Welcome, everybody to Midday magazine for this Friday, December 20th, 2024.
Have your host, James J. Mailoff here in part two today at 430.
We're catching up with our friends from the Wisconsin Rapids public school system.
We got Superintendent Ron Rasmussen on with us and he's going to bring bringing on some
kids.
We're going to be talking about a really fun program that they're doing over at Lincoln.
But right now joining us on the phone lines, Senator Patrick Teston with us, sir, it
is always good to talk with you how you're doing.
I'm doing great, James.
How about yourself?
Doing good.
Like a lot of people, busy, busy week and a lot going on as we not only get ready for
the holiday season, but year end reviews and year end things going on and so much of
that.
And I know how busy you are.
So I want to get right to using your time here wisely.
You spent some time on the veteran legislature panel at the new Legislator Conference in
Madison recently.
Can you tell us about that experience and how it went?
Yeah.
So this is probably my third time I've done this now.
So apparently I'm one of the old guys down in the back there for eight years.
But our legislative council, they do this every every year in December before new legislators.
And it seems like yesterday I was an incoming freshman and got to hear from legislative
veterans and it's really an opportunity to kind of go over the best practices that do
us in don'ts because, you know, we're all human.
We make mistakes from time to time and I've had my fair share of them and and it's great
to share those experiences with those incoming legislators because no one hands you a book
on how to be a good legislative official and so it's good that mentors and rely on some
of those individuals have been around a while and it's always a really fun discussion
and and and so the good back and forth between, you know, the incoming members those have
been in the legislature for several years, including myself and and a good bipartisan discussion.
You know, and it's it's such an interesting note.
I don't think a lot of us think about those things, but it is one of those jobs where there's
not really a class you take for it.
There's not really a, well, this is what you do day one.
You really have to find out from your peers from and I imagine that's where a lot of
good habits are created as well, where you can help, you know, people new to this.
Oh, absolutely.
And that was one of the struggles when I first took office because coming from the private
sector working in sales, you know, you got metrics that you can base your your performance
on and and to know whether or not you're doing a good job or not doing a good job where
you've got to, you know, make things up.
That's not necessarily the case when you enter enter government because there are no
real metrics.
And so you've got to base things off of, you know, some special relationships, the bills
that you're working on, what gets through the finish line.
And so it's a just a different mentality.
And you know, for a lot of the income and freshmen, and it's a big class, there's, I think
just shy 40 new legislators that are going to be taking their oath of office for the first
time come January 6th.
And so it's a steep learning curve, but at the same time, you know, there's a lot of
new voices, a lot of new perspectives coming in.
And so I'm looking forward to, you know, foster relationships with my soon to be new colleagues
and seeing what comes this next session.
The lifeblood of politics really is getting new blood in their new ideas as much as appreciating
the people that have been doing it for a long time.
And it's such an interesting topic of what I had a congressman kind on right before he
retired and talking with him about that about how do you rate your career?
And in politics, what is success to you?
What is success to your constituents?
That's such an interesting topic.
In 70, 80 years, when you retire, sir, we should have that discussion, we should have
that.
Let me go ahead.
Sorry.
I was going to say if I'm still doing this in 70 or 80 years, like something went terribly
wrong in my life.
We know how busy you are and everything.
And you've been even extra busy with some of the things that have been kind of, you've
jumped in on the plates that you put on your table.
You've joined a number of committees recently.
I thought it would be a good idea to get into these committees that you've joined, but
also what you're doing on them, if you don't mind.
So earlier this month, you were named to Senate Vice Chair of the Budget Writing Joint
Finance Committee.
Can you tell us what that is and what you'll be doing?
Yeah, so you know, last session was my first session on joint finance committee, which
is the most powerful legislative committee in the entire country.
It's a, you've got members from both houses, both parties, and we are tasked with writing
the state budget and handling all appropriations.
And so really when you get a point in the joint finance committee, from the time that the
budget gets introduced by the governor, usually by the end of January or early February, then
it's our task, the 16 member committee that we spend the next several months until we
can get a budget done statutorily by June 30th.
So you essentially become a prisoner of Madison for four or five days a week, which has its
ups and downs.
