If you attended any of Rep. Joel Kitchens’ four listening sessions last Friday, he appreciates your willingness to have a conversation.

The Sturgeon Bay Republican bounced from Egg Harbor to Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, and New Franken for hour-long listening sessions, taking questions about his ideas for the state budget that will be ironed out in Madison this month. Funding for items like the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, child care, special education, and tax cuts were all discussed by constituents during the meetings. Kitchens admits he did not know what to expect at the listening sessions after similar events by state and federal legislators soured with constituents yelling at elected leaders and having their heated comments turned back on them. Kitchens says even his staffers noted how respectful the conversations were, something he hopes goes a long way.

Kitchens believes the budget will get done before its July deadline, citing the productive conversations between Republican leadership and the Evers Administration.