Sens. Bernier, Felzkowski appointed to Joint Finance

Central Wisconsin conservatives will craft budget

State Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Lake Hallie) and Sen.-Elect Mary Felzkowski have been appointed to serve on the Wisconsin Legislatures’ Joint Finance Committee for the 2021-22 legislative biennium.

“I am honored to work with my colleagues in setting fiscal priorities for the next two years,” said Sen. Bernier. “Citizens and small businesses have had a very rough time during this COVID- 19 crisis. Unemployment issues, business failure, mental health and substance abuse are just a few of the challenges we’ve faced over the past ten months and will need to be addressed in the upcoming budget.”

“I am honored to be entrusted with this responsibility and thank Majority Leader-Elect LeMahieu for putting his trust in me,” said Sen. Elect Felzkowski. “I will use my previous finance experience and my role as a small business owner to guide me in making fiscally conservative and responsible decisions.” The Joint Committee on Finance is a statutory, 16-member standing committee of the Wisconsin Legislature. The committee’s primary responsibility is to serve as the principal legislative committee charged with the review of all state appropriations and revenues as well as facilitating the biennial state budget.

“It is always difficult to set financial priorities, however I am eager to focus on how we can effectively address our most pressing challenges,” Sen. Bernier continued. “One of my top priorities will be addressing mental health needs.

Twenty-two proposed mental health beds were vetoed in the previous budget by the governor. I am still focused and hopeful that those in-patient beds located in our area and serving all of northern, western and central Wisconsin will become a reality in this biennium. Mental health care for any area of the state is a win for the entire state.” “I look forward to serving under Co-Chair Howard Marklein, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, and with my colleagues Sen. Duey Stroebel, Sen. Dale Kooyenga, Sen.-Elect Joan Ballweg, and Sen. Kathy Bernier, a team with strong female representation,” said Sen. -Elect Felzkowski. “It has never been more important for us to make the hard decisions that will keep our state financially heathy, and I am confident in our team’s ability to make the right choices for the people of Wisconsin.” Sen. Kathy Bernier represents Wisconsin’s 23rd State Senate Seat including all of Chippewa, Clark and portions of Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Marathon, Trempealeau and Wood counties. She was elected to the Senate in 2018 for a four year term.

In January, Sen.-Elect Felzkowski will begin her first term serving the 12th Senate District, one of the most rural Senate districts, including 11 counties in northern Wisconsin.