Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


 June 8, 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


Neither Heaven Nor Earth: Films from the International Film Movement Series

Friday, June 9

6:30 pm - 8:30 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.

 


Elver Park Farmers Market

 Saturday, June 10 - September 16

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Elver Park, 1250 McKenna Blvd.

 


West Side Farmers Market

Saturdays, April 15 to November 4

7:00 am – 1:00 pm

New location: 750 University Row

Behind the UW Health Digestive Health Center

 


FAMILY EVENT: Safety Saturday

Saturday, June 10

9:00 am- 1:00 pm
1 N. Pinckney St

Support your family’s dreams at DreamBank! We’re proud to team up with the Madison Police and Fire Departments to share exciting ways parents and kids can make safer decisions, prevent injuries and use life-saving devices such as seat belts, bike helmets and smoke alarms. Stop in for a free child ID, fun hands-on activities, and fun giveaways!

 


One on One Computer Coaching

Saturday, June 10

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

Sign up for a one-hour session (starting at 1pm or 2:30pm) with a Computer Coach providing individualized instruction on using word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel) and other computer basics.

 


Strawberry Moon Night Walk

Saturday, June 10

8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

UW Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy

 

Many Native North American tribes called June’s full moon the Strawberry, or Heart- berry, Moon (full June 9). Watch for its rise as our hike ends, look and listen for wildlife   who may be stirring in the dark. Meet at the Visitor Center.

 


Family Opera Day

Sunday, June 11

12:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Overture Center’s The Playhouse

201 State Street

 

Opera for the Young’s 7th annual Family Opera Day is here and we invite the whole family to take part in this FREE event! This year we’ll feature our Old West version of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. Pre-show activities begin at noon: kids make props and the whole audience is introduced to our Elixir choruses so everyone can sing along!

 


Who’s That Buzzing in Your Ear?

Sunday, June 11

1:30 pm- 2:30 pm

UW Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy

 

Discover the fun and fascinating world of insects on a walk designed for families. Meet at the Visitor Center. 

 


Alicia Ashman Mystery Book Group

Monday, June 12

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

Join the Alicia Ashman Mystery Book Group for discussions of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense titles. Be ready to share with the group recent reads in these genres. Our next title will be available for pick-up following today's discussion, with extra copies available while supplies last. 

 


Letterpress Workshop with Anjali Bhasin

Monday, June 12

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

Come learn the centuries-old craft of letterpress printing at the library! Learn how to hand-set type and print your own custom message.
No prior experience necessary, ages 14+.

 

Registration required, visit: madisonbubbler.org to register!

 


West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches

Tuesday, June 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.

 


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,

 

June is a busy month for the Legislature and is typically when we receive an amended version of the budget from the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) for consideration by the full Senate and Assembly. However, the JFC’s work on the budget has stalled due to continued disagreement and dysfunction among Republican leadership. Meanwhile, we are preparing for an Assembly floor session next week, which is keeping our various committees very busy.

 

In this week’s newsletter, you will find news and updates on the state budget, proposed legislation to end discrimination against transgender people, a health care town hall I attended in Paul Ryan’s district, and a legislation to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them.

 

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

 


Safe Storage for Gun Safety

Saturday marked National Gun Violence Awareness Day, when thousands of people across the country honor and remember victims and survivors of gun violence and demand action to make our communities safer. This week I introduced a package of legislation that would keep guns out of the hands of children and individuals not allowed to possess firearms. This Safe Storage for Gun Safety legislation would take common sense steps to keep our families and our communities safe by ensuring that legally owned firearms are stored safely and are less likely to fall into the hands of those who should not have them.

 

Below is information on what each bill will do and a link to the legislation:

 

LRB-1660 would require reporting of lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours of discovering they are lost or stolen. This legislation enables law enforcement to trace guns more effectively, and makes for the successful prosecution of users of stolen guns more likely.

 

LRB-1659 would require that at the time of sale or transfer of a firearm, the seller provide the individual receiving the gun with a secure lockable container or trigger lock for the firearm.

 

LRB-1658 would require a gun owner to store firearms in a locked container or have a locking device engaged if a person who cannot legally possess a firearm lives in the residence.

