John Nygren
2 0 1 6 L E G I S L AT I V E U P D AT E
STATE REPRESENTATIVE • 89th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
State Representative
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P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708-8952
Nygren
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Permit #56 Stevens Point, WI
Proudly representing the 89th Assembly District.
*****ECRWSS***** Residential Customer
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John Nygren
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Dear Friends and
Rep.Nygren@legis.wisconsin.gov
Farnsworth Public Library 715 Main St Oconto, WI 54153 Friday, April 8th 2-3pm Weyers-Hilliard Branch Library 2680 Riverview Drive Green Bay, WI 54313 Friday, April 8th 4-5pm Stephenson Public Library 1700 Hall Ave Marinette, WI 54143 Monday, April 11th 1-2pm
E-Updates
Periodically I send out an E-update to constituents in the district to keep them informed regarding what is happening in Madison. Oftentimes we feature a section in our E-update asking for your input on a piece of legislation that is circulating throughout the Capitol for co-sponsorship, because we want you to have a voice. If you would like to stay informed please send me an e-mail.
Wisconsin State Capitol Tours
Our State Capitol building in Madison is the best in the nation. It has a rich history and a unique beauty that I encourage everyone to experience on a guided tour. Please let us know when you stop by. We would love to greet you and take a picture.
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We have successfully held the line on taxes. This biennium, there won’t be any property, income, or sales tax increases. We’ve simplified and streamlined the tax code; this is great news for hardworking middle class families across Wisconsin. -- Rep. John Nygren
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LISTENING SESSIONS
ASSEMBLY DIST
RICT
(608) 266-2343 Toll-Free (888) 534 -0089 Rep.Nygren@legis
.wisconsin.gov P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 537 08-8952
Neighbors,
It is an honor an d privilege to serv e as your represen Wisconsin State tative in the Assembly. I find gr eat importance in for your interest my duty to stand s in Madison. W orking across pa passage of impo rty lines has led rtant legislation to the to further streng economy and m then Wisconsin’s aintain a surplus in th e hands of the ha citizens who help ed to create it. rdworking
Phone: (608) 266-2343 Toll Free: (888) 534-0089 Fax: (608) 282-3689
Peshtigo Elementary visits the Capitol!
ENTATIVE • 89th
This legislative se ssion, I served m y second term as Chairman of the the Assembly Joint Finance Co mmittee. In this with fellow legisla role, I worked ha tors and Gov. W rd alker to bring ab fiscally responsib out the passage le state budget. of a We have prioritize held the line on d public educatio taxes, and stream n, lined long-term While the growth care programs. in our state has been strong, we in order to build still have work to on our successes do and ensure Wisc place to live, wor onsin remains a k, and raise a fa good mily. Best Regards,
John Nygren State Representa tive 89th Assembly Di strict
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John Nygren PRIORITIZING THE MIDDLE CLASS I am happy to report that our state’s economy continues to grow at a faster rate than the national average. It’s clear that the conservative, common sense reforms we have passed this session are working. Our unemployment rate has reached a 14-year low; with consistent declining unemployment, Wisconsin is on the right track to economic prosperity. This past budget, we protected the middle class by:
Rep. Nygren took the opportunity to participate in a forestry tour in Wisconsin’s northwoods.
SERVING WISCONSIN’S SENIOR CITIZENS This past session, I continued to defend our state’s seniors and the long-term care community. During the budget process, Governor Walker proposed several changes to Wisconsin’s long-term care programs that would have drastically affected our elderly populations. The proposed budget would have eliminated SeniorCare, a program that many elderly Wisconsinites use to get affordable prescription drugs. My Republican colleagues and I voted to protect SeniorCare, ensuring that the program was held harmless and those who need the program are able to continue to utilize it. I am proud of the work that we accomplished this past session and budget to continue protecting our states most vulnerable citizens.
