As August is National Immunization Awareness Month, now is a great time to think about the importance of and the role of vaccines and immunization in our own lives, in our loved ones lives, and throughout our communities.  Many folks focus on childhood immunizations, but immunizations are important throughout the entire lifespan.  From annual flu vaccines to whooping cough vaccines for pregnant women to shingles vaccines, immunizations are important to keep in mind.

Here in Kenosha, we are fortunate to have the Kenosha Immunizations Coalition, which provides information to the public about immunizations as well as immunization services such as immunizations available Kenosha County Health Department. Vaccines are an important step to take to protect against potentially deadly diseases, so make sure to talk to your health care professional about whether you might need a vaccine or booster.

As your state representative, one of my jobs is to introduce legislation to address Kenosha's needs and concerns. I will be focusing more and more on the laws and policies of our state. I'll be devoting time to researching what changes would make sense. If you have ideas for possible legislation, I'd love to hear about them! Do you have an idea for a state law that needs fixing? Have you had an experience that brought a state problem to light that you would like to see addressed?

I believe the best legislation comes from constituents like you. So, I hope you will contact me to share your ideas for bill! You can email me with your legislation ideas or you can call my office at (608) 266-0455.

Tod Ohnstad
State Representative
65th Assembly District

View of the State Capitol from State Street

Milwaukee Arena Project Signed Into Law

Last month, I shared an update with you about the proposed Milwaukee arena project, which had been approved by the State Senate, but not yet taken up by the Assembly. Since then, the proposal came to the full Assembly for a vote, where it passed 52-34. Governor Walker signed the bill into law yesterday.

Although not many constituents weighed in on the arena, a slight majority of those that did favored the project. Before voting on it, I met with the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union, the Southeastern Wisconsin Building & Construction Trades Council and the Teamsters, all of whom supported the bill.  After a lot of thought and careful consideration, I decided to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to vote yes for the new Milwaukee arena project, which will provide thousands of construction jobs for the next several years as well as over 2,000 additional indirect jobs. This project will not only provide a lot of jobs, it is also a good deal for Wisconsin taxpayers given that at least $2.5 million dollars in new revenue will be generated every year of the twenty-year deal.

This project would not have been necessary if Governor Walker had signed the Kenosha casino agreement, which included the Hard Rock Café’s offer to pay the public’s share of the Milwaukee arena, however unfortunately that train left the station in February. I sincerely believe this project is in the best interest of working people and taxpayers alike.

KDPP Community Build Week

The Kenosha Dream Playground Project is scheduled to have its Community Build Week from September 7-12.  KDPP is working with the designers and community organizers from “Play by Design” out of Ithaca, NY. The community-build is a tradition that unifies and empowers communities by bringing them together to design, organize, and construct one-of-a-kind playgrounds.

I am looking forwarding to volunteering during Community Build Week and being part of the excitement of turning this project into a reality.  If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form available HERE. All responses are confidential. Volunteer Coordinators will be contacting you closer to the community build dates to confirm your commitment and pick specific work shifts. If you have questions about volunteering, please contact one of the two volunteer coordinators.

Other Bills Of Interest

Nearly every week during the legislative session, I receive emails from fellow state legislators with something called a "co-sponsorship memo."  These memos are circulated through the Assembly and Senate along with draft legislation. They are used to ask and encourage fellow legislators to sign their names on to a particular bill as an official supporter of the proposal.  Sometimes I sign on to the bills; other times I don't.

I thought this would be a good time to share with you some of the bills I have co-sponsored thus far this year.  Not every bill gets front page attention, simply because there are so many bills introduced each year.  But that doesn't mean they are any less significant.  Here are some bills I have co-sponsored:

• Assembly Joint Resolution 53 - This would amend Wisconsin's constitution to reflect the Supreme Court's recent decision legalizing gay married. Currently, our state constitution bans gay marriage.

• Assembly Bill 272 - This would provide a common sense solution to the student loan debt burden felt by so many Wisconsinites. In particular, it would allow Wisconsinites to refinance their student loans at lower interest rates and deduct student loan payments from their income tax.

• LRB 1123 - This would delete the one-week waiting period for collecting unemployment insurance benefits.  It will allow Wisconsin's laid off workers to collect UI benefits as soon as they are eligible.

• Senate Bill 45 - This would create the Wisconsin Private Retirement Security Board, an independent entity charged with designing a plan built on the Wisconsin Retirement System (which is currently only available to public employees) to offer low cost retirement options with strong investment returns for those who do not have an adequate employer-offered retirement plan.

• Senate Bill 166 - This would prohibit employers from discriminating against potential applicants based on current employment status. In other words, it would protect folks who are unemployed for a long time from having their long-term unemployment held against them when applying for jobs.

• LRB 1006 - This would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver's license in Wisconsin.

As always, if there are bills being discussed that you'd like me to look at more closely and consider co-sponsoring, I hope you will let me know. Hearing from you helps me represent the 65th District to the best of my ability, and I know co-sponsorships are a big part of that.

Back to School Resources and Reminders

As educators begin preparing their classrooms for fall and families start to get ready for a new school year, I wanted to take a moment to share some tips and resources to help everyone kick off a great 2015-16 school year.  Here are some things to think about as September gets closer and closer:

• Immunizations & Doctor Appointments - Now is a perfect time to take your child to the doctor for a physical and eye exam. Be sure to bring any required forms with you when your child visits the doctor.

• School Supplies - Many required school supplies can be re-used from past school years. Take a look at the supplies you have left over from last year before heading out to make a purchase.

• Healthy Eating - Nutrition is an important factor in academic performance. Studies have shown children who eat healthy, balanced breakfasts and lunches are more alert throughout the school day and earn higher grades than those who have an unhealthy diet.

Finally, click HERE to view KUSD's supply list for the 2015-16 school year. Each grade from early education and kindergarten through middle school requires something a little different, so be sure to take a look.

Wisconsin's "511" Service: Keeping Road Trips Safe and Straightforward

You may recall from past State Capitol Reports, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has created a "511" service, which provides up-to-the-minute information about traffic alerts and conditions throughout our state. Simply by visiting www.511wi.gov, you can access information for Kenosha to Superior to La Crosse to Green Bay. This is a fantastic resource for anyone planning to travel in Wisconsin, especially during the construction-heavy summer months.
 

You can also follow the DOT on Facebook or Twitter for specific traffic updates. Click HERE to follow the SE Wisconsin region on Twitter.