Early Voting Ends Friday

The Presidential Primary and Spring General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 5, but you do not have to wait until then to cast your ballots. In-person absentee voting for the election is still available, and will continue through Friday, April 1, at the Madison City Clerk’s Office. To learn more about in-person voting, including location and times, please click here.

Absentee ballots are also available by mail. Everything you need to know to receive a ballot by mail is available via the Madison City Clerk by clicking here.

Remember: You must present an acceptable photo ID card to vote in Wisconsin. Click here to find out if you have the correct identification and to get information on how to obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card for voting purposes.

Click here to see what is on your ballot.

Click here to read the “Candidates’ Answers” on the League of Women Voters of Dane County website.

Note: If you vote outside of the City of Madison, you will need to contact your local city or village clerk’s office for absentee voting locations and times.

Designation of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail

One positive piece of legislation that came out of the most recent legislative session was AB 512, which designates a Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail winding through Wisconsin. Last week, Governor Walker signed the bill into law, making the trail official.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail will showcase the incredible work of Frank Lloyd Wright and includes signage along a highway route through Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Dane, Iowa, Sauk, and Richland counties directing travelers to Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks. This trail will help tourists and Wisconsinites alike to easily find and view the world-renowned architectural work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

I was happy to be a co-sponsor of this bill that recognizes Wright’s work and helps stimulate tourism in Wisconsin. Wright turned the architectural industry on its head and has been influencing builders and architects ever since. As Wisconsinites, we are fortunate to have numerous Wright buildings scattered throughout our state for us to tour and appreciate. Now, the designated Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail will help tourists from all over the globe identify and appreciate Wright’s work.

Teen2Teen Girl Scout Project

In last week’s newsletter, you read about the Wisconsin Girl Scouts Troop 1912 investiture ceremony. Claire, one of the Girl Scouts who presented at the ceremony about the work that Girl Scouts are doing in our community, emailed me with information about an important project for which she has received significant recognition.

Claire has created an app called Teen2Teen. The Teen2Teen app is designed to serve as a resource for friends and siblings of teens with depression, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders. Teen2Teen’s information and resources, prepared by Claire, came from those she had talked to who had or were suffering from depression, eating disorders, or anxiety disorders. She was inspired to create the app after her sister suffered from an eating disorder and she struggled to figure out how she could help. Claire wanted friends and siblings of those struggling with these conditions to have the information they need to be able help.

Click here to learn more about the Teen2Teen app.

Click here to download the Teen2Teen app to your android phone.

E-Filing Income Taxes – Safe, Simple and Secure

E-filing your income tax return is easier than ever. Millions of Wisconsin taxpayers choose to e-file their taxes every year. Since 1992, when e-filing was first implemented in Wisconsin, e-filing has become increasingly popular. Last year nearly 87% of tax returns were filed electronically, compared to about 1 in 3 returns fifteen years ago and less than 1 in 10 returns twenty years ago.

Electronic filing offers taxpayers many benefits over paper filing, such as:

• Speeds up processing of tax returns

• Results in faster refunds using direct deposit

• Increased accuracy, because tax preparation software does the calculations

• Offers receipts, so taxpayers know their tax returns have been filed

• Offers more secure transfers of their personal information

• If a payment is due, the taxpayer can choose direct debit/withdrawal from their financial institution and choose the date they want to pay (up to April 15) without having to worry about writing and mailing a paper check.

• Reduces processing costs for the Department of Revenue which saves tax dollars

Several options are available for e-filing your federal taxes. Prices vary depending on the complexity of the return, and different companies have different pricing structures.  Software can vary in price from approximately $20 to $75 or more. Online filing will also vary in price from approximately $10 to $75 or more. Some taxpayers can even file their federal return for free using these online providers or the federal Free Fillable Forms. Many of the programs will allow taxpayers to file their state return for a small fee. 

Wisconsin e-file is the simple, secure way to file a Wisconsin tax return online. Wisconsin taxpayers can use Wisconsin e-file to file their Wisconsin tax returns for free! Wisconsin e-file is available every day, around the clock, and is secure and confidential so sensitive information is protected. It offers fill-in tax forms that do the math to help prevent errors. It allows a taxpayer to have their refund deposited directly into their bank account, and if taxes are owed, they can use direct withdrawal. Once a return is electronically submitted and received, a taxpayer will receive an immediate confirmation.

