Wednesday February 12, 2025

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Unpacking the Funding Gap

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 25 September 2024
in Wisconsin

teaching-studentsSenator 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.

back-to-schoolThis 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.

jeff-smithOn 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.

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Harm Reduction Kiosks Save Lives

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 18 September 2024
in Wisconsin

harm-reduction-vendingSenator 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.

eau-claire-co-jailSince 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.

opioid-overdoseBetween 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.

jeff-smithI 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.

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The Risks of Vaping

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 11 September 2024
in Wisconsin

drugaddicts-youngSenator Smith writes about the public health risks of vaping and ways our state government needs to do more on this issue, including banning flavored e-cigarettes.


EAU CLAIRE, WI - Vaping has rapidly emerged as a significant public health crisis, especially among young people. Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, vaping is now known to pose serious health risks. As evidence of these dangers mounts, the Wisconsin state government has a responsibility to take more meaningful actions to protect public health.

Public Health Risks

In 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reported that the substances in e-cigarettes, like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, were toxic to users, and led to youths choosing to start smoking traditional tobacco.  During a severe outbreak in 2019, the American Medical Association linked more than 2,000 lung illnesses and over 40 deaths to e-cigarette usage.

drugs-vapingEqually troubling are the dangers posed to non-users. Secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, contain harmful substances like nicotine, diacetyl (linked to serious lung diseases), benzene (a carcinogen) and heavy metals like lead. These emissions, inhaled by anyone in the vicinity of the vaper, create a public health risk—particularly for children, pregnant women and those with preexisting respiratory conditions.

Impact on Youth

The rise in vaping among young people is particularly alarming. The same National Academies’ report found that youth who use e-cigarettes are at higher risk for respiratory issues like coughing, wheezing and asthma attacks. Nicotine is highly addictive and early exposure to nicotine can also increase the likelihood of addiction to traditional cigarettes or other harmful substances.

Flavored e-cigarettes also play a major role in attracting teens as the fruity, mint and candy taste masks the harshness of nicotine, making it easier to start vaping. The 2022 Wisconsin Tobacco Youth Survey found that 92 percent of Wisconsin high schoolers say they would not use unflavored tobacco products. While some states have implemented flavor restrictions, Wisconsin has yet to take significant action on this front.

Wisconsin’s Legislative Response

While other states have moved to limit vaping, Wisconsin's response has been slower. As of 2024, 19 states (and the District of Columbia) have laws banning e-cigarette use in indoor public spaces like restaurants, bars and workplaces. Wisconsin currently has no statewide restrictions on indoor vaping to protect non-users from secondhand emissions.

In Wisconsin, just last year, Senate Bill 268 was passed into law to require retailers who sell electronic vaping devices to obtain a cigarette and tobacco products retailer license. Several amendments to strengthen the bill failed, but it thankfully passed into law as Wisconsin Act 73 on December 7, 2023.

jeff-smithThis law will help control who gets to sell vaping products, and it ensures that sellers are adhering to age restrictions, reducing the likelihood that minors can easily purchase vaping products. This is a good first step toward prevention, but more can be done to protect our public health.

Wisconsin should do more for prevention efforts. We should follow the lead of states like Minnesota and enact excise taxes on vaping products to discourage use, particularly among young people. Other measures should include removing flavored e-cigarettes from the market and banning the sale of all vaping products that are not approved by the FDA.

The health risks of vaping are undeniable, and the impact on Wisconsin’s youth is particularly troubling, and it’s clear that vaping is not the “safe” alternative it was once thought to be.

The Wisconsin state legislature must act swiftly to implement stricter regulations on sales, taxes and public vaping to protect our youth and the wider public. Addressing this issue now is crucial to protecting our kids and keeping them healthy.


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.

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In Vitro Fertilization, Family and Politics

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 04 September 2024
in Wisconsin

women-health-ivfSenator Smith writes about the difficulty couples face when trying to plan a family and making the costly decision to pursue In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a solution for infertility.


EAU CLAIRE, WI - Raising children is expensive, and solving infertility can be a fortune. Couples trying to conceive experience the joy of a positive pregnancy test and the horrendous heartbreak of miscarriage. Before long, they turn to medical professionals for help.

Each person may try a lot of different things like changing diet, taking supplements, working on their timing, or they may get to the point when the conversation about IVF (in vitro fertilization) comes up as a potential solution.

What usually starts as a conversation with a doctor can quickly turn into a discussion with a financial planner. The price tag for each IVF treatment is close to $15,000 with no guarantees. I’ve heard about families who have gone through this procedure two or three times before having success. For most though, just the opportunity to try IVF costs too much to consider.

