Democratic majority in state Legislature

The general election really has changed the political landscape of Wisconsin. Aside from the election of Barack Obama, the biggest change Nov. 4 brought to Wisconsin was a Democratic majority in the state Assembly. After serving Milwaukee, St. Francis, and Cudahy as a minority member for the last five sessions, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to address the challenges facing our district and Wisconsin as a member of the new majority. 

In the new legislative session these challenges will be immense. As across the nation, rising unemployment and falling wages are hurting our citizens and threatening the fiscal health of our state. This session the legislature faces a $5 billion deficit. The new Assembly majority will work nonstop to deal with this deficit and reduce the burdens of taxes and fees on the middle class. We will work to repair and maintain state infrastructure. We will work to create good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. And, we will keep working to fix the state’s school funding formula, helping municipalities reduce property taxes.

For too long in the legislature we’ve argued about issues with no relevance to the economic health and well-being of our state. The time to bicker uselessly about things nobody will agree about is past. The legislature will finally focus on the practical reality of our state’s economic picture.

The state Assembly’s class of 2009 has a much longer to-do list than any class in recent memory, but we’re off to a good start. We’ve chosen a new speaker and majority leader and I’m more or less happy with the results, though disappointed no one from Milwaukee was elected to a leadership position. However, I did have the opportunity to speak recently to the Steelworker’s Union with Mike Sheridan, the new speaker from Janesville, and I did see that he has the capacity for steady leadership.

We are confronted with some of the biggest challenges this state has faced since the Great Depression. However, I’m confident that legislative Democrats have a deep commitment to carry our agenda for working families forward into the new session.

Chris Sinicki is the state representative for Wisconsin’s 20th state Assembly District, which includes southern Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy, the airport, and other parts of the south side. She can be reached at (888) 534-0020 or rep.sinicki@legis.wi.gov.

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