Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


 April 12, 2017

 

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


West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches

Thursday, April 13

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

Nutritious meals are offered to those 60 and older. The meal is served at noon and participants must arrive on time. The suggested minimum donation is $4.00 but participants are encouraged to pay what they can afford. Transportation to the meal is available with an additional $1.00 donation. Meal and bus reservations or cancellations should be made by noon the preceding day by calling 238-0196.

 


Knitting at the Library

Thursday, April 13

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.

 


Skills in Computers and Literacy for Employment with Literacy Network

Thursday, April 13

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

This is a course in computer and employment literacy for adult students who want to improve their reading, writing and general communication skills. Each student will have an individual lesson plan created for them and will work through the semester on completing that plan. Skills learned will help with job searching and applications, completing the GED and improving skills on the computer. Contact Ezi at the Literacy Network, (608)244-3911, ext. 33, for more information or to register.

 


The Chambermaid: Films from the International Film Movement Series

Friday, April 14

6:45 pm - 8:45 pm

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

Join us at the Alicia Ashman Public Library on the second Friday of the month for thought provoking international films from the Film Movement Series.

 


Ecological Restoration Work Party

Saturday, April 15

9:00 am – 12:00pm

Grady Tract Parking Lot

Southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd

 

Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. More information: 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

 


Celebrate Poetry!

Saturday, April 15

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

Join local poets to help us celebrate National Poetry Month. Listen to original poetry; share some of your own poetry; or read some of your favorite poets' work. You can also participate in writing some group poetry. Let's all wax poetic!

 


For Love of the Earth Walk

Sunday, April 16

1:00pm – 2:30pm

UW Arboretum Visitor Center

1207 Seminole Hwy

 

The coming week marks both Earth Day and John Muir’s birthday. Join the naturalist to search for signs of spring and renewal. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

 


West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches

Tuesday, April 18

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

Nutritious meals are offered to those 60 and older. The meal is served at noon and participants must arrive on time. The suggested minimum donation is $4.00 but participants are encouraged to pay what they can afford. Transportation to the meal is available with an additional $1.00 donation. Meal and bus reservations or cancellations should be made by noon the preceding day by calling 238-0196.

 


Tabletop Game Night

Tuesday, April 18

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

We've got a ton of tabletop games, just waiting to be played! Drop in and join us!

 


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,

 

I was saddened to learn of this week’s school shooting in San Bernardino, California, that took the life of a teacher and an 8 year old child. Please join with me in mourning for those lost as a result of this senseless act of violence.

 

This week’s newsletter includes a summary of last Thursday’s Assembly action, an update on the state budget, and information regarding a dangerous Republican “permitless carry” bill.

 

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

 


Update from the Assembly Floor

The Assembly was called back into session last Thursday for the exclusive purpose of passing AB 109, a bill that limits the voice of town residents in Dane County on how zoning is handled in their towns, after Democrats used a procedural objection to delay action on the bill. The objection prevented passage of the bill and made it impossible for the State Senate to take up the legislation on the following day, which was their last scheduled session day of the month. If the bill were signed into law before April 18, it would have canceled already scheduled annual meeting votes of town residents on zoning in eight Dane County towns, which was exactly the author of the bill’s intention. The delayed action means the bill will not be passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor in time to impact impending votes. This is a significant win for town residents who oppose the actions proposed by their town boards to opt out of Dane County zoning.

 

Click here for more information.

 


State Budget Update

Next week, the public hearing process for the 2017-2019 budget will conclude, and members of the Joint Finance Committee will soon begin the process of voting on individual budget provisions.  

 

Governor Walker and Republican Assembly Speaker Vos have been engaged in war of words over the budget via Twitter and in text messages recently revealed by the Wisconsin State Journal.  One of the strongest areas of disagreement has been over transportation funding with legislative Republicans signaling the desire to start over from scratch in developing a transportation budget.   Roads are in increasingly poor condition; towns have to revert to gravel roads or defer maintenance; our transportation debt is too high; and excessive bonding for transportation has resulted in over $2 billion of necessary maintenance for UW System buildings being delayed in an effort to keep overall debt levels from escalating further.   It is my hope we will be able to find areas of agreement and we can work across party lines in the Assembly to address this challenge created by the Governor’s refusal to address the issue.  

 

When discussing the budget and other programs I try to provide examples of how the decisions we make will affect the people I represent.  All too often when discussing budgetary issues, the focus is entirely on the numbers. It is important not to lose sight of how the decisions being made in the budget impact our friends, neighbors, and communities over the next two years and well into the future.

 

I have joined other Democrats in the Assembly and Senate offering an agenda which is grounded in the day-to-day reality Wisconsinites face. It is the Wisconsin Way Forward. When proposing amendments to the budget, and authoring legislation outside of the budget process, we are guided by key principles of fairness, opportunity and community.  

 

Budgets are about priorities, and it is critical we focus not only on the numbers but also on the impact our decisions have on the people of Wisconsin. That is why I am committed to working for a budget that sets us on a path to the Wisconsin Way Forward.

