Sen. Robert Jauch

     
Senator Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Milroy (D-Superior) jointly praised the Department of Natural Resources final ballast water permit that creates new rules to reduce the spread of invasive species. The two Lake Superior lawmakers have been working with the DNR since March to set higher ballast water standards that will protect Great Lakes waters while enabling Wisconsin harbors to compete for commercial shipping.

     Governor Doyle signed two bills today authored by Senator Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Sherman (D-Port Wing) that will protect Ashland taxpayers and support a local Iron River business. The Legislation will establish a surcharge to recover cost of after hours ferry transport of arrested individuals and the second will allow a local golf course to be issued a liquor license to enable it to grow its business.

     
“Sweeping reforms in child welfare and child care signed into law today by Governor Doyle will enable Wisconsin to better serve children and help root out fraud," State Senator Bob Jauch (D.Poplar) said. Jauch, the Senate author of the bills, called the occasion the "culmination of a year's work to shine a light on needed changes to programs that serve families."

     
Today the State Legislature adopted major reform aimed at eliminating fraud and abuse and restoring integrity in the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and State Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee), authors of the legislation, praised their colleagues for approving strong and effective legislation aimed at targeting abuse and improving regulation of child care providers.

     Northern Wisconsin Legislators Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) are authoring a bill to provide greater flexibility to school boards to make difficult budgetary cuts without threatening longer term funding options. The bill is an effort to maximize the funding tools available to school districts facing difficult funding decisions.

     Important invasive species legislation authored by Senate Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Nick Milroy (D-Superior) passed the legislature yesterday evening. The comprehensive legislation strengthens enforcement of restrictions on the transportation of aquatic invasive species.

      Today Wisconsin took another important step to reduce the amount of toxic Mercury in the environment. The Wisconsin Assembly and Senate approved legislation to ban the sale of certain products containing mercury. The bill, authored by Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau), is a practical measure to significantly reduce environmental contamination by an element that threatens our resources and public health.

     State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Gary Sherman (D–Port Wing) joined Governor Doyle and Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary Karen Timberlake in grand opening ceremonies for the Lakes Community Health Center Dental Clinic in Ashland. The two lawmakers were helpful in securing $250,000 in a state grant earlier this year for equipment and renovations to the building in addition to a Federal earmark appropriation obtained by Congressman Dave Obey and Senator Herb Kohl. The clinic also received a major $100,000 contribution from the City of Ashland to purchase the building.

     Today Senator Jauch applauded passage of Senate Bill 12 by the Legislature, which establishes a 100 foot slow-no-wake speed buffer from the natural shoreline for all motorboats. Senator Jauch, the author of the proposal, introduced the legislation at the request of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes to address the environmental and safety impacts of fast boating speeds near shorelines.

     State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) today applauded an announcement by Governor Jim Doyle to award over $300,000 in Coastal Management Grants for ten projects in Bayfield, Ashland, Douglas and Iron Counties.