Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


 October 20, 2015

 

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

 

Second Harvest Foodbank: Wednesday, October 21st

1:30 – 4:30pm

Alicia Ashman Library

 

Megan Vander Wyst from Second Harvest Foodbank is available to talk to folks about FoodShare while they’re waiting to be served, do mini-screenings to help folks find out if they may qualify for the extra money for groceries, and help folks to submit an application on the spot. Help is available in English and Spanish.

 


Meadowood SPOOKTACULAR Community Supper

Wednesday, October 21st

6:00 – 7:30pm

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

5701 Raymond Road

 

Costumes Encouraged!  Bring a Dessert to Share * Children welcomed but must be accompanied by an adult.  Meal is FREE (donations appreciated).

 


Chief Koval's Community Forum

Thursday, October 22nd

6:00 – 7:30pm

Olson Elementary School

801 Redan Dr, Madison, WI

 

Chief Koval will be holding public forums in the communities again.  These are an opportunity for you, the public, to meet with the Chief and discuss questions or concerns that you may have.

 


West Side Farmers Market

Saturdays, Until November 14th

7AM - 1PM

 

Hill Farms DOT Building Parking Lot

University Ave. & Segoe Rd.

 


Halloween Hunt

Saturday, October 24th

6:00 - 9:30pm

Fitchburg Public Library

5530 Lacy Rd
Fitchburg, WI 53711

 

Boo! The Fitchburg Public Library and Friends of Fitchburg Library will be hosting the eighth annual Great Halloween Hunt on October 24 from 6-9:30 p.m. at the library. Activities include a scavenger hunt, crafts and games, magician, balloon twisters and a movie.

 


DOT Public Involvement Meeting: Future of Madison’s Beltline

Monday, November 2nd

5:30 – 8pm, presentation at 6:00pm

Boys & Girls Club Gym

4619 Jenewein Rd., Fitchburg

 

Public involvement meetings to receive public input and feedback for the strategy packages seeking to address issues for long-term transportation needs for the Beltline from US 14 n Middleton to County N in Cottage Grove.

 


DOT Public Involvement Meeting: Future of Madison’s Beltline

Tuesday, November 3rd

7-9am, presentation at 7:30am

Boys & Girls Club Gym

4619 Jenewein Rd., Fitchburg

 

Public involvement meetings to receive public input and feedback for the strategy packages seeking to address issues for long-term transportation needs for the Beltline from US 14 n Middleton to County N in Cottage Grove.

 


2015 Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable

Saturday, October 24th

Warner Park Community Recreation Center

1625 Northport Drive, Madison, WI

 

8:00am Registration

9:00am Kick-off with the Mayor & Natalie Erdman

10:00 –11:45am Program

 

Click here to see more information and register.

 


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,

 

This week, we will be on the floor of the Assembly twice to debate three dangerous Republican bills that will pave the way for a new era of corruption in Wisconsin. In this week’s newsletter, I have included more information on these bills.

 

Also in this week’s newsletter, you will find information about a new home-invading bug in Dane County and recommendations for cyber security, as October marks Cyber Security Month

 

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

 


Assembly Republicans Set to

Usher In New Era of Corruption 

Yesterday I gave the following remarks at a press conference regarding three Republican bills (AB 68, AB 387, and AB 388) that would usher in a new era of corruption in Wisconsin:

 

This week, Republicans are poised to usher in a new era of corruption. Three dangerous bills will be considered this week by the State Assembly. The first bill exempts politicians from John Doe proceedings. The second bill dismantles the Government Accountability Board. Finally, there is a third bill, that we are here to focus on today, which radically rewrites our campaign finance laws.

 

Let me be clear: Any one of these bills alone is bad enough – but considered together, the Republicans have come up with the perfect trifecta to open the doors to a new era of corruption.

 

These bills are being rammed through at breakneck speed. We have had less than two weeks since introduction of the campaign finance bill, a mammoth bill that completely overhauls an entire chapter of current statutes, and will be voted on by the State Assembly this week. Democrats have been working around the clock to analyze the changes made by the Republican’s campaign finance proposal, and it is ugly.

 

One thing I never hear from constituents is that we need more corporate and big special interest money – and more undisclosed “dark money” - in politics. Nothing makes this clearer than the 59 local communities – both red and blue areas of the state – that have passed referendums and resolutions calling for an end to corporate spending in elections. These include:

  • Waukesha, not exactly a liberal bastion, where 69% of voters favored getting corporate money out of politics

  • Neenah, another conservative area of the state with 79% voting to get corporate money out

  • West Allis, where the referendum passed with 70% approval

  • Delavan, where 76% voted in favor

The list goes on, but the message is clear – those who elect us want us accountable to the people, not to corporate special interests.