 


Permitless Carry Introduced

I was not a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly when Wisconsin’s concealed carry law, allowing individuals with permits to carry concealed weapons, was passed.   Had I been, I would have voted against the bill. 

 

When concealed carry was debated, one of the arguments used by proponents to overcome broader opposition was that there would be a requirement that an individual either passed a hunting education course in the past or completed a training course specifically intended to be taken by persons wishing to carry concealed.   Applicants would have to apply to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, have a background check performed, and would be licensed provided they met these five criteria:

  •  Be 21 years of age or older.

  • Not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.

  • Not have been ordered as a condition of bail or release in a criminal case from possessing a dangerous weapon.

  • Be a Wisconsin resident.

  • Have provided proof of the firearms training required for a license.

Now, Republican lawmakers are set to take a dramatic departure from current law.   They have introduced dangerous legislation that would make licensing optional, effectively sidestepping background check and training requirements.   The legislation also prevents prohibiting weapons from being carried on vehicles that are part of a mass transit system and enables weapons to be carried in more locations than allowed under current law.   As a practical matter, the legislation also makes it easier to illegally hunt in a wildlife refuge, or by shining deer at night, by removing current law prohibitions on carrying loaded firearms in refuges or while shining deer.

 

Dropping the requirement for this training, for background checks, and for all of the other current permit requirement defies common sense. If passed, the change would have significant repercussions for our communities and may increase risk to our law enforcement officers, as well as put our most vulnerable neighbors at increased risk.

 

While I do not support the current concealed carry law, at least the licensing requirements which are presently in place require a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. While we do not have the votes necessary to repeal the current concealed carry law, it is my hope that enough legislators in both parties will have significant concerns about permitless carry and that the bill will be defeated should it move forward in the legislative process.

 


Gun Violence Panel

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to be a part of a panel on ending gun violence. Our state and nation face an epidemic of gun violence. It was great to discuss this issue with other leaders and groups such as Mom’s Demand Action. I was pleased to see so many people committed to ending gun violence in our community. A special thank you to the folks at First Baptist for including me and hosting the event.

 

 

 


April is Districted Driving Awareness Month

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) is raising awareness of distracted driving with the help of Kaitlyn Vegter sharing her story.

 

Early last year Kaitlyn was on her way to Janesville on a clear straight highway. While driving Kaitlyn reached down to change the music on her smart phone. Her eyes left the road just for only a few seconds, but the distraction changed her life forever. Kaitlyn’s car traveling at highway speed, slammed into the back of a pay loader that was turning into a farm driveway.

 

Fortunately, Kaitlyn survived the crash but suffered extensive injuries that required her to relearn how to walk, talk and even eat. Now, to raise awareness about districted driving, Kaitlyn is telling her story in a video produced by DOT.

 

Click here to watch a DOT video telling Kaitlyn Vegter’s story.

 

Just last year in Wisconsin, 113 people were killed in crashes in which at least one driver was listed as driving inattentively. In addition, 11,302 people were injured in distracted driving crashes in 2016. Fatalities from distracted crashes in 2016 increased nearly 10 percent from 2015 when 103 people were killed. The number of people injured last year in distracted driving crashes also went up more than 6 percent from 2015 when 10,640 were injured.

 

Remember: distracted driving your life and the lives of others on the road in danger. 

 


Verona Road Update

Next week the following progress will be made in the Verona Road Project:

  • East Frontage Road work will continue with grading, aggregates, storm sewer.

  • Retaining wall and storm sewer work will take place south of County PD (McKee Road) adjacent to Nesbitt Road and Verona Road.

  • New Fitchrona Road, between King James Way and Kapec Road, to continue with grading and new sidewalk along south side of the roadway.

  • Water main work along north side of roadway will start around April 22.

  • This section of roadway will close for reconstruction starting Saturday, April 22 and extend until early June 2017.

  • At the County PD and Fitchrona Road intersection, temporary traffic signals will be installed/completed.

  • Work may begin on adding right turn lane at Fitchrona Road to eastbound County PD with grading/aggregates.

  • To build the right turn lane on Fitchrona Road, one lane will remain CLOSED and remaining lanes will be altered to maintain traffic on Fitchrona Road.

  • County PD and Fitchrona Road will remain open during this work, but daytime single lane closures (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) may be needed.

  • Restoration efforts to continue at Williamsburg Way roundabout and sidewalk terraces.

  • Landscaping in terraces along Nesbitt to continue this week as well.

For more details or if you have any questions about the construction you can visit the project’s Department of Transportation website by clicking here.

 


The IRS Will Not Call and Threaten You

Despite a recent lull, fake Internal Revenue Service (IRS) phone calls are back. This nationwide scam appeared to take a temporary break following the crackdown on a foreign call center last year, but the Consumer Protection Hotline at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has recently received a number of reports of these types of scam attempts.

 

Click here to read more information and helpful tips to protect yourself.

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact

Wisconsin’s flag depicts the United States shield and national motto. The surrounding icons represent the State’s main industries: mining, shipping, labor, and agriculture. The cornucopia and lead-pile represent the state’s abundant farms and minerals.

 

 

 

 

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