And what's really important is that you're in the room, you're, you're one of the legislators
who are working with your college and the committee to create a state budget, deal with tax
policy, everything else, K-12 education, transportation, you name it, every government agency,
every government program related state government runs through this committee.
And being appointed as the co-vice chair has added responsibility.
So you're in the room with the co-chair, along with the co-chairs and the assembly and
the co-vice chair.
And that's where the real negotiations happen.
So I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to serve alongside Senator Mark Lyne, who's
the Senate co-chair, and work with our counterparts in the assembly, co-chair, Representative Mark
Four and co-vice chair, Representative Furt, who is a dear friend of mine.
And I'm really excited about this prospect and hopefully we're going to pass a great
state budget over the course of the next several months.
And one that really continues to move Wisconsin on the right track for the next two years.
You know, there's, I'm curious because I'm fortunate.
I have basically two bosses and both of them are awesome.
They're great.
And I like working for them.
And because I appreciate the way they treat me and our staff, it makes me want to work
even harder for them.
You've got thousands of bosses.
You've got a lot of them.
Is there an added pressure to get bills done or to get things done with that?
Yeah, I think there is.
And, you know, and that's a great point that you make.
I tell people the whole time that, you know, I have roughly 170,000 bosses.
And every four years, I'm up for a job review.
And thankfully, this past November, resumably, they said, you know what?
We like what you're doing.
Let's send you back to work on our behalf.
And I take that responsibility, it's a hard.
And so now being tasked with having an increased role on the budget committee, I'm really looking
forward to that challenge.
Alongside with the other committee assignments that I've been tapped to be on, including
being the new chair of the Senate Ag and Revenue Committee, I'm also going to be a member
of the Committee on Financial Institutions and Sport and Heritage, the Vice Chair on
the Senate Committee on Health, and also the member on the Joint Committee on Information
Policy and Technology, as well as the co-chair on the Joint Survey Committee on Tax
Exemptions.
And I want to kind of go through these with you, but before we do, I imagine, while it
is extra, you know, stuff on your plate, it's got to be quite an honor, too, to be put
in these positions.
It definitely is.
I mean, you know, I remember going back to my very first session, and when I got my
committee assignments, I mean, I was thrilled because my first session, I chaired the Workforce
Development Committee, I served on the Ag and Tourism Committee along with several others.
And it was all within the wheelhouse of what I had campaigned on in my very first campaign.
And now, you know, having a couple of elections under my belts and, you know, having a leadership
position within the state Senate, along with having a leadership position within the budget
writing committee, you know, the committee assignments that I have now, I mean, they are
right to the core of the 24 Senate District, and so I'm really excited about my committee
assignments.
You mentioned being on a couple of these, and I want to get into what you'll be doing
on them.
One of them was the being on the Committee of Agriculture and Revenue.
What are some of the bigger things that you were going to be trying to get accomplished
with that?
Yeah, so I'm the Ag and Revenue Committee, and just by way, background kind of shuddering
right behind the curtain is, so after every election, depending on who comes back, who
does, and there's always a reshuffle, reshuffle in the deck as far as committee assignments.
And so in the state Senate, if you're in the majority, regardless of your experience,
your committee chair, and usually there's several of the initiators, but I'm the Ag and
Revenue Committee, but my first priority is making sure that we have a strong agro-cultural
community, and working with our stakeholders in the Ag community to deal with the challenges
that they're facing, whether it's infrastructure issues.
If you remember last budget, we put $150 million in the state budget to help with our agro-cultural
road improvement program, which is then wildly successful.
I want to make sure that continues.
But then also working with the Department of Agriculture, Training Consumer Protection
and Secretary Romanceki, who's actually a Wisconsin Rapids native, doing what we can
to find new markets, help continue to expand our exports, and then on the revenue side
of that, making sure that we continue to advocate for a stronger tax climate here in
the state that provides opportunities for new growth and development, and making sure
Wisconsin remains a great state to live, work, and raise the family.
And make sure to look for that red label, everybody, by local support, local support,
Wisconsin made products.
You're also going to be serving on the Senate Committee on Health.
A few topics are bigger in this in the day and age than the health industry, and that's
just umbrella a whole bunch of subjects.