 

LRB-0963 would require a gun owner to store firearms in a locked container or have a locking device engaged if there is a child living in the residence or if a child is present in the home.

 

These bills are currently circulating for co-sponsorship by other legislators and will be formally introduced and assigned their final bill numbers in a couple of weeks.

 


Health Care Town Hall in Kenosha

On Monday, I joined ten of my Democratic colleagues from the Assembly and Senate for a health care town hall meeting in Kenosha, an area represented by House Speaker, Paul Ryan. Speaker Ryan was invited, but despite the fact he was in town that day, he opted not attend. However, a cardboard likeness of the Congressman was present at the event. My colleague, Representative Tod Ohnstad, who represents the area in the State Legislature, did a great job of planning and hosting the event, and the hearing was packed. We heard from residents about how the uncertainty of health care and the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act affects them and about the real challenges Wisconsin families are facing.

 

A retired teacher spoke about the importance of ensuring children and their families have access to healthcare. “Sick children can’t learn,” she said. Another woman spoke about her wife and daughter. Her daughter has a pre-existing condition with high cost medications that she depends on to function. “I’m worried about the two of them,” she said.

 

We heard from a cardiac surgeon who spoke about our country’s need to change course and treat healthcare as right like every other industrialized country does. “Healthcare is a right,” the doctor said. “Countries that have it for everybody have healthcare with higher quality and lower costs.”

 

The GOP’s health plan, which contains fat tax breaks for the wealthy, puts health care in jeopardy for millions of Americans.  The House Republican bill being referred to as RyanCare represents a step backward toward a time when health care was out of reach for too many. We cannot afford to return to a time when one health care emergency meant losing a home or filing bankruptcy. And no one should have to forego health care because of the cost. Lives are at stake, and it is time Paul Ryan and the Republicans stop playing politics with health care.

 

Click here for in-depth coverage of the Town Hall from the Kenosha News.

 

Click here for video from Monday’s town hall meeting.

 


Budget Update

In addition to the budget information provided here, you can visit our Wisconsin Way Forward website to find budget papers, motions, and more. Click here to visit the site at wisconsindems.com. Follow the link to “Joint Finance Votes” for budget information.

 

Currently, it appears that the Joint Finance Committee’s work on the budget has stalled.  Disagreement and dysfunction among Republican leadership in the Senate and Assembly and Gov. Scott Walker has created an impasse.  These differences may result in the budget process breaking down and Republicans in each house of the Legislature proposing their own versions of the budget. One thing that is crystal clear is that it is the people of Wisconsin who suffer as Republicans play political games and continue their grandstanding around the budget.

 

One key area of breakdown is the education budget.  This week, Assembly Republicans released a 13 page memo outlining changes they wish to make to to K-12 education funding.   Senate Republicans rejected the proposal and reportedly favor working from Governor’s proposal, albeit with even less funding than the Governor proposed. Instead of working through these differences – and instead of including Democrats and the public in the conversation – the Republican chairs of JFC simply cancelled their meetings this week and continue their infighting behind closed doors.  

 

Governor Walker and Republican legislators have cut more than $1.2 billion to public schools over the last six years.  I believe we need to invest more money in the education of our children in the public schools and that includes working to attract and retain individuals who have a passion for teaching.   We also need to put an end to the petty partisan attacks on our public schools and teachers.  Education funding challenges are not going to be resolved with omnibus motions developed behind closed doors by a handful of Republicans.   

 

As the time ticks by, it becomes less likely every day that a budget will be passed and signed into law by July 1 when the next fiscal year begins.  While JFC activities are at a standstill this week, the Committee did take action on a number of items last week.

 

Department of Natural Resources

 

Democrats moved to keep the Natural Resources Magazine and continue the current publication schedule of six times per year.  Republicans opposed that motion and instead voted to decrease the number of magazines produced from six to four and put a partisan communications director in charge of editing the magazine. One can only assume that as long as Republicans are in charge, this partisan communications director will stand in the way of publishing scientifically accurate information about climate change and protecting our environment.

