Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 

It has been heartbreaking to watch the devastation in Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey. While we have not been impacted directly by the storm, Wisconsinites across the state have been stepping up to help out the victims of the storm. Click here to see how you can help the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County in their efforts to collect supplies. You can also visit the Red Cross website to find out how you can help.

In this newsletter you will find a budget update, an invitation to a town hall meeting on health care, information about a new website to promote fresh local food, and a Verona Road project update.

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

Budget Update
Joint Finance Committee Republicans reduced Gov. Walker’s funding proposal for our K-12 neighborhood schools by $10 million. The funding approved does not even come close to filling the hole created by $1 billion in cuts made by Republicans during recent budget cycles. Republicans once again expanded the voucher program which diverts funds from our neighborhood schools to unaccountable private schools.

Republicans also eliminated a provision in the budget that would have increased funding by $18 million to small, rural school districts. Instead, Republicans are incentivizing school district consolidation, which will lead to higher transportation costs and travel distances for students in rural areas.

Democrats offered a bold alternative that would have increased the state’s investment in public schools by $730 million. The Democratic motion would have implemented State Superintendent Tony Evers’ Fair Funding Plan and restored funding lost under restrictions that Republicans created for school districts in 2011. The Democratic alternative would have also made landmark investments in special education and expanded mental health services in our schools.

Click here to read more about the Democrats’ education proposal.

The Joint Finance Committee has given notice that they will reconvene on Tuesday, September 5, to vote on the remainder of the budget including transportation funding. Watch for an update in next week’s newsletter.

Foster Care Task Force Meeting in Wausau
Last week, the Task Force on Foster Care met in Wausau. There, we heard from local leaders and organizations who work directly with the Foster Care system. The hearing focused primarily on community response programs. These are abuse and neglect prevention programs that work with families at risk or with identified concerns prior to reaching the level of a child abuse or neglect finding.

We heard from agency representatives and from families who have provided foster care about what they see as challenges within the system. One major obstacle, especially in rural communities, is the need for more foster families. A number of other potential improvements were identified, as well.

What is quickly becoming clear is that the solution to our state’s increase in out-of-home placements of children and shortage of foster families is not simply to increase the number of available placements. Prevention is also a crucial piece of the solution. In addition to producing the best outcomes for children, successfully preventing abuse and neglect through investing in evidence based interventions with at-risk families saves the state money in the long run.

In September we will continue to tour the state holding hearings in both La Crosse and Dodgeville to gain more information about how we can improve Foster Care in Wisconsin.

Verona Road Update
The next construction phase of the Verona Road (US 18/151) Project in Fitchburg will start Tuesday, September 5. Mobilization of crews and equipment will occur this week with minimal traffic impacts. The Verona Road Project is reconstructing and expanding Verona Road from Raymond Road south to County PD (McKee Road), and building interchanges at Williamsburg Way and County PD. Work on this phase will include:

• Reconstruction of Verona Road south of County PD (including the County PD interchange);

• Construction of the westbound interchange ramps between County PD and Raymond Road;

• Construction of the Williamsburg Way bridge over Verona Road; and

• Reconstruction of Verona Road south of Raymond Road.

This fall, temporary widening will occur on Verona Road, from Fitchrona Road to Raymond Road, and will be used for future traffic staging. Nighttime grading and paving operations are expected in this area, and noise from equipment and backup alarms is also anticipated during these activities. Two lanes will remain open to traffic in each direction on Verona Road, especially during peak travel times. Nighttime single lane closures will occur on Verona Road in this area between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. Access continues to remain open to area businesses and neighborhoods throughout construction.

This phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by summer 2019 – weather permitting. The entire Verona Road Project is currently scheduled to be completed in fall 2020. You can watch the narrated animation video of Verona Road in Fitchburg to see the completed version of the project (circa 2020).

Also as a reminder, it is illegal to talk on a handheld mobile device while driving in a Wisconsin road work zone. Learn more about the "No Phones In Work Zones" law. For everyone's safety, please take a more active role in work zone safety – be alert and drive with caution in all work zones, and eliminate all distractions when behind the wheel!