I imagine there's a lot to do in that committee.
There is.
And health care policy is one of those areas that, when I first got elected, it was an issue
area that I was the most least comfortable with, is by no means a health expert.
And don't consider myself one now, but in my first state budget, we worked on some
health care policy as a related to greater and more access for rural areas, and it sparked
an interest that I never knew existed in me.
And so I've had the privilege to be on the health committee now.
This will be going on my fourth session, and trying to find ways to increase access to
care, especially in our underserved areas, whether it's people with mental health access,
oral health care, and just trying to navigate some of the turf wars that exist.
And we're going to be reintroducing our advanced practice registered nurses modernization
at the APR&AC that's unfortunately been decoupled at two sessions, but we're going to bring
it back.
And because it's a huge issue, and we've got a huge workforce issue shortage within our
health care areas, and what's really exciting, and I was just in a conference on DC a couple
of weeks ago with legislators from all across the country that hear from policy experts
and sort of what we can expect from the new administration.
It seems like there's going to be a renewed effort and push to really empower states to
get creative and health care policy energy.
This is going to be a really exciting time over the course of these next four years,
for states to really be the driving force and leading force to provide innovation in
these key areas.
And I'm proud to have a seat at the table to help us share in these new reforms.
And again, going back to the whole what we were talking about before about bringing in new
ideas and some new blood into politics, it's always good to be able to look at these subjects
and whatever we're talking about, say, hey, what can we do differently, how can we make
things better?
This industry more than most needs that, so it's encouraging to hear and looking forward
to seeing what you guys develop in the next year.
You are also the co-chair of the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions and a member
of the Senate Tax, let's start there first on Tax Exemptions.
What are you going to be doing on that committee?
What is the work that you guys will be doing?
So this is a more of a technical committee.
So any time that anything that deals with tax exemptions, tax policy comes up.
This is a joint committee with several members on it.
And basically, it's pretty straightforward is that oftentimes we review the legislation
or the tax policy that's coming before the committee.
And basically, here's a simple, is this good policy, yes or no, basically the extent
of the conversation.
So for an example, when the brewers bill was going through last session, that came before
the committee, we had to vote, is this the policy, is it not good policy?
And basically, procedurally, it allows us to move through the process where it then
often goes through the joint finance committee, gets voted on, and then goes before the state
Senate and state assembly.
It sounds like, too, with some of these committees that individuals like yourself are on one committee
and on another because they kind of work together.
Oh, yeah, and that's the thing, too, is trying to piece together, you know, being the chair,
the income and chair of the revenue committee, as well as being on the finance committee.
It's just naturally a good fit to then also be on the tax assumptions committee because
now you're going to essentially have the ability to interact with this legislation three
times before you actually vote on it.
And so it's really a good safeguard to help that legislation as it moves through the process
and work with individuals who are pursuing it or individuals have concerns to kind of
sit down with them and really hash things out before it comes into the floor and hopefully
you'll avoid any messy floor votes.
You know, and I think one of the biggest thing out of constituents, it doesn't matter
what the initial is in front of their name.
We all want to see bills get passed, work get done, committees help that happen, committees
are an integral part of making these bills get passed and you guys helping to do the work
that you're doing.
Yeah, exactly.
And that's, you know, oftentimes, you'll hear this a thousand times as cliche, but that's
how the soft edges made.
It's also critically important to make sure that, you know, we're doing our due diligence
because someone may have a really great idea in their own mind, but then maybe they didn't
necessarily run all the traps on the legislation and how, you know, what they're trying to pursue
might have negative impacts or it might be beneficial.
And so having different eyes and different sets of perspective really allows us to really
get the merit of the legislation to know whether or not this is good public policy or
if we need to make tweaks to it.
And so, well, sometimes it could be messy and sometimes it can be frustrating.
This is the process and I wouldn't have it any other way.
We're speaking with Senator Patrick Test and joins us every month and Sir, you're also
on the Committee of Financial Institutions and Sports Heritage and the Joint Committee
on Interformation Policy and Technology.
I think we've run out of time now that I've said all of that.
