Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


 November 10, 2015

 

Contact Me

 

418 North State Capitol

P.O. Box 8953

Madison, WI 53708

 

PH: (608) 266-7521

TF: (888) 534-0078

FAX: (608) 282-3690

 

rep.subeck@legis.wi.gov

Website


   

 

Things happening in the district & around Madison

 

Knitting at the Library

Thursday, November 12th

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd

 

Learn to knit or bring your current project. Supplies provided. Children under 8 must have an adult present.

 


Public Involvement Meetings for the Future of Madison’s Beltline through the WisDOT

Thursday, November 12th

5:30 – 8:00pm, presentation at 6:00pm

Kromrey Middle School – Cafetorium

7009 Donna Drive, Middleton

 

Public involvement meetings to receive public input and feedback for the strategy packages seeking to address issues for long-term transportation needs for the Beltline from US 14 n Middleton to County N in Cottage Grove.

 


Drawing Jam with Angela Richardson

Friday, November 13th

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd

 

Drop-in for a Drawing Jam with artist Angela Richardson. Explore different techniques and materials as you take part in this lively event that will have all ages drawing up a storm.

 


Donuts with Dad

Saturday, November 14th

10:00am – 11:00am

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N. High Point Rd.

 

Saturday morning fun with stories, movies and snacks, especially for dads and their kids. Moms welcome, too.

 


Craft Lab

Saturday, November 14th

3:00pm – 4:15pm

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N. High Point Rd.

 

Experiment with new techniques and supplies each month and love the results.

 


Maker Monday

Monday, November 16th

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd

 

Make your way to fun featuring a rotating craft/activity; music making, painting, video recording, you'll never know what we'll have you make next!

 


Winter Fitchburg Farmer’s Market

Thursday, November 12th

3:00pm – 6:00pm

Fitchburg Community Center 5510 Lacy Rd Fitchburg, WI 53711

 

Stop on by the Fitchburg Farmers Market this Winter every Thursday to check out fresh produce, cheeses, pastries and other food items, soaps, and more!

 


Community Cinema presents Autism in Love

Thursday, November 12th

6:30pm – 8:45pm

Central Library

201 W Mifflin St.

 

Community Cinema presents Autism in Love by Matt Fuller.  Four adults at different places on the autism spectrum open up their personal lives as they navigate dating and romantic relationships. Eye-opening, first-person portrayals show that despite many challenges faced by those with autism, love can find a way.

 


Job Mob: A Buffet of Free Employment Services (at MATC-South Campus)

Friday, November 13th

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Madison Area Technical College - South Campus

2222 S Park St

Madison, WI 53713

 

Need help looking for a job, filling out an application, building a resume or writing a cover letter? Job Mob also hosts different local employers at most sessions who interview on the spot! No appointment necessary.

 


Kids in the Rotunda – Zoozort

Saturday, November 14th

Shows at 9:30am, 11:00am, and 1:00pm

Overture Center for the Arts, Rotunda Stage

201 State Street

Madison, WI 53703

 

Get up close and personal with some new friends at this unique, hands-on interactive program featuring live exotic animals from all around the world! You and your youngster will be enthralled with the animals, interactive learning, props and humor; sparking an interest that will last a lifetime.

 


The CCC and the Arboretum

Sunday, November 15th

1:00pm – 2:30pm

UW-Madison Arboretum, Visitor Center

 

In 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up its only camp on a university campus. More than 200 men served here until the camp closed in 1941. Learn about their extraordinary efforts to restore the landscape of Wisconsin.

 


Visiting the Capitol

Whether you are planning a visit to the state Capitol as part of a large group, small gathering, or just by yourself, our office can assist you in scheduling a free guided tour of the Capitol building during normal business hours.

 

Free tours are offered daily, year round. Tours depart from the ground floor Information Desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 am and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm. A 4:00 pm tour is offered Memorial Day through Labor Day. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are also open during the summer months.

 

 
 

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

Recently, I had the opportunity to testify alongside representatives from the Wisconsin Council on Physical Disabilities about AB 358, a bill that would fix a loophole in state law by allowing a taxicab to stop in a disabled parking space for the purpose of loading a passenger with a disability. I authored this legislation in response to a concern raised by a constituent who has a disability. I am hopeful that both the Assembly and Senate committees will hold executive sessions to pass the bill out of committee in the very near future so that it may be passed into law by the legislature this spring.

 

In this week’s newsletter you will find news about recent legislative action, an update on Oscar Mayer closing their Madison plant, and bad news about the use of public funds to pay for private and religious school tuition.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office. 

 

Sincerely,

Lisa Subeck

State Representative

78th Assembly District

 


Republicans Call Extraordinary Session on Anti-Democracy Bills

Legislative Republicans have convened an extraordinary session of the legislature. Unfortunately, this session will not focus on job growth or empowering the middle class, instead focusing on dismantling our ethics and elections watchdog and deregulating most election spending by special interests, corporations, and billionaires. Late Friday night, the Senate debated and passed AB 387 and AB 388.  AB 387 rewrites campaign finance laws to give corporations and billionaires more power and to shield their spending from the view of the public – and from the view of those charged with ensuring fairness and prosecuting corruption. AB 388 dismantles the Government Accountability Board, turning our highly regarded non-partisan watchdog into a partisan lapdog with no teeth.

