Rep. Radcliffe's Legislative Update

Welcome to News from the 92nd, my legislative newsletter. So much of what happens in Madison directly affects folks in the 92nd District, and I want to make sure that you can stay informed about what's happening at the Capitol and in our community.

These past few weeks have been busy session weeks and I have summaries of some of the most important bills below. I have important information for you about e-filing your taxes, K-12 open enrollment, and K4/K5 registration.

It is a privilege to serve as your Representative, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have.

Sincerely,

Mark Radcliffe
State Representative
92nd Assembly District




At the Capitol


Assembly Back in Session

Since we have only been on the floor for a few days during the last months of session, and will likely only meet to vote a bills a couple more times, our schedules have been jam-packed with legislation. The past two session days included many bills, nearly all of which were passed. You can click here to see the full schedule of bills that I have voted on in the Assembly this month.

Of all of the bills that we have voted on, I am proud to have voted for several bills that support our veterans and their families. As a member of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, I voted to forward these bills on to the Assembly floor, and was happy to see them scheduled this past week.

Assembly Bill 428/Senate Bill 339

AB 428 expands the ability of civil service administrators to hire disabled veterans on a noncompetitive basis. Right now, an administrator can hire a disabled veteran on a non-competitive basis for entry level or non professional positions. This bill allows qualified disabled veterans to be appointed on a noncompetitive basis to all classified services positions in the civil service system.

Assembly Bill 429/Senate Bill 338

AB 429 simply waives the fees for qualified veterans to obtain certain licenses so that they can more easily reenter the civilian work force when they return home from active duty.

Assembly Bill 438/Senate Bill 357

Like AB 429, this bill makes it easier for veterans to get back to work by allowing their military education and training experience to satisfy the requirements for Wisconsin's professional credentialing law.

Senate Bill 413/Assembly Bill 503

SB 413 alters the Wisconsin Retirement System to allow that folks that receive differential wage payments (such as public employees who are on active duty in the armed services) are treated as regular employees and are able to receive their full pension upon retirement.

It also provides that any member of the Wisconsin Retirement System who dies or becomes disabled while on active duty is treated as though they were a participating public employee. This allows the service member or their survivors to qualify for the same benefits as if something had happened in their work as a public employee.


March: Women's History Month

March is Women’s History month, a month that honors the contributions of women in history and contemporary society. It has been celebrated since 1987 and approved each year by both the House and the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, but its roots can be traced back to 1909 where it first began as National Women’s Day. This years theme is “Women’s Education--Women Empowerment” which celebrates the notion of an equal opportunity to learn which has empowered women to embrace intelligence, stand up for themselves, and also enter the workforce. (Each year the theme is chosen by the National Women’s History Project).


Update: Legislation Introduced to Lift Cap on Family Care

Last Tuesday, the State Senate voted on and passed Legislation to lift the cap on Family Care and allow those on the waiting list to enroll. Their legislation also allows Family Care to grow outside of it's current area of service and into more rural areas of Wisconsin.

Family Care is a Medicaid program that provides support services for adults and seniors with physical and developmental disabilities. It allows these individuals to stay at home and be cared for by family members rather than live in nursing homes. The 2011-2013 biennium budget originally imposed an enrollment cap on this important program, leaving about 9,000 people on a waiting list for services.

After only six months with the current caps, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have ordered the State of Wisconsin to lift the caps and immediately enroll anyone waiting to join Family Care. According to the Governor, the Dept. of Health Services has found the $80 million necessary to pay for the increased enrollment, and will fully fund it.


Reminder: Get Your ID For Voting Online

If you already have a voting ID, but have recently moved or it has expired, you can now order your photo ID for voting purposes online at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles website and receive it in the mail. You only have the option of ordering a new ID online if you already have a photo ID and need to update it. If you are getting a state-issued photo ID for the first time, you still have to visit your local DMV with appropriate documentation of your identity.

This change will make it easier for all individuals to get their state-issued IDs before the Presidential primary this February.

See all of the available online DMV services here.

New Voter ID Website Launched

The Government Accountability Board just launched a new website outlining the most important things to know about the Voter ID law for the upcoming election. The website, Bring it to the Ballot, which you can find at bringit.wisconsin.gov,  explains what IDs you can use to vote and how to get a free state ID card.

Voter ID Law

Since the passage of the Voter ID law, which requires people - even if they're already registered voters - to bring a photo ID to the polls, there has been a lot of confusion about the new rules.

Here are some important changes to remember as you navigate the new voting process:
- Corroboration is no longer an acceptable way to prove where you live. If you are not registered to vote at your current address and your ID does not list your current address, you must provide proof of residence in the form of a utility bill or lease when registering to vote. See a full list of acceptable proof of residence here.
- You will be asked to show a photo ID at the polls at every upcoming election but do not technically have to do so until the 2012 Spring Primary in February.
-  Only certain government-issued IDs will be accepted at the polls. See a full list of IDs here.
- If you do not have any of the IDs listed, you can get a free state identification card at your local DMV. You must tell the DMV that the ID is for voting purposes to receive it free of charge, otherwise the cost is $28.