Feb 13, 2024
Nearing the End (of the WI Legislative Session)
Jake Beckstrom
With less than two weeks left in the 2023-24 Wisconsin legislative session, our efforts to pass an SCI Research Grant bill (AB19/SB27) in the Badger State are coming down to the wire. Since we began our advocacy work in Wisconsin in 2018, this is the farthest our bill has made it through the legislative process. Right now, we only have one more hurdle to overcome: for the bill to be put on the Joint Finance Committee’s schedule and receive a floor vote.
That’s literally it. The Co-Chairs of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) need to agree to schedule this bill on their meeting agenda and let the rest of the JFC vote on it. We know Co-Chair Sen. Howard Marklein supports scheduling this bill, so that leaves Co-Chair Rep. Mark Born.
After approval from the JFC, the bill would be referred to both the Senate and Assembly floors to be voted on by the entire legislative body. We’ve done our due diligence. We’ve met with all of the members of the JFC, and we know the bill would receive enough Yes votes for passage out of the JFC. We’ve met with the majority of legislators in both the Senate and Assembly, and we know the bill would receive enough Yes votes in each chamber for final passage.
John Martinson, giving testimony on behalf of our bill in March of last year.
The only holdup is - say it with me - getting the bill scheduled on the JFC.
One of our advocates, John Martinson, is a constituent of Rep. Born and met with him face-to-face to ask him about the bill. John said Rep. Born was very personable and they had a nice conversation about the bill.
Our bill authors, Rep. Tittl and Sen. Wanggaard, continue to champion this bill but are limited in their ability to influence what happens on the JFC.
We are coming down to the End of Days (legislatively speaking) in Wisconsin. Our best chance is for Rep. Mark Born to hear from all of you - no matter what state you live in.
Say something like this - but make it your own:
Dear Representative Born,
My name is ____ ______, and I [have a spinal cord injury / am family/friend of someone with a spinal cord injury].
I need you to schedule our Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant bill (AB19/SB27) for a vote in the Joint Finance Committee. This bill will:1. bring $ back to the state
2. push SCI research to treatments
3. give Wisconsinites with SCI a voice in how the money is spent
Myself and others in our SCI community are counting on you.
Thanks in advance for scheduling this bill,
[your name]
[WI legislative district if applicable]
JFC Co-Chair: Representative Mark Born
(608) 237-9139 | Rep.Born@legis.wisconsin.gov
If you are reading this and you live in Wisconsin, please call or email your legislator and ask them to urge Rep. Born to schedule this bill for a treatment in the JFC. (You can find who represents your district by clicking this link and entering your address into the search bar).
Regardless of what state or country you live in, please call or write to Rep. Born’s office today and tell him to schedule this bill for a treatment in the JFC.
Legislative advocacy is not a sprint, but a marathon. Now is the time to demonstrate our stamina and tenacity. Please contact Rep. Born so that his office understands the urgency and importance of this bill.
