Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


 March 29, 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

 

West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches

Thursday, March 30

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.

 


Knitting at the Library

Thursday, March 30

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

Learn to knit or bring your current project. Supplies provided. Children under 8 must have an adult present.

 


Drop-in Preschool Storytime

Thursday, March 30

9:30 am - 10:15 am

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

A happy blend of stories, fingerplays and songs that help preschool children develop print and phonologic awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Groups welcome. Siblings welcome. No registration required.

 


Skills in Computers and Literacy for Employment with Literacy Network

Thursday, March 30

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

This is a course in computer and employment literacy for adult students who want to improve their reading, writing and general communication skills. Each student will have an individual lesson plan created for them and will work through the semester on completing that plan. Skills learned will help with job searching and applications, completing the GED and improving skills on the computer. Please register for the entire series, January 26-May 11. Contact Ezi at the Literacy Network, (608)244-3911, ext. 33, for more information or to register.

 


Fifth Friday: Poetry Improv

Friday, March 31

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

Kick off National Poetry Month (April 2017) with a fun night of reading and reciting poetry of your choice. Whether it’s your own works or those of your favorite poet. Come to read. Come to listen. Come to enjoy.

 


Ecological Restoration Work Party

Saturday, April 1

9:00 am – 12:00pm

UW Arboretum

Wingra Oak Savanna

 

Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. More information: 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

 


Transitions Walk

Sunday, April 2

1:00pm – 2:30pm

UW Arboretum Visitor Center

1207 Seminole Hwy

 

Early spring can have variable weather, influencing plant awakenings and animal behavior. Walk with the naturalist to areas where changes are most evident. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

 


Preschool Storytime

Monday, April 3

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

A happy blend of stories, fingerplays and songs that help preschool children develop print and phonologic awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Registration not required.

 


Tabletop Game Night

Tuesday, April 4

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

We've got a ton of tabletop games, just waiting to be played! Drop in and join us!

 


VITA Free Tax Filing Assistance

 

Central Library, Meeting Room 301

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

April 8

Call 266-6350 to make an appointment.

 

Sequoya Library

9:00 am - 3:30 pm

April 11

 

12:00pm -5:00pm

April 5, April 12

 

Call 266-6385 to make an appointment.

 


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,

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the budget listening session Senator Risser and I held last week. We had a great turnout, and we were happy to hear from all of you about your priorities and concerns. If you were unable to make it but still want to share your feedback, please feel free to call or email my office

 

This week’s newsletter includes an update on the Affordable Care Act, news regarding a dangerous proposal calling for a constitutional convention, and the latest attempt by Republicans to limit the power of local voters – this time in our county’s rural towns.

 

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


Affordable Care Act Remains the Law of the Land

In anticipation of a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to effectively repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Democratic members of the Wisconsin Legislature sent a letter to each member of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation urging them to oppose the bill which became known as “Trumpcare”.  The letter noted the dire consequences the passage of this legislation would have for residents in each of Wisconsin’s Congressional districts.

 

While I would like to say that the majority in the U.S. House came to their senses and did not hold a vote on the bill out of some sense of compassion for the millions of Americans who have health care due to the ACA and would have lost their health care coverage if the ACA were repealed, I cannot say that was the case.  The sad reality is that the bill did not come up for a vote because a group of 37 hard-line conservatives felt the repeal did not go far enough, leaving Paul Ryan with a majority party in disarray and unable to reach agreement.

 

While we can celebrate a short-term victory, Republicans will make continued attempts to repeal the ACA, and we must keep the pressure on not to repeal.

 

Click here to view a copy of our letter to the Congressional delegation.

 


Wisconsin Debates Article V Constitutional Convention

The Assembly Committee on Federalism and Interstate Relations (yes, there actually is such a committee) held a public hearing this week on Assembly Joint Resolution 20, Assembly Joint Resolution 21 and Assembly Bill 165.  I oppose these pieces of legislation which call for a federal constitutional convention for the purpose of passing amendments related to a balanced budget.

 

In 2013, the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC, started orchestrating a

“Convention of the States” campaign.  Essentially, by getting enough states onboard, a Constitutional Convention can be held; amendments to the U.S. Constitution can be passed; and those amendments can be submitted to the states for ratification as set forth in Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

 

AJR 20 adopts rules and procedures which have been developed during meetings organized by ALEC and other extreme conservative groups.   Although Republicans claim the convention would be limited to discussion and action on a balanced budget amendment, the rules make reference to the potential for multiple amendments without specifying the subject of amendments.

 

AJR 21 is a resolution which, if passed, would add Wisconsin to a list of states calling for an Article V convention.   While it ostensibly would be limited to proposing amendments to balance the budget, the question remains as to what that would mean for critical services in a tight fiscal year.  

