State Rep. Warren Petryk

I always like having thoughtful conversations with people I see along the way as I go around the 93rd Assembly District and value the chance to answer any questions about how their government operates. This includes explaining how the legislative process works, how long a Supreme Court Justice is chosen for, and even what our state rock (red granite) is.

That's why I always have a copy of Wisconsin's Blue Book in my truck. A Blue Book is a one-of-a-kind resource available to everyone that contains current information for people who are interested in the function and structure of the local, state, and federal levels of government, the history of Wisconsin, and other interesting facts about our beautiful state. This year's Wisconsin Blue Book, which has been published biennially since 1853, is now available!

The Blue Book is also a resource for learning about Wisconsin's elected leaders, from members of the Wisconsin State Legislature through State Executive Officers to Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justices. This resource not only provides an overview of each of our elected officials, but it also explains their respective roles within the three branches of government. The Blue Book has something for everyone to learn, from young Wisconsinites who want to understand the foundations of our state government to people who want to study the ins and outs of our government's structure and function.

The "Capitol Beat" is also discussed in this year's bluebook. In this article, the men and women who covered Capitol events as members of the press are profiled and asked about the difficulties and rewards of their work. The article is divided into two parts: a discussion of the many media outlets that have covered the Madison Capitol over the years, and interviews with actual reporters in the second section. 

The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, in addition to releasing the Blue Book online, has created a study guide for civics classrooms or parents to utilize as a guide to assist children learn how Wisconsin government works. It includes questions from how many Assembly Districts there are in Wisconsin to how the Executive Branch functions in our state, and where to find them in the book.

Both the Wisconsin Blue Book and the Study Guide are completely free of charge. If you would like a hard copy of the Blue Book, please contact me at 608-237-9193 or by email at rep.petryk@legis.wi.gov. Please include your mailing address so that my office can get your book to you as soon as possible! The book and guide are also available online at https://legis.wisconsin.gov/LRB/blue-book/