The Sports Heritage and Joint Committee, what will you be doing on these and what kind
of work are they doing?
Yeah, this is a, I'm really looking forward to the financial institutions and sport heritage,
sport and heritage committee.
So it's, you know, it's kind of an interesting committee.
You've got the hoax and bullets and then you've got your credit unions and banks.
And so, you know, I anticipate we're going to be having a lot of conversations as it relates
to our, our national resources, making, managing our white-tailed deer population, making
sure that, you know, we're doing what we can to be good stewards of what we have here
in the state, and then also making sure that our financial institutions are in good positions.
And, you know, a lot of legislation that we talked about in years past, seems like elder
abuse, elder fraud, making sure individuals who aren't being taken advantage of and, you
know, losing out on tens of thousands of dollars who are, on fixed incomes, those are
things that I'm looking forward to continuing to work on and strengthen on this committee.
And, you know, under the, the chairmanship of Senator Robb Stassel from the 10th Senate
District, he has chaired this committee, he'll ask a couple sessions, he's been a really
great job, and I'm looking forward to being a member of this committee.
One of the things you've done in your position that I respect is trying to bring a note
to things that may not have to do with politics, or may, you know, be kind of on the fringe
of that.
And every once in a while, I see these and want to talk about them, similar to you're
on the job series, you recently noted the Wisconsin Ethical Hunters Award.
This is a award that's been around since 97, but I don't know if it's common knowledge
of what it is and what it does, can we just touch on that for a moment?
Yeah, so this is an award that the DNR established back in 1997, and it's really to recognize
those individuals who go above and beyond in our sporting heritage community.
And it's going to be anywhere from individuals who help other hunters track down lost game.
It could be individuals who, you know, someone gets lost and they help find them and just
really being good stewards and being safe hunters.
And I think that's so critical.
And, you know, thankfully, we've had a very safe and successful deer hunting season with
as far as I'm aware, we didn't really have any major accidents or incidents.
And so this is really an opportunity to shed light on those individuals who go above
and beyond to make sure that we can go on and recreate and hunt and fish safely within
our great state.
So that sounds like anyone that any of the listeners out there know of, you know,
please feel free to check out the DNR website and nominate them.
This is a five-member committee within the DNR who go through the applications
and be a great opportunity to highlight some of the great sports men and women
that we have right here in the 24th and the finishing.
Yeah, you have until January 31st of next year to submit your entries.
And you could do that at DNR.Wisconsin.gov, DNR.Wisconsin.gov.
Sir, as we're wrapping up here, did you want to touch on one of my favorite things
that you do, I mentioned it before, the on the job series.
Are you looking to do some more of those next year?
Absolutely.
We took the last couple of months off.
In fact, the last one was kind of bummed that it didn't pan out.
I was hoping to work with one of our crop dusting companies right here in Central
Sand area that spread cover crops.
And I was looking forward to getting up in the point.
But it didn't work out the last second.
But next month, I'm going to be working with Ellis Stone construction on a site.
And so we're going to be taking things back up and put more production behind the on
job series, which is, I truly love this is one of the best things that we've come up
with in my office to highlight what opportunities are out there.
And it gives me an excuse to get out of Madison for a day and actually go to some real work.
And so if you're an employer out there, you want me to come work
for you for a day, reach out to my office and the highlight is you can say at the end
of my shift that you can fire me.
If people do want to reach you, sir, how can they do that?
Yeah.
If anyone needs to get in touch with me and actually this is a really great time between
now and before the budget is introduced, the way in my office number is 608-266-3123.
We can shoot us an email at SEM that my last name is testing at legis.wi.gov, follow us
on social media.
And of course, if you see me out and about, feel free to stop me.
I'm happy to chat.
Appreciate the work you've done this year, sir.
And certainly you joining us throughout the year for these conversations.
They've been great.
Merry Christmas.
Happy holidays to you and yours and a happy new year.
Safe travels out there.
I appreciate your age and same to you.
Merry Christmas.
Happy holidays and everyone have a safe new year.
And look forward to having this chat in 2025.
We'll talk then, sir.
You take care.
Thank you.
We'll have more Midday Magazine coming up for you right here at 975 FM 1320 AM WFHR.
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