E-Update February 17, 2023
Thank you for reading my e-update. I will be joining Doug Rodgers on WTCH Radio’s Breakfast Club in Shawano on Monday, February 20th at 8AM. We will be talking about the work I have been doing on behalf of constituents for the 6th Assembly District.
Please tune in on 960 AM, 96.1 FM, or online by clicking here: http://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3881/ .
Blessings on your week.
Representative Schmidt
State Budget Address
On Wednesday, Governor Evers delivered his budget address to a joint-session of the state legislature. Some of my big takeaways:
- Governor Evers is calling for $2.6 billion in additional funding for K-12 public school education
- 20% of the state’s 5% sales tax revenue for aid to local governments
- $290 million to the Milwaukee Brewers for repairs to American Family Field in exchange for extending their lease to 2043
- Requiring the State Department of Transportation to automatically register people to vote with information they have on file
- Expand background checks for firearm purchases to include private sales
Budget negotiations over the next few months will be critical in making sure Wisconsin is moving in the right direction.
District Outreach
On Thursday I battled the snow storm from Madison to Waupaca to attend the Waupaca County Unit Meeting in person. Town officials from Waupaca County were on hand. Karl Green of UW Extension Local Government Education spoke on local government financing. The percentage of WI State Sales tax shared with local governments and levy limits were discussed with town officials.
Constituent Meetings
Meeting with individual constituents is an important priority to me in District 6. If you would like to meet with me, please reach out to my office toll-free at
1-888-529-0006, or email rep.schmidt@legis.wisconsin.gov.
Under the Dome
I met with occupational therapists to talk about the struggle with licensing issues at the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Wisconsin has one of the longest average processing time-frames in the United States for Occupational Therapy licenses. I signed on as a co-sponsor of a bill that will allow for a third-party to process applications for the licensure of occupational therapists and speed up the process.
I also met with Brad Boycks of the Wisconsin Builders Association in my Capitol office.
We talked about the housing shortage and the lack of starter homes available in the current housing market. We also discussed: expanding construction apprenticeship opportunities, a revolving loan program to pay for the remodeling of single family workforce homes, and limiting changes to the state commercial and single-family building code.
On Tuesday I met with Tim Hoven of Hoven Consulting. Among the topics we discussed were nuclear power and the Public Service Commission’s regulations relating to nuclear power plants in Wisconsin, wind and solar farms, and parity on personal property taxes. We also talked about expanding access to health care and increasing the family physician workforce.
I sat down with members of the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to discuss their role helping Wisconsin consumers. OCI regulates the insurance market of Wisconsin with over 2,000 insurance companies and over 176,000 agents licensed to do business in the state. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance was created by the legislature in 1870. In 2021, OCI investigated and resolved 2,467 written complaints and answered over 11,000 telephone inquiries, with $6.8 million recovered for Wisconsin consumers.
If you have an insurance complaint or question, you can call OCI at 1-800-236-8517, or visit www.oci.wi.gov .
Local Events
Save the Date! Rep. Schmidt live on WTCH
Representative Schmidt will join the Breakfast Club on WTCH radio on Monday, February 20th at 8AM. He will join host Doug Rodgers to talk about the work he is doing at the Capitol and in the district. WTCH Radio originates from Shawano, WI.
Listen on 960 AM, 96.1 FM, and online by clicking here: http://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3881/
Home Show
The WRBA Home Show
Hillcrest Primary School
1410 S Waukechon St, Shawano
Saturday Feb 18 and Sunday Feb 19, 9 AM-3 PM
Click here for more information.
Sunny Sweeney performing live in Wittenberg
The Auditorium at Wittenberg-Birnamwood High
Sunday February 19th, 4PM
Click here for more information.
31st Annual Cerebral Palsy Benefit Sporting Clay Fundraiser
Raffles, Packer items, prizes and food available
Saturday Feb 25, 8 AM-3 PM
J&H Game Farm
W5810 J&H Rd, Shiocton
Call 715-758-8134 or