Redistricting Reform: April Fools’ Day Hearing

Last week, Representative Kathy Bernier (R – Chippewa Falls) played what was perhaps one of the least humorous April Fools’ Day jokes on the people of Wisconsin. She scheduled an informational hearing about legislative redistricting but did not allow the public – or even authors of the non-partisan redistricting reform bill – to testify.

 The committee only allowed invited guests to speak and was scheduled for a Friday just before the hotly contested election where media and public attention has been focused. Appropriately enough, it also coincided with April Fools’ Day.

The non-partisan redistricting bill (AB 328) introduced by the Assembly Democratic Freshman Caucus, which would turn redistricting authority over to the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau, was not on the agenda nor was it discussed. The Republican committee Chair, Kathleen Bernier, chose to outright ignore AB 328, which has sat in her committee for six months, and instead tried to simply give the appearance of fulfilling a promise to hold such a hearing. Worst of all, only one other Republican on the committee was even in attendance for the hearing.

Watch your Mailboxes for my 2016 Legislative Newsletter and Survey

My 2016 legislative newsletter will be hitting mailboxes in the next week or so. Included in the newsletter is a survey on a wide range of legislative issues on which I would like your feedback. I would appreciate it if you would please complete the survey and mail it back to my office.  

The legislative survey is also now available online. Click here if you would prefer to fill out the survey electronically. Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.

Tenant Resource Center Iron Chef Event

Last week, I had the opportunity to cook for the Tenant Resource Center iron chef competition which raises funds for their organization. This was my second year cooking for the event which benefits a great organization doing much needed work in our community. The TRC is a nonprofit organization that promotes positive relations between tenants and landlords throughout Wisconsin. The TRC provides information and referrals, education about rental rights and responsibilities, and access to conflict resolution in order to help individuals obtain and maintain quality affordable housing.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with rental housing visit the Tenant Resource Center's website at www.tenantresourcecenter.org.

Wisconsin’s Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week April 11-15

To give families a chance to test their emergency plans, a statewide tornado drill will be held during the evening of April 14, 2016. The drill is part of the annual spring severe weather campaign to encourage people in Wisconsin to get ready for possible tornadoes and severe weather.

Governor Walker has declared April 11-15, 2016 as Wisconsin’s Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week. Wisconsin Emergency Management, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) have once again teamed up to sponsor the statewide tornado drill scheduled for Thursday, April 14.  

For the first time, a mock tornado warning will be issued at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans. Earlier in the day, a mock tornado watch will be issued at 1:00 p.m. and a mock tornado warning will be issued at 1:45 p.m. Many radio and TV stations across the state will issue the test tornado warnings. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios and many communities will sound their tornado sirens.

According to the NWS, Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually. Last year, there were 17 tornado touchdowns in the state. All of the tornadoes were either an EF0 or EF1. On August 19, 2015, two tornadoes touched down near Lake Geneva and Big Bend causing damage to area business. No one was injured.

The statewide tornado drill is a great opportunity for schools, businesses and families to test their emergency plans about what to do and where to go when severe weather strikes. The tornado drill will take place even if the sky is cloudy, dark and or rainy. If actual severe storms are expected in the state on Thursday, April 14, the tornado drills will be postponed until Friday, April 15 with the same times. If severe storms are possible Friday the drills will be cancelled.

Any changes will be issued to local media as well as posted on the ReadyWisconsin website. Updates will also be posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum

The Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a week-long leadership training and career awareness program for high school students with disabilities held June 26- July 1, 2016 at Edgewood College in Madison, WI.

YLF is for high school students with a disability who are active in their school and/or community and would like to develop leadership and advocacy skills, explore career options, and start making valuable connections with others.

Click here to access the application form and other information available.

Application Deadline: Monday, May 1, 2016

Costs of the program are covered by BPDD.

If you have any questions, contact John Shaw at: john1.shaw@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-7707.

Verona Road (US 18/151) Project Update

Next week (April 11-15) is Work Zone Awareness Week in Wisconsin. Work zones can be challenging – often involving lane shifts, narrow or uneven pavements and reduced speeds. Last year, three Wisconsin county highway employees tragically lost their lives in work-related crashes. For everyone's safety, please be alert for crews in the area and slow down in all work zones!

Westbound and eastbound Beltline, Whitney Way to Seminole Highway

• No nightly lane closures anticipated for westbound and eastbound Beltline, Seminole Highway to Whitney Way.

• Updated: No nighttime ramp closures anticipated at the Beltline and Verona Road interchange.

• Updated: Nighttime grading for the new westbound Beltline bridge (east abutment area). Noise is expected from backup alarms and construction vehicles in the area.

• Updated: Read the westbound Beltline construction activities.

• NEW RAMP MOVEMENTS: Learn about the temporary ramp exit locations from the westbound Beltline to Verona Road and to Whitney Way.

• View the construction staging plans for the Beltline, Whitney Way to Seminole Highway.

  • Note: You will need to zoom in to see details.

Verona Road, Midvale Boulevard and Mohawk Drive

• Updated: Daily and nightly lane closures to occur on westbound Beltline ramps at Verona Road and at Midvale Boulevard/Nakoma Road intersection for storm sewer, grading, aggregate placement and water main work.

