Call
for Special Session on Preventing Gun Violence
This week I stood with County Executive Joe Parisi, Madison Schools
Superintendent Cheatham, students and community members in calling for a
special session of the legislature in order to pass bills that will help
end gun violence. Together, we held a press conference at the MMSD Doyle
Administration building and will be delivering a letter signed by
legislators and petitions signed by Wisconsinites to the Governor
demanding action.
Every child has the right to a school that is safe and secure, and
parents have the right to expect that their children will be safe at
school. I will continue fighting for legislation that moves us closer to
that goal, which is why I am working with other legislators, students,
parents and local government officials and community leaders to push for
common sense policy change.
Governor
Walker Sued Over Vacant Legislative Seats
Last year, Republican State Senator Frank Lasee and Republican State
Representative Keith Ripp resigned to take positions in the Walker
Administration. However, the Governor has not called special elections
for those offices despite a clear statutory requirement that special
elections be called for these seats. A group led by former U.S. Attorney
General Eric Holder filed a lawsuit on Monday against Gov. Scott Walker
for his decision to leave two vacant legislative seats open for nearly a
year.
Under statute 8.50(4)(d), “Any vacancy in the office of state senator or
representative to the assembly occurring before the 2nd Tuesday in May
in the year in which a regular election is held to fill that seat shall
be filled as promptly as possible by special election.” The law is
clear, and the Governor is obligated to act.
Both of the seats in question have the potential of changing from
Republican to Democratic in a special election – just as the 10th Senate
District did in a recent special election. It is clear that the Governor
is politically motivated not to hold elections for these seats and
purposefully denying the residents of these districts the ability to be
represented in the Senate and Assembly.
WHEDA
Announces Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
Yesterday, I attended Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development
Authority (WHEDA)’s announcement of the recipients of $13.4 million in
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Congratulations to Common Bond
Communities, who was awarded LIHTC to build the upcoming Tree Lane
Senior Apartments right here in District 78. The project was among seven
in Dane County to be awarded the credits by WHEDA through a competitive
process.
Alzheimer’s
Association Advocacy Day
On Tuesday, I met with district residents who participated in
Alzheimer’s Association Lobby Day. I appreciated hearing from them
firsthand how Alzheimer’s disease is affecting their families.
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory,
thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse
over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. There
are 115,000 Wisconsinites living with Alzheimer’s, 7,000 in Dane County.
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering
newly learned information because Alzheimer's changes typically begin in
the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer's advances
through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including
disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about
events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and
professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes;
and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.
Click here to visit the Alzheimer’s Association website detailing 10
Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Meet
Our Intern, Laura
Laura is originally from the suburbs of Minneapolis and started
interning in the spring. She is sophomore at the University of Wisconsin
Madison studying Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies. Laura
has always been very passionate about women’s rights and is also
involved with the Campus Women’s Center and UW Chapter of NOW. In her
spare time, she enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and reading a good
book. Post-graduation, Laura hopes to pursue a career as a lobbyist.
Mark
Your Calendars: Quarterly Verona Road Meetings set for 2018
Back by popular demand, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)
will host quarterly open house meetings in 2018 to discuss design and
construction activities for Stage 2 of the Verona Road (US 18/151)
reconstruction project, from Raymond Road south to County PD (McKee
Road) in Fitchburg.
When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
-Thursday, March 15, 2018
-Thursday, June 21, 2018
-Thursday, September 20, 2018
-Thursday, December 13, 2018
Where: Verona Road Project Field Office
6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, Fitchburg, WI
A brief construction preview will be shared promptly at 5:30 p.m.
Otherwise stop by at your convenience. Maps and exhibits of the Verona
Road improvements will be on display. WisDOT representatives will be
available at these meetings to discuss the project on an individual
basis.
Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance (VITA) in Madison
The VITA program is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) and many individual states, including Wisconsin. Volunteers
trained by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) prepare
and electronically file basic income tax returns for free.
Richard Dilley Tax Center,
The Villager Mall (Atrium Entrance)
2300 S. Park St.
Madison, WI 53713
608-283-1261
Mondays: 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Wednesdays: 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Saturdays: 9:00am-3:00pm
Through April 14, 2018
No appointment required
You can also become a volunteer by
clicking here and filling out the volunteer information form. When
VITA receives your form, a site coordinator in your area will contact
you about the available volunteer opportunities.
Top
Ten Consumer Complaints of 2017
Telemarketing continues its streak at the top of the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP)
annual list of consumer complaints. DATCP received 4,147 telemarketing
complaints last year, an increase of more than 12% over the 2016 total
and a 62% increase over 2015.
A significant number of 2017 telemarketing complaints were about
unsolicited calls to renew extended automotive warranty service
contracts and to lower credit card interest rates. Imposter scams were
also a major issue last year, with scammers falsely claiming to
represent government agencies and well-known businesses such as the
Internal Revenue Service, utility companies and "Microsoft Tech Support"
in an attempt to rip off call recipients.The goal of these scams is to
trick you into making a payment or to unwittingly share your personal
information. Thankfully, most of the reports DATCP received about scams
last year were from consumers who did not fall for the ruse.
The rest of the top five complaint categories include:
2. Landlord/Tenant (1,141 complaints; up 20 from 2016): Complaints
commonly involved security deposit returns, evictions, unauthorized
entries, inadequate disclosures, and unsatisfactory services.
3. Telecommunications (763 complaints; up 65 from 2016): This category
pertains to complaints involving long distance, cellular phone,
internet, satellite, and cable services as well as bundled service
packages.
4. Identity Theft (453 complaints; up 22 from 2016): Complaints involved
data breaches, tax identity theft, and fraud.
5. Home Improvement (403 complaints; up 20 from 2016): Complaints
commonly involved a failure to provide services, charges for work not
provided, failure to honor warranties, improper installations, and poor
workmanship.
6. Gas Pumps (232 complaints; down 34 from 2016): These complaints
involved concerns about gas pump accuracy and credit card skimmers in
gas pumps.
7. Medical Services (new category this year with 195 complaints): The
primary complaint issues for this category were billing disputes,
misrepresentations, and unauthorized charges. This category covers
medical services related to clinics, hospitals, and professional
services in the medical field. It does not include complaints about
medical devices or products.
8. Motor Vehicle Repair (182 complaints; down 18 from 2016): Complaints
commonly involved unauthorized charges, workmanship, and failures to
provide services or honor warranties.
9. Motor Vehicle Sales (149 complaints; down 24 from 2016): Complaints
involved inadequate disclosures and misrepresentations.
10. Fuel Quality (113 complaints; up 33 from 2016): These complaints
centered on concerns about the quality of fuel at retail stations.
In all, DATCP received 10,756 complaints to the Bureau of Consumer
Protection and another 456 to the Bureau of Weights & Measures. The
agency returned nearly $2.7 million in funds to Wisconsin - the majority
of which were returned to consumers in the form of mediated refunds,
negotiated settlements or court-ordered restitutions.
Fun
Wisconsin Fact
The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, which was founded in 1846,
became the first state historical society to receive funding from a
state government. The legislature appropriated $500 for the purchase of
books and other materials. Lyman Copeland Draper (pictured left/right)
was one of the guiding forces behind this institution. Draper was a
librarian and historian who served as the first secretary for the State
Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison. Draper also served as
Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin from 1858 to 1860.