Dear Friends,

Congratulations to Whitefish Bay for making the top 10 in best cities to live in the nation! According to 247WallSt., Whitefish Bay is the 9th best city to live. The website gave the village high marks for low unemployment (1.5%) and for being one of the safest places in the country.

There's also great news for the state's bottom line. Wisconsin's public pension plan is the best funded in the nation according to the Tax Foundation. Their study is based on data collected by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows our pension is funded at an amazing 103%!

Wisconsin easily out-paced all other Midwestern states. According to the study, Indiana is ranked 12th, Michigan 31st, Minnesota 36th, and Illinois is 48th. Our neighbors from the south have struggled with their pension crisis for years. Their unstable economy is causing residents to flee the state. You can read about Wisconsin's strong economy below.

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

On, Wisconsin!
Remembering 9/11
This week was the 18th anniversary of 9/11. The horrible tragedy claimed the lives of five Wisconsinites and a total of 2,977 and more than 6,000 injured.

To honor their memory, the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial and Education Center in Kewauskum will be a permanent reminder of their sacrifice. I am proud to be a co-author of a bill that will designate a portion of State Highway 28 from Washington County to Dodge County as the "Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway."

The designation will help direct people to the memorial and be a constant reminder of the events of 9/11.
Talking Criminal Justice Reform with the Waukesha Business Alliance
This week, Representative Evan Goyke of Milwaukee and I met with the members of the policy board of the Waukesha Business Alliance to discuss an important, bipartisan bill I am working on to help people turn their lives around.

I authored the Pathways to Employment bill with Republican Representative David Steffen and Democratic Representative Evan Goyke. Our goal is to reform the state's expungement laws. A conviction, no matter how long ago, can prevent someone from being hired. When someone has served their time, they deserve a chance to get a job.

Wisconsin's unemployment rate is at an all-time low. Our biggest economic issue right now is that companies can't find employees for available jobs. We have hardworking people who can be dedicated employees, but don't have a chance at one of our many jobs because of a mistake made years ago.

I'd like to thank the Waukesha Business Alliance for letting us make the case for this life-changing legislation and I hope they vote to support it.
UW System Audit
This week, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee reviewed a recent audit of the University of Wisconsin System.

We had a lively discussion about the findings and how UW System can improve to be more transparent and accountable to taxpayers.

You can find out more by clicking my picture.
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Wisconsin is Still Winning!
Did you know?
Around the 8th...
Representative Jim Ott and I had a fantastic time meeting everyone at the Bayside Picnic!
I had a great time at Glendale's Oktoberfest celebration last weekend!
Here are some of the amazing people I met at this year's Taste of Mequon!
Celebrate the new Port Washington State Bank River Stage in Thiensville. Click the picture above for more information.