 

But this bill does exactly the opposite. It allows corporate giving in a way we have never seen before in Wisconsin’s history, increases spending by special interests and billionaires, and drastically reduces transparency and the public’s right to know who is spending big money to influence elections and the decisions our elected officials make.

 

Under this bill:

  •  Corporations would be allowed to give money directly to political parties and legislative campaign committees – setting the stage for a new legal form of money laundering.

  • Individuals and groups could spend unlimited amounts of money on ads supporting or opposing candidates without even having to disclose their identities or sources of funding right up to 60 days before an election.

  • During the last 60 days before an election, individuals and groups could spend just shy of $5000 to elect or defeat a candidate without having to disclose their identities or funding sources.

  • Individuals making larger contributions directly to candidates would no longer have to disclose their employer – making pay to play easier to hide.

  • And the bill includes dramatic changes that allow coordination between candidates and interest groups which, coupled with new rules for corporate giving, set the stage for pay-to-play scenarios where elected officials – and the decisions they make – are sold to the highest bidder.

All of these changes would apply not only on the state level, but also on the local level – meaning the potential for corruption is very real, not only in the state Capitol, but in our city and village halls, as well. There are many more changes this bill makes, and these are just some of the most egregious highlights.

 

As I said previously, this week Republicans are planning to pass 3 bills.

 

One shields corrupt politicians from John Doe investigations – an investigatory tool some District Attorneys say is necessary to ever investigate and prosecute such offenses.

 

One dismantles the Government Accountability board, turning our highly regarded non-partisan watchdog into a partisan lapdog with no teeth.

 

And one rewrites campaign finance laws to give corporations and billionaires more power and to shield their spending from the view of the public – and from the view of those charged with ensuring fairness and prosecuting corruption.

 

To be clear, this comes on the heels of a failed – yet apparently ongoing – attempt by Republicans to throw Wisconsin’s open records laws out the window, shielding themselves from public scrutiny.

 

It bears repeating. This week, Assembly Republicans are poised to usher in a new era of corruption.

 

These bills may leave some wondering what the Republicans have to hide. I can’t help but wonder what they have planned.

 

AB 68 will be on the Assembly floor today, and tomorrow, we will take up AB 387 and AB 388.

 

Here are links to the three bills

AB 68

AB 387

AB 388

 


Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Receives Tourism Grant for Madison Hotel Week

The Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau’s third annual Madison Hotel Week has received a Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. The $3,625 grant will go towards new promotional materials, including print, online, radio, television and social media advertising. Madison is one of the few cities nationwide to host such an event. This year, the Bureau anticipates Hotel Week will bring $216,000 to the local economy, with a goal to book 600 room nights from February 12-21.

 

In 2015, the Department funded 59 Joint Effort Marketing projects, awarding a total of more than $1.1 million. Visitor expenditures driven by the marketing from these projects will exceed $31 million. In 2014, the tourism economy in Wisconsin totaled $18.5 billion, a more than five percent increase from 2013. Total business sales in Dane County topped $1.9 billion in 2014, supporting more than 20,000 jobs and $142 million in state and local taxes.    

 

Developed in partnership with the Greater Madison Hotel and Lodging Association, Hotel Week offers visitors the opportunity to stay at more than 20 participating hotels for deeply discounted rates. Three price points of $75, $100 and $120 are available during the promotion. The Bureau will collaborate with area hotels, offering vouchers and incentives to contribute to Hotel Week’s promotion. The Bureau is also adding a dining component to this year’s promotion, working with local restaurant groups to offer a schedule of culinary events throughout the week. The addition of a dining component will increase total visitor spending and contribute to the overall economic impact of Madison Hotel Week.

 

JEM grant funds are available to non-profit organizations for the promotion of Wisconsin tourism events and destinations. The state can fund up to 75 percent of a project's first-year advertising and marketing costs, and provide support for second- and third-year projects with decreasing amounts for funding until projects become self-sustaining. For information on the JEM Program and application materials, visit http://industry.travelwisconsin.com.

 

Congratulations to the GMCVB on receiving this grant and on their Madison Hotel Week success.

 


New Stink Bug Species Invades

Dane County

Plant pest authorities in Wisconsin say that a new home-invading nuisance, the brown marmorated stink bug, is turning up in the Madison area this fall and has likely become established in Dane County.