To begin using Wisconsin e-file, a taxpayer will need:

• All documents about income they received during the year, including W-2s and 1099s

• Legal names and social security numbers of everyone included on their return

• Charitable donations

• Their federal income tax return, if filing using Form 1 or Form 1NPR

• Property tax bill or rent certificate, if claiming Homestead Credit

• Bank account information for direct deposit or withdrawal

Verona Road (US 18/151) Project Update

All lane restrictions and work operations are weather dependent and subject to change.

Access remains open to area businesses and neighborhoods in the project area. Please continue to patronize the area businesses!

Westbound and eastbound Beltline, Whitney Way to Seminole Highway

• No nightly lane closures anticipated for westbound and eastbound Beltline, Seminole Highway to Whitney Way.

• Updated: Nightly lane closures on the westbound Beltline ramp to Verona Road.

  • 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. (March 28-31)

• Updated: Nightly Beltline bridge demolition to continue Monday night through Thursday morning (March 28-31).

  • View the nightly closure (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) of Verona Road/Midvale Boulevard at the Beltline during the demolition.

  • Noise is anticipated, but it should be less disruptive than earlier this week.

• Updated: Read the westbound Beltline construction activities.

• NEW RAMP MOVEMENTS: Learn about the temporary ramp exit locations from the westbound Beltline to Verona Road and to Whitney Way.

• View the construction staging plans for the Beltline, Whitney Way to Seminole Highway.

  • Note: You will need to zoom in to see details.

Verona Road, Midvale Boulevard and Mohawk Drive

• Updated: Nightly full closure of Verona Road/Midvale Boulevard between the westbound and eastbound Beltline ramps (under the existing bridge for bridge demolition).

  • 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. (March 28-31)

  • Only right turns permitted in this area. Signed detour routes to be provided for closed movements.

• Updated: Daily and nightly lane closures to occur on westbound Beltline ramps at Verona Road and at Midvale Boulevard/Nakoma Road intersection for storm sewer, grading, and temporary traffic signal work.

  • 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (March 28)

  • 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. (March 28-29)

• Daytime single lane closure on southbound Midvale Blvd. between Nakoma Road and the Beltline. No time restrictions; please be alert for construction crews.

• Updated: MIDVALE TRAFFIC SHIFT: Midvale Blvd. traffic to shift Monday night (March 28). Learn more about the Midvale Blvd. traffic shift and initial construction activities.

• Updated: Mohawk Drive CLOSED to through traffic until late May 2016; no detour posted. Access to local businesses to be maintained.

  • Work will begin on new water main, storm sewer and pavement in this area.

• Updated: Bridge construction to start with grading for new east and west abutments and center pier. Daytime piling operations to begin late in the week.

• View the pedestrian accommodations along Midvale Blvd. and Verona Road.

Plan Ahead: Week of April 4-8

• Read about construction activities for week of April 4-8.

STAY INFORMED: Verona Road Project website | Project Facebook page

You Ask, I Answer

“You Ask, I Answer” is a feature of my weekly newsletter where you can get your questions answered. From time to time, a constituent emails or calls with a question that may also be of interest to others. Therefore, I created this feature, allowing constituents to email me questions for consideration in a future newsletter.

Please feel free to email your questions to Rep.Subeck@legis.wisconsin.gov, and we may share the answer in a future e-newsletter.

This week’s question was submitted by a constituent who wanted to know more about the State Supreme Court, given the upcoming election.

Read on for more details.

Question: How many Justices are on the State Supreme Court, and how often are they elected?

Answer: The Wisconsin State Supreme Court consists of seven Justices. Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are elected by the voters instead of being appointed by the Executive Branch and confirmed by the Senate. The office of State Supreme Court Justice is non-partisan and is a ten-year term with no term limits.  Wisconsin Justices are elected in staggered spring elections so only one justice is on the ballot at a time.

To learn more about the current Supreme Court Justices click here.

To learn more about the function of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court click here.

Blue Books and Maps

My office has available the newest edition Blue Books and state maps. If you would like one, you may pick one up my at my Capitol office (418 North) any time from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you are unable to come to the Capitol but would like a Blue Book or map, please email Rep.Subeck@legis.wisconsin.gov or call my office at 608-266-7521 to have one sent to you.

Fun Wisconsin Fact

The scales of justice depicted in the seal of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are not held by the blind-folded Greek Goddess Themis, but by a human hand.  This is meant to convey that justice is held in the hands of humans, not the supernatural.  The seal was created in 1848, by a joint resolution of the Legislature which stipulated that the word “territory” be replaced with “state.”

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