Progressive Thinking

Senator Smith encourages everyone to find ways to support our young learners as they head back into the classroom.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - As summer fades away and the new academic year begins, the ritual of going back to school takes on renewed importance. I remember growing up and feeling the flutter of anxiety as I gathered everything I needed to head back to school.  Seeing “old” friends or the thought of getting to make new ones, or getting new clothes to wear and figuring out what to eat for lunch. That can be a lot for young learners and it’s important we do all we can to support them.

For students, it’s a season of new beginnings, fresh challenges and endless possibilities. For adults—be they parents, guardians, or community members—this is a great time to reflect on how we might do more to contribute to the success of our students.

Going back to school is a chance for each student to start anew and reimagine what’s possible in the year ahead. The reality is that we are all responsible for fostering social growth, emotional resilience and life-long learning skills. Adults play a crucial role in this process, and their support can make the difference between a student merely surviving the school year and truly thriving.

How kids get back to school is more than just an academic exercise. It’s an essential part of a young person’s development. Our schools create structured opportunities for students to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration—skills that are vital in today’s world.

On the other hand, the challenges that come with returning to school can be overwhelming for some students. The transition from summer break to the structured environment of the classroom can be jarring. Students may feel anxious about academic pressures, social dynamics and extracurricular commitments they face. This is where adult support becomes so important. By actively engaging in their children’s education, adults can provide the stability, encouragement and guidance students need to navigate these challenges successfully.

In addition to these direct forms of support, adults can also contribute to student success by being involved in the broader school community. Volunteering at school events, participating in parent-teacher associations, or simply attending school meetings are all ways to demonstrate a commitment to education. Such involvement sends a powerful message to students that their education is important and adults around them are invested in their success.

Moreover, adults can support student success by establishing routines to promote good study habits. This includes setting aside specific times for homework, ensuring children have a quiet and comfortable place to study, and encouraging regular reading. Consistent routines help students develop discipline and time management skills, which are essential for academic success. Adults should also be mindful of the need for balance, ensuring that students have time for physical activity, social interactions, and rest, all of which contribute to overall well-being.

Parents shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to teachers to discuss their child’s progress, seek advice or to collaborate on strategies to support their learning. Similarly, students should be encouraged to speak up about their concerns, whether they are struggling with a particular subject, feeling overwhelmed by their workload or facing social challenges at school. When adults listen to students and take their concerns seriously, they help create an environment where students feel valued and supported.

Here are just a few ways you can help support our schools:

·         Adopt-a-Backpack for an Eau Claire Area School District student in need by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 715-852-3000.

·         Donate to the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation Ways to Give | Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation (ecpsfound.org)

·         Donate to the CFAUSD Foundation CFAUSD Foundation (cfausd-foundation.com).

·         Donate to Menomonie School Angel Fund Angel Fund - School District of the Menomonie Area (sdmaonline.com).

As the new school year begins, let's remember that the journey of education is not one that students should undertake alone. We can all find a way to support students in our community to help them navigate the challenges ahead and seize the opportunities that come with going back to school. How about you?  What can you do this year to help a student in your life?

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 reminds voters to do their civic duty and cast their ballots in the upcoming Primary Election next Tuesday, August 13.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - Voting is just like exercise. The more you do it, the stronger you become. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the importance of participating in elections, especially in the upcoming Primary Election happening next week on Tuesday, August 13. Yet, voting is not just a civic duty. It’s a fundamental right that underpins the very essence of our democracy.

Primary elections often don’t receive the same attention or turnout as general elections, but they play a critical role in the democratic process. Participating in primary elections is essential for many reasons, especially for the August 13^th election because citizens will be voting on two constitutional changes. Primary elections also reflect a wider array of opinions and increases the legitimacy of the candidates selected for the general election.

These often overlooked elections also serve as a critical juncture for ensuring representative governance. In many districts, particularly those that are heavily skewed toward one party or another, the primary election effectively determines the winner of the general election. In such cases, the primary election is the most important opportunity for voters to influence who will represent them. By casting your vote, you help ensure that the elected officials who represent you truly reflect your preferences and values. Intra-party competition also allows voters to evaluate the performance of incumbents and decide whether they deserve another term.

It’s also worth pointing out that even though the primary election is only six days away, you still have until tomorrow’s August 8^th deadline to request your absentee ballot for this election and the upcoming general election in November. Acting today will help you get your ballot in time and make your choices from the comfort of your own home.

After requesting your ballot, you will receive your absentee ballot in the mail, but since we are 6 days away from the election, the best bet is to drop off your ballot to your municipal clerk’s office before 5pm on Friday, or you can drop off your completed absentee ballot at your polling location on Tuesday until 8pm.

Requesting your absentee ballot now will also ensure you receive it well in advance of the general election happening on November 5^th. It’s important to note that even if you signed up for an absentee ballot last year, you’ll have to sign up again every year after to get your ballot. If you moved, you will have to re-register, but it isn’t something you have to do every time you vote.

The best resource for understanding how to vote and making sure you know when the election is, where you vote, how to register and what’s on your ballot is to use the www.myvote.wi.gov website.

Despite continual court challenges and laws designed to limit voting, we must make our voices heard, even in the primary election. It’s not about politics, it’s about our civic duty to participate in democracy. It’s what makes our country great. Each citizen has the right, and the duty, to vote in every election.

Don’t forget to vote all the way down your ballot too. Learning about state and local candidates is just as important as your pick for US Senate or Congress. If you don’t know who is running locally or what their stances are, just ask your friends or look them up online.

If you ever have any questions about voting changes or need to know how to register to vote or request your ballot, my office is ready to assist you. Just email us at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or give us a call at 608-266-8546. Feel free to also contact the Wisconsin Elections Commission with any election related question by calling them at 608-266-8005.

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 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.