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  • Rep. LeMahieu’s Legislation to Change DNR Board Heads to State Assembly
    Madison—State Representative Dan LeMahieu (R-Cascade) left the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources pleased after the committee voted in a bi-partisan fashion 12-4, passing Assembly Bill 104, membership to the Natural Resources Board.
  • Assembly Update
    Wisconsin jumped 17 spots from 41 to 24 in a CEO ranking of the best states for business. This poll was published recently in the Chief Executive Magazine.
 

E-Updates

  • The LeMahieu Report 29th Edition
    This edition discusses starting 5th term in Wisconsin State Assembly and getting to work right away with a Special Session on Jobs as well as focusing on Wisconsin's budget as a member of Joint Finance Committee.
  • The LeMahieu Report 30th Edition
    This edition discusses the outcome of the Special Session, policies that are working to create a better environment for jobs in WI.. Including the creation of WEDC, tax incentives for hiring and moving companies to WI.
  • The LeMahieu Report 31st Edition
    Budget Repair Bill passes the Assembly and awaits action in the Senate. This edition includes a brief explaination of what is in the Budget Repair Bill.
  • The LeMahieu Report 32nd Edition
    The Budget Repair Bill passes both houses. This edition highlights more details about what the Budget Repair does as well as an introduction to Gov. Walker's Budget.
  • The LeMahieu Report 33rd Edition
    This edition illustrates the state budget process and highlights other current legislation.
 
                            Legislative Action

As the fall legislative session continues, the State Assembly is working on legislation dealing with jobs in our special session and other legislation in our regular session. One area the Assembly dealt with on Thursday of this week was public safety.

Two bills that I authored were passed Thursday dealing with stolen firearms and sexual assault of an infant in a child care center.

The first bill, Assembly Bill 103 was requested by detectives with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department back in 2007. Currently the penalty for stealing a firearm is a Class H Felony but the penalty for being in possession of a stolen firearm is a misdemeanor. Assembly Bill 103 would change the penalty for possession of a stolen firearm to be the same as stealing a firearm, a Class H Felony. This would give detectives more leverage as they deal with suspects and give them a better chance of getting these firearms off the streets.

The second bill, Assembly Bill 102, stems from an incident that happened in Random Lake in 2007 where a child was sexually assaulted in a day care center. After suffering numerous delays and frustrations in the court system, the family of the victim at least wanted to try to protect families and infants in the future.

Assembly Bill 102 would give a judge the discretion to add up to 5 years to the penalty of a person convicted of sexual assault of an infant by an employee of a state certified child care center. We all want to protect our vulnerable infants and children from those who would prey on them. If someone is convicted of betraying our trust and the safety of our children they need to be kept away from other children as long as possible.

Both bills have passed the Assembly in previous sessions, but have been held up in Senate committees. Hopefully this year, we can get these pieces of legislation to Gov. Walker’s desk.
                               
                                Stars of Life

Every year the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin honors and recognizes members for their outstanding contributions to the emergency field and to the communities they serve. Part of the Stars of Life Recognition Program is to bring these men and women to Madison to be recognized by the State Legislature.

Thursday I was honored to have one of my constituents from Kewaskum, recognized as one of the Stars of Life award recipients. Paul Manske has been a dispatcher with Paratech Ambulance Service for the last 18 years. Paul’s dedication and leadership abilities show the value of the dispatcher in keeping the whole system operating efficiently and providing emergency service and information before the ambulance even arrives at the scene.

Officials from Paratech Ambulance Service shared with me and my staff about the July 2010 flood that struck southeastern Wisconsin. During that afternoon, flash flooding was occurring and closing intersections minute by minute and significant flooding was occurring to buildings and homes. As responses are vitally important to patient care, so was the safety of EMTs and paramedics. On that particular afternoon it was literally controlled chaos. There are no manuals written to prepare a dispatcher for a situation like this. It was only because of Paul’s dedication and experience that all of their patients and staff arrived safe and sound.

If you know Paul thank him for his service and congratulate him on his award, and when you see other volunteer or full time emergency service personnel, thank them for their dedication that so many of us benefit from when we need it the most.



Rep. LeMahieu met with Paul Manske, Stars of Life recipient, and his wife Pamela.
 

                          Eagle Scouts

One of my most enjoyable experiences as a legislator has been the opportunity to participate in ceremonies where outstanding young men become Eagle Scouts. Last week I had the rare opportunity to be part of a ceremony where four scouts from one troop received there Eagle Awards at the same time.

Random Lake Troop 863 honored Nicholas Stevens, Joshua Mueller, Alexander Rathke and Matthew Flowers for earning the required merit badges and exhibiting scout spirit, leadership and service and then finally completing a service project in the community.

Their service projects included collecting over 2,200 books for a grade school in Mexico City, building an accessible handicap ramp for the Random Lake Lions building, renovating rest rooms and a concession stand in Kirchner Park and creating a community garden to supply excess food for the local interfaith food pantry.

It is always fun to share with family and friends in the accomplishments of these young men.



Rep. LeMahieu and Senator Grothman with front Matthew and Joshua and back, Alex and Nicholas at their Eagle Scout ceremony

If you have any additional questions or concerns on this issue, or any other, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I am always happy to respond and be of service to you.