Action needed: UWEC Science Building

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee is the next critical decision point for the proposed UWEC Science Building.  After completing their statewide series of hearings in April, they began meeting on May 8 to craft the budget that will be sent to Governor Evers in a few weeks. Although the Governor proposed including this project in his capital budget request, it's now up to the Legislature to decide what stays in and what comes out.

What you can do:
Send an e-mail or call the offices of each of the sixteen members of the Joint Finance Committee to help emphasize the strong Chippewa Valley business support for this project. (You can write the same e-mail language, but send it separately to each member and not as a group e-mail. See below for the list and priority.) If possible, send it as a representative of your organization. If that's not possible, personal e-mails will also be helpful.

What to say: 
Keep it short. The most important thing is to convey your support for a new Science and Health Sciences Building at UW Eau Claire. Then cite, in your own words, just one or two reasons you think it's important. Those could include things like:
 • Phillips Hall is outdated and desperately needs to be replaced to meet the needs for today's sciences.
 • The research partnership with Mayo Clinic opens the door to collaboration and innovation.
 • It's a critical opportunity to meet health care and medical workforce needs for all of northwest Wisconsin.
 • It builds upon UWEC's undergraduate research reputation to enhance its growing standing as a premier national institution for medical sciences.
 • It's a valuable public-private partnership that will have a strong ROI for the state and the region.

Do it now: As their deliberations get underway, it's important to get our communications to them within the next few days. 

Who to contact: 

First priority
It's important for the the two Co-Chairs of Joint Finance to hear from as many business people as possible

​Sen. Alberta Darling  [R] 
Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-5830

​Rep. John Nygren [R] 
Rep.Nygren@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2343

Next priority
We have one JFC member from western Wisconsin, Shannon Zimmerman from River Falls. It's important for him to hear from people in our region. If you're inclined, a phone call to his office would be especially helpful:

Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R)
Rep.Zimmerman@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-1526

Next priority
Here are the remaining members of the Joint Finance Committee. Please contact them if you can, as well:

Sen. Luther Olsen (R)
Sen.Olsen@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0751

​Sen. Tom Tiffany (R)
Sen.Tiffany@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2509

Sen. Howard Marklein (R)
Sen.Marklein@legis.wi.gov
(608) 266-0703

Sen. Duey Stroebel (R)
Sen.Stroebel@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-7513

Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R)
Sen.LeMahieu@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2056

Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D)
Sen.Erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-6670

Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D)
Sen.Johnson@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2500

Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R)
Rep.Loudenbeck@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-9967

Rep. Mark Born (R)
Rep.Born@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2540

Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R)
Rep.Rohrkaste@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-5719

Rep. Terry Katsma (R)
Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0656

Rep. Chris Taylor (D)
Rep.Taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 282-3676

Rep. Evan Goyke (D)
Rep.Goyke@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0645

Finally
If you have occasion to thank our local Senators and Representatives for supporting the project, please do so!
Senators Kathy Bernier and Jeff Smith; Representatives Jodi Emerson, Jesse James, Romaine Quinn, Warren Petryk, Treig Pronschinske, and Rob Summerfield,.

Posted by Scott Rogers, Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director
rogers@eauclairechamber.org