 

Like boxelder bugs and some other fall-invading pests, they may congregate on the outside of buildings in autumn and sneak into small openings seeking shelter. They do not reproduce indoors, however.

 

Because fruit trees are a favorite food for the insect, Wisconsin apple growers have been particularly worried that it would make its way to the state. Feeding on apples and other tree fruits, these bugs cause distortions on the surface of the fruit with underlying bruised spots in the flesh. In states where they have become established, they have also attacked peaches, mulberries, soybeans, sweet and field corn, tomatoes, lima beans, green peppers, and ornamental plants.

 

Brown marmorated stink bugs look very similar to native stink bugs. They are shield shaped, a half inch to three-quarters inch long, and are marbled ("marmorated") with different shades of brown.  Their antennae have light and dark bands, which distinguishes them from other stink bug species. They have scent glands that are the source of their name.

 

They have become well established in some states – mostly in the East, but also in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Washington. In many other states, they have been sighted but reproducing populations have not been found. This had been the case in Wisconsin previously. Now, however, University of Wisconsin-Extension entomologist P.J. Liesch says he has verified enough sightings in Madison to suggest that the insect has established itself there.

 

Anyone who finds a suspect bug can email a photo to pliesch@wisc.edu. You can also send a sample to the Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, 1630 Linden Drive, 240 Russell Labs, Madison, WI 53706. For instructions for preparing samples click here.

 

The best way to keep brown marmorated stink bugs out of homes is to use good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk to seal spaces around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, chimneys and other openings. Properly applying insecticides labeled for this use may provide some relief, but sunlight breaks these insecticides down, so they are effective for only a week or less.

 

If you do find them inside the house, you can prevent more from entering by caulking around interior trim on windows and doors, and around exhaust fans and ceiling lights. Vacuuming them will release their odor, which may linger in the vacuum cleaner bag for some time. 

 


Cyber Security Awareness Month Tips

October is not just about falling leaves, scary movies and pumpkin treats — it is also National Cyber Security Awareness Month. 

 

You can get a ton of information on cybercrimes and safety from businesses, government agencies and non-profits nationwide by following the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Facebook page

 

Here are a couple tips to help keep you safe:

  • Never give out personal or banking information on an unsolicited call or in response to an unsolicited email or text message.  Period.  It’s that simple. By acquiring just a small amount of information, identity thieves can destroy a person’s financial reputation and cause endless stress on a person and their family.  Identity theft costs consumers millions of dollars in fraudulent charges each year, and can take years and cost thousands of dollars to recover from.  Please guard your personal information and keep it to yourself. If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact DATCP’s Office of Privacy Protection at 608-224-5163 or by visiting privacy.wi.gov.

  • Most smartphones and tablets require users to enter passcodes to access the device.  It may be a minor inconvenience, but it’s hard to argue how valuable that extra security step is…our mobile devices carry an incredible amount of info about us. Use a unique passcode for each device.  For added security, set your device to require regular password entries and use the fingerprint reader on newer devices for unlocks. 

  • If you are using a public Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to your personal accounts on a mobile device, limit the types of business you conduct, shield your typing from prying eyes, and set your device to hide your password character entries.  Hold off on using online banking websites or sites that require sensitive personal information (like Social Security numbers) until you are on a secure private network or a home computer

  • Regularly sync your mobile devices with your laptop or desktop computer or to a cloud service.  Backup your laptop or desktop to an external hard drive or cloud service.  One dead hard drive, misplaced mouse click or lost device could spell the end of all of your files…take steps NOW to protect your data.

  • At the end of the month do a clean sweep of your computer system and make a plan to do so regularly. StaySafeOnline.org has a listing of free, trusted security check services on their website.

 


Alliant Energy Customers Will See New Bills

If you are an Alliant Energy customer, I wanted to let you know that Alliant Energy will be sending out bills with a new look with new account numbers. As early as this week, customers will be receiving the new bills in the mail.

 

Click here to see a new sample bill

 

More information and frequently asked questions about the new look for the bills and new account numbers for both residential and business customers can be found on the Alliant Energy web site, here.

 

If you have any questions or are experiencing any problems, please feel free to call the Alliant Energy customer service center at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST Monday through Saturday.

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact

Robert La Follette was the founder of the Progressive movement during the early 1900s. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senator, Governor of Wisconsin, and won 17% of the national popular vote for President of the United States in 1924. He is one of the most important leaders in Wisconsin’s long history of political liberalism. His legacy also includes being regarded as one of the nation’s greatest senators and one of America’s top schools for public affairs, located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, bears his name.

 

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