 

During their debate, the Senate made a few changes to the two bills previously passed by the Assembly. Under the Senate changes to AB 387, candidates and political committees would have to report their finances twice every year rather than four times a year. Another change made to AB 387 included prohibiting Legislative committees from using corporate and union donations for express advocacy, ads that specifically call for a candidate's election or defeat. Lastly, the Senate changed what constitutes express advocacy coordination, saying candidates or their parties must specifically request a group to spend on their behalf and the group must explicitly agree for there to be reporting requirements.

 

The Senate made one change to AB 388, adding two retired judges to the newly created commission to oversee ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws.

 

While aspects of these changes are a step in the right direction, they do not even begin to overcome the significant problems with these bills. The Assembly is likely to be on the floor next week to debate and vote on the changes to AB 387 and AB 388

 

Here are links to the two bills and relevant amendments:

 

AB 387

AB 388  


Constitutional Amendment Proposed to Eliminate Conflict of Interest

Assembly and Senate Democrats put forth a constitutional amendment last week which would prohibit legislators from voting on any legislation that would financially benefit their campaign committee during the same biennial session. This is in response to Republicans pushing through AB 387, which would make significant changes to Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws and be in effect for the next election.

 

Wisconsinites have already spoken out about the need for accountability measure like this. Back in April of 1992, voters overwhelmingly passed an amendment to Wisconsin’s Constitution to specify that legislative compensation increases could only take effect after the next general election when a new legislative session begins. The same should be true of voting on legislation that financially benefits our re-election campaigns. This constitutional amendment ensures that Wisconsin legislators will never again be able to vote for bills that will directly benefit their campaign committees.

 


While Our Neighborhood Schools Struggle, Voucher Program Expands

Recently, I shared numbers from the Department of Public Instruction, showing that roughly 56 percent of the state’s 424 school districts, including the Madison, Verona, and Middleton school districts, will receive the same or less state aid than in the 2014-15 school year.

 

I was appalled to learn last week that while Wisconsin’s taxpayer-funded private school voucher program more than doubled in size this year, a full 81% of the newly funded vouchers went to students who were already enrolled in private school the previous year. This means that taxpayer dollars diverted from our public schools were used to pay for the private school tuition of families who were already paying for private school tuition on their own and that our neighborhood schools are now expected to educate nearly as many children as last year with significantly fewer financial resources to do so.  

 

Dane County has just one voucher school, the Lighthouse Christian School, which is located right here in the 78th Assembly District. This will be the school’s third year in the voucher program. Last year and the year before, the school had 10 voucher students. This year has tripled to 30, and of the students who are new to the voucher program this year, only five had previously attended public schools. Unfortunately, the voucher program has never been about providing choices for families. It has always been about diverting funds from our public schools to unaccountable private schools.

 


Oscar Mayer Leaving Madison  

On Wednesday, we learned that Oscar Mayer plans to close their Madison plant by 2017. This was disappointing news that will certainly impact the entire Madison community.

 

My office will be working with City officials, other legislators, and stakeholders to assist those who will be impacted. If you or someone you know will be impacted by Oscar Mayer’s Madison plant closure, here are some resources:

 

Click here to view resources available from the Department of Workforce Development

Click here to view resources available from Dane County Job Center

 

 

Do not hesitate to call or email my office with any questions or if we can be of any assistance.

 


Bridging the Gap Between Research and Action

Last week, I took part in panel for a UW graduate class on bridging the gap between research and action. The panel also included Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Albany School Board member Rebecca Mather. I was excited to have a discussion with students focused on the role of research in policy making. We were able to show and discuss with the students how policy decisions actually get made and how they can use their scientific training to influence the policy process.

 


Veterans Day

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, a time to honor our friends, family and neighbors who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans Day is a celebration for America's veterans recognizing their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to sacrifice for the common good. Please join me in honoring and thanking those who have served our country.

 

At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, there will be a Veterans Day ceremony in the Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda. This event is free and open to the public. The ceremony is being put on in conjunction with Operation Welcome Home, a two year commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War to honor Vietnam veterans, the fallen, the wounded, those unaccounted for, former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served.

 

Click here for more information about Operation Welcome Home.

 


Native American Heritage month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of our country’s Native American people. Native American Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate our friends and neighbors about the incredible history and unique challenges Native American people have faced and continue to face today.

 

Native American values, culture, and traditions formed the foundation of our state with contributions in areas such as agriculture, ecology, and education. Wisconsin is home to 11 Native American Tribes with 53,000 Wisconsinites identifying as Native American. To learn more about these 11 tribes you can visit the Wisconsin State Tribal Relations by clinking here.

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact

Glory of the Morning was the first woman ever described in the written history of Wisconsin. She was the only known female chief of the Ho-Chunk nation. She was a key part of the peaceful relations between the French settlers of the time and the Native American people of the Wisconsin territory.

 

 

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