Joe SanfelippoJoe Sanfelippo 2 0 1 7 L E G I S L AT I V E R E P O R T

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P.O. Box 8953Madison, WI 53708-8953

STATE REPRESENTATIVE • 15th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Phone: (608) 266-0620Toll Free: (888) 534-0015Fax: (608) 282-3615

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2017-18 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

• Health, Chairman• Campaigns and Elections, Vice-Chairman• Financial Institutions• Urban Revitalization• Transportation• Mental Health

Address:State Capitol, Room 306 NorthP.O. Box 8953Madison, WI 53708-8953

Joe SanfelippoSTATE REPRESENTATIVE • 15th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

(608) 266-0620Toll-Free (888) 534-0015

Rep.Sanfelippo@legis.wi.govRepSanfelippo.com P.O. Box 8953Madison, WI 53708-8953

15 th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Joe receives a “Friend of Grocers” award at Rupena’s Fine Food in West Allis.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAY IN HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS:Your active participation in the legislative process is extremely important. That involvement helps ensureI represent our district’s best interests to the greatest extent possible. Listed below are some tools to become engaged in legislative operations:

A Citizen’s Guide to Participation in the Wisconsin State Legislature: legis.wisconsin.gov/pages/cg/cgcover.aspx

Wisconsin Legislative Notification Service:notify.legis.wisconsin.gov

If you do not have access to the internet and would like more information on these programs, please call my office at (888) 534-0015.

My spring budget survey is available online. Please visit RepSanfelippo.com.

Free tours of the state Capitol are offered Monday through Saturday at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and on Sundays at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Groups of 10 or more are urged to make a tour reservation by visiting tours.wisconsin.gov/pub/Reservations or calling (608) 266-0382. I encourage you to stop by my office at Room 306 North if you find yourself at the Capitol. You can schedule a visit by calling (888) 534-0015. My spring newsletter is available online. If you would like a copy mailed to your home please contact my office.

Joe visited with Poplar Creek Elementary School of New Berlin as they toured the Capitol.

HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS:

CONSUMER PROTECTIONWisconsin Do Not Call Registry …....… (888) 382-1222Consumer Protection Hotline …....….. (800) 422-7128Better Business Bureau …………....…. (800) 273-1002

FAMILIES/VETERANSEdVest College Savings Hotline …...… (888) 338-3789Department of Veterans Affairs ......... (800) 947-8387

BUSINESSOffice of Business Development ......… (608) 267-7873Small Business Development Center.... (800) 940-7232

SAFETYCrime Victim Center …………….…… (800) 446-6564Arson Hotline ……………………..….. (800) 362-3005Travel Information ………………….……………… 511

HEALTHSeniorCare ……….……………………. (800) 657-2038Wisconsin ForwardHealth …….…….. (800) 362-3002Medicare ………………………………. (800) 633-4227

STATE GOVERNMENTState Legislative Hotline ………..…… (800) 362-9472My Toll-Free Number in Madison ….. (888) 534-0015

Joe attended the annual National Night out in West Allis.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,It has been an honor to serve as your representative in the 15th Assembly District for the past four years.During that time, we’ve worked together to pass laws that improve the quality of life of all the members in our community. Despite our successes, our work is not done. We must keep an eye to the future so we can be proactive instead of reactive.Keeping that in mind, throughout the past year, I have worked together with community members to gather ideas for bills for the current legislative session. I heard everyone loud and clear, and as a result, I have authored bills that focus on enhancing public safety, cutting government red tape, and making the state government more accountable and effective. As always, my door remains open, and I encourage you to contact me with any ideas you have to keep moving Wisconsin forward. I look forward to hearing from you, and I appreciate that you continue to put your trust in me as your representative in state government.

Sincerely,

Joe SanfelippoState Representative15th Assembly District

WI State Representative JOE SANFELIPPO

State Representative

2017-19 LEGISLATIONn DPI REFORM Parents and local school districts know the needs of their students better than bureaucrats in Madison.

That’s why I have introduced a bill that would shrink the bloated overhead at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and shifts those savings to local school districts.

Under the proposed legislation, local school boards and administrators would be able to use the finances to address their local needs.

The bill also allows educators to focus more on teaching their students by not having to jump through as many hoops complying with excessive regulatory and administrative burdens from the state.

15 th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

n AUTO INSURANCE Wisconsin residents should not have to fear for their safety whenever they get behind the wheel.

To address this concern, I introduced a bill which makes the current law for driving without liability insurance more enforceable. Liability insurance has been required under state law since 2009.

I will also be circulating a bill that requires the impoundment of vehicles involved in offenses for operating without a license, operating after revocation or operating while suspended.

