$15 million state healthcare funding still in limbo
State Senate overrides veto as Evers sues legislature
The $15 million in emergency funding to respond to the Chippewa Valley healthcare crisis has been caught up in increasing tensions between Governor Tony Evers and the Republican-controlled legislature.
The State Senate met this week and voted to override the Governor's vetoes on nine bills, including the measure authorizing the $15 million for emergency services, as well as $125 million in PFAS funding, literacy legislation, and other issues. Meanwhile, Evers filed a lawsuit against the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee (JFC) seeking release of the funding to his agencies. That's in addition to a pending lawsuit already being considered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court over the respective powers of the JFC and the Governor over state spending and finances.
In February, the Governor used his partial veto powers to modify legislation transferring the $15 million from the state building fund to the general fund, vetoed the legislation that specified use of the funds, and submitted a request to JFC to release the funds to the Department of Health Services (DHS). JFC and local Republican legislators have said they would consider proposals for deployment of the funds, but so far, no providers have submitted specific proposals.
To become law despite the Governor's vetoes, both the State Senate and Assembly would have to override the vetoes with a 2/3 majority. There were enough Republican votes in the Senate to do so, but any overrides in the Assembly would require some Democratic votes.
More information:
WI Senate overrides veto, healthcare funding gridlocked (WEAU 13 News)
State Senate descends into chaos after Republicans abruptly cut off debate on veto override (WisPolitics.com)
Wisconsin Senate session on Evers vetoes turns into shouting match (The Cap Times)
Senate Republicans vote to override 9 of Gov. Tony Evers' vetoes, Assembly silent on matter (Wisconsin State Journal +)
Senate votes to overturn 9 Evers vetoes. But it's not likely the Assembly will do the same (Journal-Sentinel +)
Wisconsin GOP-led Senate votes to override nine Evers vetoes in mostly symbolic action (AP)
Gov. Evers Sues Republican Legislators for Continued Obstruction of Investments Intended to Address Pressing Challenges Facing Wisconsin (News release, Office of the Governor)
PFAS battle between Tony Evers, Wisconsin Senate leads to lawsuit (The Cap Times)
Capitol clashes in Madison: A Tony Evers lawsuit duels with Republican veto overrides (Journal-Sentinel +)

OakLeaf, NothLakes, Emplify/Gunderson announce expansions
Providers continue to add services to fill local healthcare gaps
OakLeaf Clinics this week announced new clinics and services in Rice Lake and Menomonie, while NorthLakes Community Clinic opened a new location in Augusta, and Emplify, the organization resulting from the merger of Bellin and Gunderson, announced its acquisition of the former Prevea clinic in Mondovi.
More information:
OakLeaf opens Rice Lake Clinic (OakLeaf Clinics)
OakLeaf and Foot & Angle Clinics in Menomonie (OakLeaf Clinics)
OakLeaf Clinics open in Menomonie, Rice Lake (Leader-Telegram $)
OakLeaf Clinics opens in Rice Lake, Menomonie (WEAU 13 News)
NorthLakes Community Clinic to open location in Augusta (WEAU 13 News)
Augusta Prevea site to become new NorthLakes Community Clinic (WQOW News 18)
Emplify expands north with purchase of former HSHS/Prevea Mondovi clinic (WQOW News 18)
Emplify Health acquires clinic in Mondovi (WEAU 13 News)

More healthcare stories...

Wisconsin Hospital Costs are 5th Highest in the Country, More Than Three Times What Medicare Pays (WMC)

DHS responds to Eau Claire attorney's call for legal action against HSHS (WQOW News 18)
DHS unable to open investigation on HSHS (Leader-Telegram $)

Next Zoning Policy Advisory Committee meeting is May 20
The City of Eau Claire continues its comprehensive overhaul of the City's zoning code with the next meeting of its Zoning Policy Advisory Committee (ZPAC) next Monday. The ZPAC is made up of the members of the Eau Claire City Council and Eau Claire Plan Commission, and is guiding the work of the City's planning staff and its consultant as the process moves forward. The content of next week's meeting will focus on natural resources. There is a public comment period on issues related to the ZPAC agenda at the end of its meeting, and there will be a Zoning Update presentation and public forum at 6:30 p.m.
More information:
Zoning Policy Advisory Committee
• Monday, May 20, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Library, 3rd floor, Agenda
Zoning Update presentation and public forum
• Monday, May 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
May 20 meeting information (City of Eau Claire)
Century Code Update website (City of Eau Claire)
What is the century code? Getting the public's opinion on new zoning regulations (WQOW News 18)
How local governments can respond to the housing crisis (Route Fifty)

Housing Solutions Forum – June 5
Momentum West’s annual Housing Solutions Forum will focus on attracting talent to the area, including a series of interactive conversations focusing on creative approaches to address area housing shortages.
More information:
Momentum West Housing Solutions Forum
• Wednesday, Jun 5, 8am-12noon, Northwood Tech, New Richmond
Click here for details and to register

Also meeting this week...

