Workforce Training Bill Passes Unanimously In State Senate

The State Senate has unanimously approved a bill to create a new worker training program in Wisconsin.

The plan would spend $15 million dollars over the next two years on a new grant program for public or private institutions that develop worker training programs. Fond du Lac Republican Senator Rick Gudex called it a “solid marriage” between the public and private sector.

“This bill really doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat, it doesn’t care if you’re a Republican. The bill doesn’t care from which Senate District you reside. What this bill does do and does care about is workers searching for employment. It cares for employers who are looking for employees.”

The bill would also require the state Department of Workforce Development to develop a new system for workers tracking and analyzing Wisconsin’s labor market to connect with job openings.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chris Larson issued a statement saying the bill provided only a small band-aid for the deep cuts in funding for Wisconsin’s technical schools in the last budget. But Larson also praised the plan and joined his Democratic and Republican colleagues in supporting it.

The plan has the support of Governor Walker, who included a similar measure in his proposed budget. It cleared the Assembly on a vote of 94-to-4 last week.