Rep. Joel Kitchens is looking forward to serving his sixth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly after wrapping up a few things earlier this month. Kitchens has previously served on the Assembly Committee on Education as its chairperson, a post he expects to keep when members are officially sworn into office on January 6th. He cites bills regarding tax-free retirement income and cell phone usage in school and ensuring that his literacy act legislation is fully enacted as the items he is ready to tackle when the new session begins. With slimmer Republican majorities in the Assembly and Senate, Kitchens hopes there is room for compromise rather than what he has seen in Washington, D.C.

Kitchens says the slim majority may be a factor in passing the budget, which Governor Tony Evers will introduce in February. The details will be ironed out between the Governor's office and the Legislature before a June signing.