Couples shouldn’t have to take out a loan or a second mortgage to have a child. Families that have the resources to care for their children are good for our society. As with most questions about what is good for society, so goes the conversation in politics.

roe-v-wade-decisionUnfortunately political hurdles are happening for IVF. Following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Roe v Wade decision in 2022, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled back in February that frozen embryos can be considered “unborn children.” Often excess frozen embryos are disposed of after a couple’s treatment is completed. Clinics around the country are starting to fear a future where they could be accused of murder. The combination of these two court decisions have caused many fertility clinics in Alabama to stop providing IVF altogether.

What should be a conversation between partners earnestly finding a solution has turned into a liability for them due to politics. Couples desperate for starting a family may have no other option than intensive fertility treatments such as IVF, and now that option is being threatened by reckless court decisions that are out of touch with the reality of thousands of Americans who are trying to start a family.

Republicans have stressed that they support IVF treatment, but then fail to have the courage to introduce legislation to protect it. If politicians are asked about IVF from either party, the vast majority will express support for the procedure. So what stops lawmakers from solving this important issue?

mitch-mcconnellOnce again the answer is politics. Democrats in Wisconsin and in Washington have introduced legislation to help families with the cost of IVF treatments, but Republicans ignored all attempts. In the meantime, couples are left with heartbreak when science has provided a clear path to resolution.

jeff-smithThis is one time when Republicans must be willing to work with Democrats. It will take bipartisan agreement to put politics aside and do right for families. It’s an election year though and lines are being drawn. At a recent parade, I was walking with other Democrats and it was disheartening to see a Republican voter who wouldn’t let his child take candy from a woman offering it because she was walking with Democrats. “Not from you,” he said.

It doesn’t matter which political party you are a part of. Our kids deserve the best from us. It starts with politicians and it ends with people. As the election draws closer, there’s no doubt rancorous partisanship will reach a fever pitch, but when it comes to the hope of a new family, we must set differences aside and work together.


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.

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Labor Stats Reveal Gaps

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 28 August 2024
in Wisconsin

working-poorAhead of our Labor Day celebrations, Sen. Smith highlights the glaringly obvious gap between our legal minimum wage and what we all know it takes to make ends meet – a living wage.


EAU CLAIRE, WI - We all know that Wisconsin’s minimum wage is stuck in the last century. I mean, who can actually afford to live on $7.25 an hour? That’s $1,160 a month at 40 hours a week, which is hardly enough to pay for groceries, let alone rent. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, an actual living wage in Wisconsin for a single adult without children is $20.22.

The last time we saw a bump in the Wisconsin minimum wage was in 2007. In the next year, the federal government increased the minimum wage again by only another 75 cents, outpacing Wisconsin’s increase the year before. That was 16 years ago folks, and counting.

For over 30 years I ran the window cleaning business my father started after he got back from World War II, so I know a thing or two about hard work. Most of all, I learned that paying people a fair wage is more about showing respect for the people who give their time to make your business run. People deserve a living wage, and our state is woefully behind the trend.

working-poor-hurtsAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage in Wisconsin is $22.18 an hour, but one in five Wisconsinites still work for less than $12 an hour. Clearly, our minimum wage is not a viable living wage. Employers are willing to pay more to attract workers, but keeping our minimum wage in step with a living wage provides a backstop for workers and a reality facing Wisconsin employers.

Perhaps the answer has something to do with the makeup of our legislature. Perhaps Republicans in the majority do not support labor in Wisconsin as much as they let on.

How about new laws for workers’ rights to organize a union and address safety concerns in the workplace? According to AFL-CIO’s Death on the Job report, workplace hazards killed or disabled more than 100,000 workers nationwide in 2019. Of those work-related incidents, 5,333 died while on the job. Last year alone, 62 workers died on the job in Wisconsin. Shouldn’t more be done to make work safer for everyone?

jeff-smithLast week I had the opportunity to address the AFL-CIO’s annual conference, and I was proud to celebrate my 100% voting record on pro-labor bills during the last legislative session. Our Democratic Senate Caucus has an excellent voting record overall because we recognize and appreciate every time we get the chance to vote for workers’ rights and improve the conditions for workers from all walks of life.

Even though it was over 13 years ago now, it feels like yesterday when I joined the thousands of concerned citizens at the Capitol to protest the signing of Act 10 into law. At the same time, Republicans enshrined their gerrymandered map locking in a majority in both the Assembly and Senate ever since. Is it any wonder, then, why we haven’t raised our living wage in Wisconsin?

As we take some much-needed time off this coming Labor Day, I hope you will consider finding a brief moment of gratitude in your busy weekend for all of the great labor accomplishments and workers in our state. They fought to create this holiday and make the 40-hour work week a reality. I know I will.

And as soon as our next legislative session starts back up in January, I look forward to making sure others join me in a 100% voting record on behalf of the workers in our state.


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.

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