When added together, these two bills are expected to make great strides in protecting Wisconsinites on the road.

n OPIOID ABUSE In early 2017, Gov. Walker created a Task Force on Opioid Abuse to fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic in Wisconsin. The special session bills focus on increasing drug treatment options and would provide funding for opioid treatment programs in high-need areas.

This will build on the Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (H.O.P.E.) agenda led by Rep. John Nygren.

n MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND ENROLLMENT HISTORY (According to the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau)

• The average monthly enrollment in medical assistance programs has jumped from 860,201 in 2009 to 1.1 million in 2016, an increase of close to 245,000 citizens.• The average monthly enrollment of the elderly, blind and disabled has gone up by nearly 41,000 residents since 2009.• Wisconsin is expected to see an increase of $32 million in 2016 and is projected to increase by $207 million in fiscal 2017.• The United Health Foundation has ranked Wisconsin as having the 15th best health in the country for women and children.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE EXPENDITURES

2008 - 2009 2009 - 2010 2010 - 2011 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 2013 - 2014 2014 - 2015

$5,944,852,900

$7,181,737,800

$6,696,148,000 $6,597,155,100

$7,187,728,600

Joe SanfelippoJoe Sanfelippo‘n ROOM TAX (MUNICIPALITIES)Not all municipalities in Wisconsin are tourist destinations.

In the previous legislative session, changes were made that required a larger proportion of hotel room tax revenue to be designated for tourism promotion and tourism development.

My proposed legislation would permit municipalities that impose a room tax to spend any amount set aside for tourism on economic development related to tourism as well.

n PUBLIC SAFETY Providing public safety is the top priority of the state government. Between 2011 and 2015, arrests in Wisconsin decreased by 20%. However, violent crimes have risen during this same period.

For too long, the criminal justice system has placed an emphasis on offenders rather than victims. Many criminals who commit violent crimes are repeat offenders. Of the 7,689 individuals released from prison in 2011, 31.4% committed a new crime by 2014. Simply stated, one out of every three people released from prison commits a new crime, resulting in more victims.

It is imperative we improve our ability to differentiate between low-risk offenders and those criminals who terrorize our neighborhoods. We must not neglect to concede that our failure to imprison those who pose great risk to the public often leads to more victims.

To combat this, I am working with Sen. Vukmir on a package of bills called the Victim Prevention Package which aims to keep repeat offenders off the streets.

n 2017-19 BUDGET In early 2017, the governor unveiled his proposed budget for the 2017-19 biennium. For the next few months, I look forward to working with my colleagues to work on the governor’s budget recommendations. Here are a few highlights I would like to share with you.

With the state’s improved financial standing, the governor’s budget proposes increased spending in many programs such as education and Medicaid.

The governor is looking to invest more money towards K-12 education. Specifically, we are looking to increase per-pupil categorical aid for a total of $509 biennially. For higher education, Gov. Walker proposed a tuition cut of 5% at UW institutions across Wisconsin.

I was also pleased to see an income tax cut for working class families. With state revenues increasing, I’d like to see that money go back to you – the taxpayers. The governor’s proposed budget plans to lower the tax burden and cut property taxes all home owners.

Safe roads are crucial for quality of life and the economy. We must keep all options on the table to fund the Department of Transportation. Tax cuts and reform is needed to fix the safety and economic issues that exist in our transportation program. I am looking at ways to make the Department of Transportation more efficient and more accountable before discussing other options for increased spending to maintain our transportation infastructure.

For a complete list of laws passed this session, please visit: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017

To view all the bills authored by Rep. Sanfelippo, please visit: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/legislators/assembly/1606

n UNEMPLOYMENT AND JOBS (According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• Wisconsin’s unemployment rate of 4 percent in December 2016 was the lowest monthly rate since February 2001.• Approximately 96,000 job openings were listed on jobcenterwisconsin.com as of March 2017.• Wisconsin was one of only 10 states with an annual average unemployment rate in 2015 lower than 2007, the year that the Great Recession began as of March 2017.• Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate outpaces the national rate by 5.6 percentage points as of November 2016.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

4.8% 4.8% 5% 5.2%

9%8.3%

7.6%7% 6.5%

5.3%4.2%

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS TO A 15-YEAR LOW

45.8%Education

13.6%

Shared Revenue & Tax Relief

33.3%

Human Relations and Resources

7.3%Other

howA breakdown of

each tax dollarmay be spent

Budget2017-2019

$8,527,039,900

$8,070,143,100

Gov. Walker and Joe visit School District of New Berlin.

Joe visited with the ’16-’17 state champs, Heritage Christian School Robotics team of New Berlin.

2016

4.0%