 

AB 165 will determine how delegates are selected for such a convention.  If you are a Libertarian, Green, Independent, Democrat, or any party other than Republican – you don’t have a chance of having a seat at the convention table.   Delegates to a convention would be chosen by Governor Walker, Speaker Vos and Senate President Fitzgerald.   When the U.S. Constitution was originally written, the individuals who did the heavy lifting were not political party ideologues who marched in lockstep; they disagreed with delegates from other states and often with members in their own delegations.  Under AB 165, delegates who dare to think independently could be replaced.

 

The danger in an Article V Convention lies in the fact that no one can say how far the delegates could go in re-writing the Constitution.

 

If people want to have balanced budgets at the federal level, the solution is not to be found in giving a blank check to political ideologues to re-write what is arguably one of the most important documents in our history.  If people want balanced budgets, the solution is for people to vote for lawmakers and Presidents who govern and budget responsibly.

 


Bill Limits Say of Dane County Town Residents

Yesterday, Republicans on the Assembly Committee on Local Government passed AB 109 that would significantly diminish the ability of people living in towns in Dane County to have a say over whether or not their towns opt out of county zoning.

 

Last session, Republicans passed a bill which gave towns in Dane County the authority to opt out of Dane County’s zoning ordinance and create their own zoning ordinances instead. The process allowed for town residents to vote on opting out at the annual town meeting, and 8 towns have votes scheduled at their town meetings next month. Because in at least one of these towns, a key board member has realized the vote will likely not go the way he wants, Republican legislators have moved forward with AB 109, which changes the rules mid-stream for these voters and makes it harder for them to exercise their right to vote on the issue.

 

Click here to read more regarding the bill.

 


Early Voting Information

The Spring General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 4, but you do not have to wait until then to cast your ballot. In-person absentee voting for the election has begun in Madison, and will continue through Sunday, April 2, at the Madison City Clerk’s Office and additional locations throughout the city including Madison’s public libraries. To learn more about in-person absentee voting, including locations 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.

 


Celebrate Smiles

Last week, I visited Huegel Elementary School to tour the Celebrate Smiles program. Celebrate Smiles is a mobile school-based program that provides dental services on site at the school to prevent tooth decay and educate kids about oral health. Access Community Health Center supplies the licensed dental staff and equipment to go into schools and provide services. The program screens children in grades 4K through 5th grade and provides dental sealants, fluoride varnish, and other treatment as needed. Celebrate Smiles’s mission is simple: ensure all children have healthy teeth.

 

Click here to watch a short video to learn more about Celebrate Smiles

 


Handy Tips for Home Improvement Planning

Spring is here, and with the season comes with the risk of damaging storms and the excitement of home renovation projects. 

 

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) received 383 home improvement complaints in 2016, ranking the category fifth among all issues.  What can property owners do to limit the potential for home improvement disputes in 2017?  Whether you are looking to patch up from a major storm or have your heart set on a renovation project, the guidance remains the same:  know your rights, do your research and evaluate your options BEFORE the time comes to hire a contractor.

 

Click here to read some helpful tips from DATCP.

 


2018 Trout & Salmon Stamp Design Contest

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking students in grades 9 through 12 to submit entries for the inland trout stamp and Great Lakes salmon and trout stamp design contests.

 

Artwork for the 2018 inland trout stamp contest and Great Lakes salmon and trout stamp contest must be received or postmarked by July 3, 2017.  Students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 or the equivalent, attending public, homeschool, private or parochial schools in Wisconsin during the 2016-2017 school are eligible. Students can submit only one entry per contest, but may enter both the inland and Great Lakes contests.

 

Click here for more information.

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact

In honor of March being Women’s History Month, March’s fun facts will highlight women’s contributions to Wisconsin’s history.

 

Laurel Clark grew up in Racine and graduated from William Horlick High School. Clark attended UW-Madison, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in zoology then a doctorate in medicine in 1987. After school Clark joined the U.S. Navy and underwent extensive training as an undersea medical officer. She was served as a medical department head for a submarine squadron. She ultimately was trained in aeromedicine and became a naval flight surgeon, practicing medicine in the most challenging environments.



 

In 1996, NASA selected Clark to be trained as an astronaut, where she qualified for flight after just two years of training. Clark participated in her first flight in January, 2003, on the space shuttle Columbia. During the 2003 mission. The crew successfully conducted over 80 experiments, including astronaut health and safety studies and technology development. Clark helped create an astronaut treadmill for the international space station.

 

Unfortunately, as Columbia returned to Earth on February 1, 2003, the shuttle broke apart over Texas during re-entry. Clark and the six other crew members of the STS-107 mission perished.

 

Click here to unsubscribe