  • 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (April 11-15)

  • 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. (April 11-15) - Noise is expected from grading work, along with backup alarms and construction vehicles in the area.

• Midvale Blvd. traffic shifted to west side of roadway, between the Beltline and Nakoma Road.

• Mohawk Drive CLOSED to through traffic, between Nakoma Road and Doncaster Drive, until late May 2016; no detour posted.

  • Access to local businesses to be maintained from Nakoma Road or Mohawk Drive.

  • Work will continue on new water main, storm sewer and pavement in this area.

• Updated: Daytime and nighttime bridge construction ongoing with grading for new east abutment and center pier. Daytime piling operations to continue throughout the week.

• Updated: Daytime work for retaining wall construction to start at the west abutment of the new Beltline bridge.

• Updated: Utility relocation work (daytime only) to begin at the Midvale Blvd. and Nakoma Road intersection. Multiple utility contractors working at the intersection.

• Pedestrians are encouraged to use the pedestrian overpasses east and west of Verona Road. View the pedestrian accommodations along Midvale Blvd. and Verona Road.

Plan Ahead: Week of April 18-22

Updated: Read about construction activities for week of April 18-22.

For more information, contact:
Steven Theisen
Verona Road Project Communications Manager
(608) 884-1230 | steven.theisen@dot.wi.gov

STAY INFORMED: Verona Road Project website | Project Facebook page

You Ask, I Answer

“You Ask, I Answer” is a feature of my weekly newsletter where you can get your questions answered. From time to time, a constituent emails or calls with a question that may also be of interest to others. Therefore, I created this feature, allowing constituents to email me questions for consideration in a future newsletter.

Please feel free to email your questions to Rep.Subeck@legis.wisconsin.gov, and we may share the answer in a future e-newsletter.

This week’s question was submitted by a constituent who wanted to know about the district map.

Read on for more details.

Question: The map of the 78th district looks like a patchwork quilt. When did that happen, and why?

Answer: The current map of the 78th Assembly District was determined after the redistricting process which occurred in 2011 using data based on the 2010 Census. Many areas changed hands during this process between the 78th and its neighboring districts.

Click here to view the map of the 78th Assembly District. Within the 78th Assembly District there are several islands through the district that are not in the district. Those areas of land are currently part of the Town of Middleton, the Town of Verona, and the Town of Madison that were not included in the 78th Assembly District during redistricting. Many of these areas will be annexed into the City of Madison in the future.

The 2011 redistricting process in Wisconsin was part of an unfortunate national trend of state governments dominated by one political party drawing district boundaries in a way that benefited the members of the dominant party. Wisconsin became one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation after the 2011 redistricting process. Not only was this redistricting process unfair, it was also expensive. The realignment required the hiring of outside attorneys, as well as exorbitant legal fees stemming from ongoing lawsuits challenging the redistricting. The process has cost the taxpayers of Wisconsin over $2 million to date, with additional legal fees still possible for pending lawsuits.

To ensure a fairer process in the future, the Assembly Democrats have offered AB 328, a bill which would take redistricting authority away from politicians and give these powers to the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau and a to-be-created Redistricting Advisory Commission. Such a system has worked quite well in Iowa for several decades, and would ensure that in Wisconsin redistricting is done fairly no matter who is in power. In a democracy, voters should choose their representatives, and not the other way around.

Tax Deadline Less than Two Weeks Away

The deadline for filing your federal and Wisconsin individual income tax return is April 18th this year. Some may be asking, "Why April 18th?" The District of Columbia observes Emancipation Day on April 15th this year. Emancipation Day is a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. It usually falls on April 16, but when April 16 is a Saturday – which it is this year – then Emancipation Day moves to Friday the 15th. When April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, a return is considered timely filed if it is filed on the next succeeding day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, which is April 18th this year. Wisconsin follows the federal tax return deadline.

Emancipation Day celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act. On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Act, which freed more than 3,000 slaves in the District of Columbia. The anniversary of the Act signing has been a legal holiday in Washington, D.C. since 2005.

If you cannot file by the April 18 deadline, you must request an extension from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by April 18 to avoid penalties. Go to the IRS website for more information (keyword search: extension).  Taxpayers who file an extension request with the IRS automatically receive a state extension.  Keep a copy of the IRS’ federal extension application (Form 4868) for your records.

Even though you may have an extension of time to file your return, you will owe interest on any tax not paid by April 18, 2016. Returns not filed by April 18, 2016, or during an extension period, are subject to additional interest and penalties. If you expect to owe additional tax, you can avoid the 1% per month interest charge during the extension period by making an estimate of the amount you will owe and paying the estimated amount by April 18, 2016. Submit the payment with a 2015 Wisconsin Estimated Tax Voucher.

Fun Wisconsin Fact

In 1904, the City of Madison received 50 acres of land from William and Anna Vilas under the conditions that it be used "for the uses and purposes of a public park and pleasure ground”. The park was named in honor of the Vilas's son, Henry, who died at a young age from complications related to diabetes. This land is now known as Vilas Park and the Henry Vilas Zoo.

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