Next Thursday at 1:45pm you may receive an emergency alert text message, but please note - this is just a test! Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) include tornado warnings, blizzard warnings, extreme wind warnings, flash flood warnings, AMBER alerts, and presidential alerts. The alerts are sent by the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency (OEM) and authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to keep us safe during emergencies. The texts will state the emergency and advise of the actions to be taken. Another test alert will be conducted on November 6th at noon. 

Governor’s Evers Budget Creates $2 Billion Shortfall

Governor Evers received some bad news from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB). According to an analysis, the Governor’s proposed budget would create a $2 billion structural deficit going into the next budget cycle beginning in 2021. Read the report here.

In February, the Governor introduced his first biennial budget that contained $83 billion in spending, which reflected an increase of $6 billion. Governor Evers’ budget triggered much speculation as to whether the Republican-led Legislature and the Governor would be able to reach a consensus on it. Unlike the federal government, Wisconsin is not required to shut down over a budget impasse. If no budget deal is reached, the spending levels of Governor Walker’s 2017 -2019 budget would remain in place.

Human Trafficking Surcharge (AB 34)

The human trafficking and sex slavery industry in the United States is a growing concern for all of us. The use of drugs, violence and fear to trap the most vulnerable women (and men) into these horrible situations is becoming more common and more profitable. Recently, there have been several news stories of Asian women being brought to this country under false promises and then led into a life of prostitution. Young people are terrorized with threats of retaliation on their families and young children are led into slavery without their families having any idea what has happened. 

Regrettably, Wisconsin has been receiving much attention in the past few years regarding this issue. Even though Milwaukee has been called a “hub” for this horrific activity, human trafficking rings have been exposed all across the state.

I have introduced a bill that would add a surcharge of $5,000 for those seeking to patronize a prostitute, pandering, or operating a place of prostitution. Half of the surcharge collected would be used for treatment and services for sex-trafficking victims, and the other half for criminal investigative operations and law enforcement relating to Internet crimes against children. Both of these programs have served Wisconsin well and will benefit greatly from the additional funding. 

Representative Janel Brandtjen
State Capitol, Room 12 West
PO Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Toll-Free (888) 534-0022 or (608) 267-2367
Rep.Brandtjen@legis.wi.gov | www.RepBrandtjen.com

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