• Holding the line on property taxes. Property taxes on a median-valued home in Wisconsin were $116 lower this past year than they were in 2010. Over the past five years, that homeowner saved $1,227 from where property taxes were headed versus how they’ve gone down under our reforms collectively between 2010 and 2015. • Decreasing income taxes. A median income family will see a four-year income tax reduction of $916. • Simplifying our state’s tax code. • Investing over $200 million in public education over the biennium. • Continuing the UW System tuition freeze to ensure that tuition will remain at the current level for the next two years. • Funding Medicaid at cost-to-continue. • Helping reduce Medical Assistance and FoodShare fraud in cases where the fraud is proven intentional. • Continuing the Department of Natural Resources’ land acquisition through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program at a more conservative level.
This session, I’ve offered ten additional bills as a continuation of the HOPE Agenda. Instead of focusing on heroin, the bills we’ve worked on this session target the root of Wisconsin’s epidemic: prescription drug abuse and addiction. In the majority of cases, heroin addiction begins with an addiction to prescription medications. Whether these medications are obtained legally or not, we need to do our best to curtail the illegal use of these dangerous substances. The bills approved this session will help fund treatment and diversion programs, increase Wisconsinites’ access to opioid treatment, and help bring law enforcement and the medical community together to stop addiction before it begins. We have given the appropriate medical boards the tools to issue best practices guidelines for prescribing opioids, and we have implemented quarterly evaluations of our state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to ensure it’s working properly. As I’ve said many times before, these proposals do not make up the silver bullet that will solve Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic. There is much more work to be done; this problem has impacted every community in our state and every state in our nation. With that said, I’m proud that Wisconsin is being proactive in combating this devastating issue. We have been ahead of the curve with many of the HOPE Agenda proposals, and I look forward to seeing the good that comes from this important legislative package in the future.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS TO A 14-YEAR LOW
Rep. Nygren touring the Waupaca Foundry in Marinette.
HOPE
Last session, I introduced seven bills that laid the foundation for the Heroin, AGENDA Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda. These bills focused on combating Wisconsin’s heroin epidemic and Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education were passed unanimously by both Houses of the Legislature. Governor Walker signed all seven original HOPE Agenda bills into law in April, 2014.
“ Co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee at the 2015 Right Women Awards.
MARINETTE COUNTY DRUG COURT SUCCESS
A SESSION FOR HOPE
9%
4.8% 4.8%
2005
2006
8.3%
7.6%
7%
2008
5.3%
2009
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2012
The Marinette County Treatment Drug Court has been structured as a multilevel system consisting of three distinct step-by-step phases and an exit phase. Since the Marinette County Treatment Drug Court began, it has become a successful tool in our community promoting the fight against prescription opioid and heroin addiction. People in the program have made great strides in their lives and have become committed to sobriety. Today, there are 15 participants enrolled in the drug court. All of the participants have been successful in complying with what they’re asked to do as part of the program, including maintaining their sobriety. Four of the participants are in Phase 2, another participant is in Phase 3, and there is one individual currently enrolled who has made it to the Exit Phase. What’s more, seven of the participants are working at good paying, steady jobs in the community. The data behind the Marinette County Treatment Drug Court clearly shows that this model is working, and I look forward to seeing more participants succeed in the future. Special thanks to Judge Jim Morrison, Sara Plansky-Pecor, and all who have volunteered their time to help make the Marinette County Treatment Drug Court a success. There is no doubt that your work is making an important difference in our community.
6.5%
5% 5.2%
2007
In April of 2013, officials in and around Marinette began planning the first stages of what is now the Marinette County Treatment Drug Court. A little more than a year later, the first participant was admitted into the program. The goal of the program is to provide a court supervised, multifaceted method for people who are addicted to illegal drugs. This model enhances public safety, holds offenders accountable, reduces costs to the community, and transforms participants into positive, contributing members of the community.
2013
2014
4.3%
2015
Rep. Nygren speaking on the Assembly Floor.
With the implementation of this session’s HOPE Agenda bills, it’s my hope that we can stop addiction before it begins, offer people addicted to opioids the help they need in lieu of incarceration, and gather information that will help us make informed decisions regarding addiction in the future. -- Rep. John Nygren
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State Representative