long-awaited vacation. Where are you headed? It doesn’t matter. You’re hitting the road and every moment after that is an adventure filled with new memories with your family. These are the moments during the year we live for, and what better place to go out and play than in our own backyard right here in Wisconsin.

Tourism, and every business associated with it, is not just a boon for our small towns – it creates opportunities for families to reconnect and, if you’re lucky, there are some moments along the way that just might last a lifetime. Whether traveling on a shoe-string or a lavish trip, every dollar spent on Wisconsin tourism makes a big impact for our state.

In fact, Wisconsin has reason to celebrate our tourism yet again. I don’t like getting into the weeds with statistics typically, but I think it’s worth noting some of the key highlights I took away from reading the Department of Tourism economic report (here) for 2023.

While 2022 saw record increases in spending in Wisconsin after COVID put the brakes on our usual travel plans, 2023 came over-the-top and smashed all previous records with over $25 billion (with a B) in revenue. That’s almost 6% more than the prior year and that increase is good news for thousands of workers across the state.

According to the report, tourism alone generated 127,000 jobs across the state and $6.8 billion in income for those workers. Locally, here in Eau Claire County alone, tourism generated $434 million in revenue and 3,851 jobs. That’s a lot of hard-earned cash making a real impact for those hard-working Wisconsinites.

The 2023-25 state budget, approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tony Evers appropriated $34 million to “raise Wisconsin’s profile across the country as a premier business, cultural and recreational destination,” according to the Tourism Department. By my math, a $34 million investment from the state in an industry that generates $25 billion is a fantastic return on investment.

In my official capacity at the Capitol I have the opportunity to learn a lot about tourism being a member of both the Wisconsin Council on Tourism and the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Tourism. I get to see the successes and the challenges our tourism industry faces each year.

Here is western Wisconsin we have plenty of Minnesota people who like to drive the Great River Road and Illinois travelers who make the trek up to our region for fun. There is no shortage of people, but small towns that make our communities unique become stretched to the max supporting festivals and events that draw hundreds of people to towns that serve as home for only a few hundred folks. Fundamentally, it’s the slower pace of these small communities that bring people back again and again, and these communities are the backbone of almost all of our tourism statewide.

Our state must continue supporting the network of cities and towns that fuel our tourism industry and listen to their local elected leaders and business owners to keep identifying ways we can propel this trend moving in the right direction. If you have ideas about ways the state could do more, feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I am always here to learn from you so I can be your voice in the Senate.

Stay safe this summer and be sure to look out for each other on the roads.

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 takes you inside government in Madison, where rhetoric and hypocrisy often cloud real motives and the urgent needs of the people get lost in the shuffle.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - Since 2017, the University of Wisconsin System has been under what we might call a restructuring. It began with integrating the UW 2-year campuses with UW four-year institutions and assigning divisions within UW-Extension to UW-Madison and UW System Administration.

This new arrangement appeared to be a way to stabilize the 2-year campuses until November of 2022 when President Jay Rothman announced the closure of the UW-Platteville at Richland campus. This campus resides in the 17th Senate District which is currently represented by Howard Marklein. Senator Marklein (R-Spring Green) happens to be co-chair of our Joint Committee on Finance. This position made it convenient for Sen. Marklein to slip $20 million for redevelopment of the now closed Richland County campus in the last budget.

Sadly, UW-Platteville at Richland wasn’t the only campus closure in the state so Governor Evers used his veto pen to open up funding for other two-year campuses closing. In short, the governor removed the senseless restrictions on how these funds could be used.

Jumping ahead to 2024, and the Chippewa Valley suffered a terrible blow with sudden, unexpected closures of two hospitals and multiple clinics owned and managed by the HSHS health system. For most of this year, we have been wrestling with the consequences of these closures.

Thankfully, the legislature and Governor Evers repurposed $15 million already slated to be used by HSHS for a new grant program aimed at helping other Chippewa Valley health care companies to meet the needs of our community through this crisis. During this process, Republicans attempted to unnecessarily restrict the use of these funds to only capital costs for emergency rooms, despite numerous pleas for broader use of the funds by providers. Similar to the campus closure case, Governor Evers used his veto pen to remove the restrictions so the funds could be available for more services such as mental health, OBGYN, and more. Again, we see the governor removing senseless restrictions on how these funds can be used.

The governor’s action on the HSHS bill has caused quite a stir among the Republicans who made claims they could not move that money to DHS now since the governor had vetoed their intentions for the money. Senator Marklein, in particular, made comments saying he wished he could do something but he didn’t know how he could move the money along since the governor vetoed their original intentions. I heard this claim in a press conference and on the Senate floor. The chairs of the Finance Committee have refused to accept the Department of Health Services’ 13.10 request for those funds as well as the governor’s pleas to meet and approve this simple request.

Last week, the Joint Committee on Finance met and passed Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s 13.10 Request to Fund Branch Campus Redevelopment Grants. Richland Center’s campus will get their millions of dollars thanks to the finance committee’s action to accept this request. Isn’t it odd how, in this case, there was no whining that a partial veto changed the intent of their original bill?

Senator Marklein didn’t hesitate to move the funds needed in HIS district for economic development, but when faced with almost the exact same financial situation in the Chippewa Valley, he refused and claimed it is an action he cannot take.

You may be tired of hearing about the hospital closures and the $15 million being held up in finance. You may be disgusted and confused by the back and forth between Republicans and Democrats over the money. I don’t blame you. But, you need to know the truth. We can’t let deceitful politicians slide by hoping that you won’t notice when they are pulling a fast one on you. Those of us in the Chippewa Valley can’t, and won’t, let them forget about the healthcare crisis we continue to face.