Altoona Board of Education

• Monday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. Meeting information

Eau Claire Board of Education
• Monday, May 20, 7 p.m. Meeting and agenda info.

Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
• Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. Meeting information

Altoona City Council
• Thursday, may 23, 6 p.m. Links to agenda and info

EC City Council awards open liquor license to Silly Serrano
Conducts work session on site for Day Resource Center
At its Legislative Session last week, the Eau Claire City Council voted to award an open liquor license to the Silly Serrano restaurant located on West Cameron Street. Council Members also participated in a work session following the meeting to discuss issues and direction around potential locations for a Day Resource Center to provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness.
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, May 13, Public Hearing Agenda Packet (27 pages)
• Tuesday, May 14, Legislative Session Agenda Packet (267 pages)
  Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
  City Council Online Comment Form (City of Eau Claire)
  Contact information: City Council members (City of Eau Claire)
City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)
Housing and Homelessness in Eau Claire (City of Eau Claire)
Silly Serrano granted returned liquor license (Leader-Telegram $)
Report: Supportive housing model faces challenges in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Policy Forum)
Eau Claire City committee works to make the area more welcoming (WEAU 13 News)

Eggs & Issues: Economic Development Update
The Chamber's May 9 Eggs & Issues breakfast focused on the successes and challenges for economic development in the Eau Claire area. Our guests representing key local organizations provided an updated outlook for commercial, industrial and housing development in the Chippewa Valley. Participants included Ray French, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; Mike Golat, City of Altoona; Luke Hanson, Eau Claire Economic Development Corporation; Julie Thoney, Xcel Energy; and Aaron White, City of Eau Claire.
Golat discussed Altoona's rapid growth and the benefits that dense developments provide economically and for the environment. White noted the new "The Sevens" development that included a record-setting $120 million development agreement with the City of Eau Claire. Hanson highlighted Eau Claire County's achieving the highest net new construction percentage in the state in 2023. French detailed WEDC's new talent attraction initiative that provides direct leads of potential new residents to local ambassador organizations. The Eau Claire Chamber is one of those, part of an effort to address the workforce shortage faced by many local employers.
More information:
Meeting summary and photos: May Eggs & Issues (Eau Claire Area Chamber)
Website to help with area workforce presented to chamber (Leader-Telegram $)
Altoona’s Container Park Expected to Open in Late Summer (Volume One)
Develop, Attract, Retain: The Chamber's Workforce Initiatives (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
ThinkEauClaire.com
Explore Eau Claire

Chamber holds reception for newly-elected local officials
Recently elected officials meet Eau Claire businesses (Leader-Telegram)
Eau Claire Chamber holds reception for new elected officials and business leaders (WEAU 13 News)

Where are they now?
Past Chamber Interns forge valuable paths
The Chamber's Governmental Affairs internship program dates back to 1997, with past interns moving on to a wide variety of professional work for which working with local businesses was a valuable part of their path.
Current UWEC interns Mallory Williams and Leah Brawdy completed their terms this past week, with one of the final contributions being to provide a report on the current status of their predecessors. Learn more at the following link:
Former interns reflect on their time at the Chamber (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

More local stories...

Mega! CO-OP announces end of Holiday Stationstores franchise, exiting bankruptcy (WEAU 13 News)

FESTIVAL SEASON IS HERE: Eight Area Music Fest Musts to Hit This Summer (Volume One)

Leadership Eau Claire applications: May 31 deadline
Are you ready to enhance your leadership skills and community knowledge? Look no further than Leadership Eau Claire (LEC). Applications are now open for this transformative program that offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant community while honing your leadership skills and making meaningful connections.
Click here for details and to apply