Click here for more information and to sign up for Verona Road updates through the Department of Transportation.

Join Dane County Legislators for a Town Hall on Health Care
My Democratic colleagues and I have been holding health care town halls around the state. Next week, we are holding one right here in Madison. I invite you to come share your thoughts, concerns, and stories about healthcare issues and policies being debated both in the State Capitol and in Washington. We want to hear from you.

Health Care Town Hall
Thursday, September 7
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sequoya Public Library
430 Tokay Boulevard, Madison
 

Wisconsin Local Food at Your Fingertips
For over a year REAP Food Group, Inc. and a grassroots coalition throughout Wisconsin have been working on a project called the Farm Fresh Atlas. Last week farmfreshatlas.org went live. The site maps out 378 farmers and food producers, 225 farmers’ markets, 87 restaurants and bakeries that serve local food, 58 retailers that sell local food and 36 organizations that support local growers. The site also houses local food events from farm tours to chef demonstrations.

Each listed farm and business commits to the Farm Fresh Atlas pledge to ensure they practice environmental sustainability, treat workers fairly, and sell products that are grown or produced on a family or cooperatively owned farm.

Each farm listed in the Atlas pledges that it:

• Is cooperatively or family-owned

• Is committed to reducing the application of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

• Operates in a way that protects and sustains the region's land and water resources

• Treats animals with care, respect, and access to the outdoors

• Provides safe, fair working conditions for employees

• Sells Wisconsin products that they have grown or helped produce on their farm.

Each business and organization listed in the Atlas pledges that it:

• Is locally and cooperatively or family-owned or is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote a sustainable regional food system

• Operates in a way that protects and sustains the region's land and water resources

• Provides safe and fair working conditions for employees

• Sells or advocates for products grown on Wisconsin farms, or sells products made by their business using raw materials grown on Wisconsin farms, or uses fair trade, sustainable, and/or organic ingredients in their products

We can all help support the local economy and have unique food adventures by visiting locations featured in the Farm Fresh Atlas.

Watch For Post Hurricane Harvey Charity Scams
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is urging consumers to do their research before sending money to a charity claiming to help those affected by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey.

Fake charity schemes will use any available means of soliciting “donations” — they may make their pitch over the phone, by mail or online. They will often use names and website addresses that are nearly identical to those of major established charities, so pay close attention to the wording in a donation pitch. Keep in mind that most legitimate charity websites end in “.org” rather than “.com.”

Consider the following tips to protect yourself from charity scammers:

• Watch for social network messages, e-mails or text messages that claim to have exclusive information or photos. Clicking on attachments or clicking links in these communications can expose your computer or phone to malicious software.

• Look up charities by name at www.charitynavigator.org or www.give.org.

• Use caution with any that popped up since the incident. Research who will administer the funds, how they will be used and if donations are tax-deductible.

• Be leery of high-pressure pitches, and requests to wire money.

• Avoid donating cash or wiring money to people or organizations you don’t know.

• If you are donating via a public fundraising website (often called “crowdfunding”), review the site’s safety and security policies before making a payment. While these sites typically have a number of safeguards in place for users, understand that there is no way to guarantee that the information posted is completely accurate or truthful.

• If you question the legitimacy of a charity, seek out contact information for the operation rather than using the contact information provided in the pitch or search listing.

Under Wisconsin state law, most organizations soliciting for charitable donations must register and file an annual report with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). To check if a charity is registered, visit the DFI website or email: DFICharitableOrgs@wisconsin.gov.

For additional information or to file a complaint, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at http://datcp.wi.gov, send an e-mail to DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline toll-free at 1-800-422-7128.

Fun Wisconsin Fact
Founded in 1911, Devil's Lake is the third oldest state park in Wisconsin. It is also the largest and the most visited of our parks. Devil's Lake offers magnificent views from its 500 foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360 acre lake. Visitors can enjoy lakeshore picnic areas, sandy swimming beaches, 29 miles of hiking trails, or ease into the backcountry solitude. Devil's Lake is a beautiful year-round park with an intriguing natural history along the 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Click here to read more information about Devils Lake State Park and to plan your next trip!