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 encourages readers to educate themselves before voting on the two constitutional amendments on the low-turnout August Primary ballot.

EAU CLAIRE - If you plan to cast a ballot in the primary election on Tuesday, August 13^th y0u need to know what to expect. Your ballot may not even have a single contested race of candidates for state legislative seats or county offices, but buried at the very end it will for sure have two questions you are expected to answer. Your answers will determine whether our state constitution will be amended to grant even more power to the legislature.

Here are the questions as they appear on your ballot:

QUESTION 1): “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how monies shall be appropriated?”

QUESTION 2): “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

Now I have a question for you. Do you consider yourself fully prepared to answer these questions? If you answered yes, you’ve done some serious homework. If you answered no, you’re not alone. They are meant to be confusing and ambiguous.

The goal of putting this measure at the bottom of the primary ballot is clearly to take full advantage of this being such a low-turnout primary August election. It’s political trickery at its finest and Wisconsin voters need to take a second look before making a knee-jerk decision.

The first question is fairly straightforward in that it would prohibit the legislature from giving up their power, to the Governor specifically, to determine how funds are appropriated.

The first question also sets up the second question which would prohibit the governor from spending federal money without the approval of the legislature (specifically the Joint Committee on Finance).

The current majority Party has been upset since the federal funding allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was spent at the discretion of the governor as was allowed under current law. These emergency funds were meant to be spent quickly to shore up our economy and offer families relief during and after the pandemic.

Wisconsin allocated more than half of its ARPA funds to the economy, which is more than any other state. Funds were also dedicated to healthcare and public safety. Here are examples of how funds were allocated:

Economic Development

·         $1.1 billion, or 55.8% of the total amount received, was allocated to economic development initiatives, including grants to support local businesses and workforce innovation grants to support pandemic-recovery plans like the Main Street Bounce-Back grants and the Workforce Innovation grants.

Healthcare

·         The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) was given access to more than $400 million in ARPA funds to improve Wisconsin health care initiatives, including mental health and substance use disorders, as well as home and community-based services.

Good government groups have come out against these measures to amend our constitution based on their concerns over an unbalance of power. The ability to respond to emergencies like flooding, tornadoes, a bridge collapse or pandemic would definitely be negatively affected by such a radical move these amendments would cause.

In fact, during the pandemic, the Majority Party in the legislature waited more than 8 months to take action. It was disheartening to see a complete lack of leadership during this time period. Conversely, Governor Evers went straight to work and responded immediately with ARPA funds. Emergencies require our elected leaders to act quickly. These constitutional changes will slow down, and may, all together stop our response to unforeseen crises.

Placing constitutional amendments on the ballot during low-turnout August elections is also concerning. Should our constitution be amended by a small percentage of the voters? It’s bad enough that the language is so confusing that voters may mistakenly think they should vote yes without understanding the consequences.

Our legislature is already far too contentious and, if approved, actions like this will only make things worse.

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 encourages readers to take time during the 4th of July festivities to reflect on the privilege we have of living in such a great nation, and the responsibility that comes with it to continue the work of ensuring all American’s are truly free.

EAU CLAIRE - The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate the country we call home. We celebrate with fireworks, burgers, ice cream or show our red, white, and blue colors. Regardless of our specific traditions, we all find unique ways to show our patriotism.

During this time, I can’t help but reflect on the gratitude I have for being an American. We have the freedom to choose our religion, speak freely, to have a free press, the right to assemble and the right to petition our government. These freedoms should not be taken for granted and Independence Day reminds us not only of what it took to create our nation, but the effort it takes for us to keep it in tact. This is especially important to recognize when millions of people dream of entering this country with a glimpse of hope to receive such freedoms.

As fireworks gleam throughout the sky, I think it’s important that we acknowledge how lucky we are as Americans to live in this country. Since the birth of our nation, America has been a beacon of hope. A prominent historical example includes the millions of individuals, all of differing nationalities, who passed through Ellis Island in New York at the chance of starting a new life. Many of those migrants were our ancestors. They longed for a life free of famine, religious persecution, political oppression and economic uncertainty. Although Ellis Island closed 70 years ago, the diversity of our nation enriches our society with unique perspectives and diverse talents that continue to strengthen the fabric of our country today.

The Fourth of July is not only a time to commemorate the past but to also reflect on the present. Independence is an integral part of celebrating this day and is a key aspect of what makes America such a desirable place to live and work. When I think of independence, I also think about how each human deserves the proper legal protection to decide what they do with their bodies, including the right to choose when to start or expand their family. Your government should have no say in making such an important decision in your life, but today it does.

The Roe v. Wade court case was decided in 1973 and was made just two years after the 26th Amendment passed, granting 18 year olds the right to vote. While our country made strides for increasing voting rights and reproductive freedom during this time, we find ourselves struggling with similar issues today. For almost half a century, women had the independence to choose what to do with their bodies. Unfortunately, this was taken away in the summer of 2022.

It has been two years since the Dobbs decision stripped away the fundamental right to choose when and how child bearing citizens start a family. Today, debates on abortion extend much further than whether or not to end a pregnancy. Abortion laws also curtail personal choice, bodily sovereignty and medical freedoms. Within the last two years, a hodgepodge of states have further revoked the right for women to make decisions for their own bodies.

We all understand the importance of freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom to petition the government. We must also understand that bodily freedom is just as important. The freedom to choose when to start or expand a family is an American value that is no longer guaranteed. For your Fourth of July celebrations, I hope you will reflect on our independence and the ways we can expand freedom for all, even in our great nation.

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.