Madison – Today, the Assembly was in session to vote on many proposals, including a bill that would change state standards on early-childhood literacy instruction. Another bill that came before the Assembly today would update the statutes on alcohol regulation. Representative Dave Considine (D-Baraboo) issued the following statement on the passage of these bills:
“As a former teacher and long-time member of the Education Committee, I understand that there are complex reasons for which many of our students struggle with reading. Each student has different needs. Any reading specialist will tell you this. While this bill is a step in the right direction, it will not fix the problem. I voted for this bill because it provides much needed support. However, we must remember that a student’s success depends on many factors, and we must invest in children and families across the board. We cannot stop here.
“Similarly, AB 304, which improves alcohol beverage regulation is an important step forward for our state. Owners of breweries, wineries, and distilleries have been asking for the changes included in this bill for a decade. However, this bill is not perfect. This is why I joined my colleagues in introducing an amendment. The amendment would allow wedding barns to honor their already signed contracts for two years as they work to obtain their liquor license. I believe this would have improved this law and am disappointed that it failed. I also believe that we must increase the availability of liquor licenses in rural areas. We must continue to work for our rural communities to thrive.
“These bills make steps to improve the laws in our state. I appreciate these positive steps forward and will continue the important work needed.”