Fall election updates
The fall 2024 election will focus a lot of attention on Wisconsin, with the ballot to include the races for US President and US Senator. All eight Wisconsin Congressional districts will be on the ballot. There is also a lot of attention being play to legislative races as those candidates, with new districts in place, have begun to circulate nominating petitions. All 99 Assembly districts and the even-numbered State Senate districts will be elected this year. The Partisan Primary is August 13, and the General Election is November 5. Wispolitics.com has been tracking the new districts and candidate announcements. See the links below.
More information:
Link to 2024 legislative maps (Wisconsin Legislature)
Interactive map: Check the boxes at the upper left to select Assembly, Senate, and/or Congressional Districts. Zoom in to find you location and who your representatives are.
Status of 2024 Wisconsin Assembly races (WisPolitics.com, with maps)
Status of 2024 Wisconsin Senate races (WisPolitics.com, with maps)

New Richmond Chamber of Commerce Exec. Rob Kreibich is running for State Assembly. He thinks he can do both (Hudson Star Observer)
Gov. Evers Calls Special Elections for the 4th Senate District and 8th Congressional District (Office of the Governor)
Special elections for state Senate, US House come under special circumstances (WPR)
Evers schedules special elections for seats vacated by Lena Taylor, Mike Gallagher (Journal-Sentinel +)
Elections Commission weighs how to implement constitutional amendment (Wisconsin Examiner)
‘Trust in our elections’: Keep Our Republic meets with skeptical crowd during discussion on electoral process in Waukesha Tuesday (Waukesha Freeman +)
Biden and Trump, trading barbs, agree to 2 presidential debates, in June and September (AP)

Second Amtrak train via La Crosse & Tomah starts Tuesday
Planning underway for service to Eau Claire, Menomonie
Amtrak and the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois are slated to begin the new "Borealis," daily train between Chicago, Milwaukee, La Crosse, and St. Paul on May 21. The train supplements the current long-distance "Empire Builder" on the same route that runs to and from Seattle and Portland.
The service is expansion is part of continuing long-term effort by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to add frequencies and cities to passenger rail service in the state.
“This route includes eight stations in Wisconsin, and doubling the frequency of the service will better connect the many businesses, universities and tourist attractions along this corridor,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. “This expansion is thanks to the work WisDOT was able to do together with Minnesota, Illinois and Amtrak, as well as the opportunities provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We will continue to work with federal and state partners to explore more passenger rail options in Wisconsin.”
Federal studies are currently in progress under the US Department of Transportation's Corridor Identification and Development Program that takes the first step to add service to communities such as Eau Claire, Menomonie, Hudson, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac. Potential Eau Claire and Menomonie service may come through a WisDOT-sponsored study of a through Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison-Twin Cities route and a study sponsored by the Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission for a regional Eau Claire-Twin Cities service.
The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is among the organizations who support passenger rail expansion. For more information or to sign up you organization, contact Scott Rogers at rogers@eauclairechamber.org
More information:
Introducing Amtrak Borealis trains with Expanded Service between St. Paul and Chicago via Milwaukee (Amtrak news release)
Train reservations (Amtrak.com)
Borealis & Empire Builder schedules, St. Paul-La Crosse-Tomah-Milwaukee- Chicago (Rail Passengers Association)
Amtrak to start new Chicago-Twin Cities service through Wisconsin (Wisconsin Examiner)

State and national stories...

State lawmakers and advocates raise awareness for child care providers on “A Day Without Child Care” (WEAU 13 News)
Child care providers hang on, renew call for strong public support (Wisconsin Examiner)

Jewish groups, Rothman condemn UWM deal with pro-Palestinian protesters (WPR)

How likely are in-state UW students to stay in Wisconsin after they graduate? (Journal-Sentinel +)

CPI report shows inflation easing in April, with consumer prices still rising 3.4% from a year ago (CNBC)

Senators urge $32 billion in emergency spending on AI after finishing yearlong review (AP)

Food for thought...

Congress wants a strategy for Ukraine to win, not merely survive. The administration should embrace it. (Former Sen Rob Portman, The Dispatch)

COVID-19 Resources:
Eau Claire County COVID-19 Information Hub (Eau Claire City-County Health Department)

Mark your calendar:

Eggs & Issues
• Friday, June 21
• Friday, July 19
• Friday, Aug 23

Golf Day in Eau Claire
• Monday, Aug 5

"Bravo to Business" Awards
• Thursday, Oct 17

31st Annual Chippewa Valley Rally
• Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025

Public Meetings Calendar
Click the link above for the our regularly updated schedule of public meetings.

Thanks for reading this issue of Business Advocate. If you have comments or questions, contact Scott Rogers, Vice President Governmental Affairs, at 715-858-0616 or rogers@eauclairechamber.org