 

Republicans also adopted the Governor’s recommendations related to fee increases for state park daily admission fees and nightly camping fees.   In the case of daily park admission fees, the fee could increase as much as $5, as determined by the DNR Secretary.   Camping fees could go up by as much as $10 per night under the proposal.

 

Department of Workforce Development

 

An effort by Democrats to allocate funding for grants to technical colleges for expanded workforce training programs to train unemployed and underemployed workers was defeated by Republicans.

 

Democrats also offered motions to reinstate equal pay enforcement, raise the minimum wage, and expand family and medical leave.  All of these motions were defeated on party line votes.

 


Privacy Protection and Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act

No one should be subjected to discrimination in housing, employment, health insurance, use of public accommodations, or any other activities of everyday life.  Unfortunately, transgender individuals are subjected to this sort of discrimination on a daily basis.

 

Earlier this week, I joined my colleague, Representative Mark Spreitzer, and members of the LGBT community for a press conference announcing proposed legislation to extend Wisconsin’s nondiscrimination laws to include transgender people by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression.

 

Gender identity or gender expression means a person’s gender-related identity, gender-related appearance, gender-related expression, or gender-related behavior, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth or the gender labels on their driver’s license or state ID card.

 

Though extending our nondiscrimination laws to protect transgender people will not stop all bullying or harassment, it will ensure that transgender people have the equal opportunity to get an education, find a job, have a home, access healthcare, and enjoy public accommodations available to everyone else. Wisconsin was the very first state to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and it is time we lead again by providing critical protections for the transgender community in our state.

 


Wisconsin’s Heat Awareness Day

In the last five years, 48 people in Wisconsin died as a result of extreme heat. Health officials say some of these cases could have been prevented. That’s why Governor Walker has declared June 8, 2017 as Wisconsin’s Heat Awareness Day to remind everyone of the dangers associated with extreme heat.

 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health analyzed death records submitted to the Office of Vital Records from the years 2011-2015 where heat was an underlying or contributing cause of death. The most heat-related deaths occurred during the heat wave in 2012, when 26 deaths were reported. In 2015, the most recent year for recorded death data, only one heat-related death was reported in Wisconsin.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are on average 658 deaths in the U.S. each year caused by extreme heat. This is more than those caused by tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and lightning combined.

 

Many victims of heat-related deaths are socially isolated. This is why it is important to check in on family, friends, and neighbors during extreme heat. Those most vulnerable include very young children, the elderly, and people with heart disease or high blood pressure. Individuals who are on certain medications may also be more susceptible to illnesses during extreme heat events. Of the Wisconsin residents that died of heat-related causes in the last five years, more than 70% were older than 65.

 

Click here for more information and tips on how to stay cool.

 


Don’t Get Tripped Up By Vacation Scams

The official start of summer is only weeks away, but many of us are still finalizing our vacation plans. With so many places to go and so many travel packages to consider, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) asks travelers to watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals and keep a close eye on any fine print that accompanies an offer.

 

Fraudulent vacation-related operations often involve one of two elements: postcard mailers promising free or heavily discounted travel and online advertisements for rental properties. 

 

The postcards may be fronts for high-pressure sales pitches for vacation clubs or timeshares.  In some cases they may be ploys to get potential victims to pay taxes or fees on a non-existent prize.

 

Online ads that feature unbelievably low prices on rental properties in vacation hotspots should alert you to be suspicious of the offer and to do more research. You might even notice that scammers have ripped pictures and descriptions of properties from real estate listings and posted the information to a classified ad as a rental property.

 

Click here for more information and tips to help protect yourself.

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact

On June 8, 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later built his famous home, Taliesin, in Spring Green. He is known for his work as an architect and writer and is considered one of the most important American architects in history. Wright believed that buildings should reflect and harmonize with their environment and advocated the use of native materials in his architecture.

 

The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, pictured (left/right), was his 1938 design for “a dream civic center.” Payment for the design was $250 for Wright and his staff spending a combined 63,000 hours toward the project over a span of 21 years. More than 50 years later, Mayor Paul Soglin led efforts to finally build the Center designed by Wright. After much debate and a citywide referendum, construction on Monona Terrace finally began in 1994, and it opened its doors in 1997.

 

Click here to view a complete list of Wright’s work compiled by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

 

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