Anti-Democracy Bills Head to Governor’s Desk

In an extraordinary session on Monday, Legislative Republicans rubber stamped changes made by the Senate to AB 387 and AB 388. AB 388 will dismantle our ethics and elections watchdog while AB 397 will deregulate most election spending by special interests, corporations, and billionaires.

With both houses of the legislature passing bills that are now identical, AB 387 and AB 388 have been sent to the Governor. I joined my Democratic colleagues in the Assembly to send a letter to Governor Walker requesting that he veto both bills. These two bills are part of an attempt to usher in a new era of corruption in Wisconsin and should not be allowed to become law.

Business Town Hall

On Thursday, Senator Risser and I held a town hall meeting to hear from business leaders in the 78^th Assembly District. We had a good turnout and great discussion with a diverse group of businesses represented.

It was clear from our meeting with these businesses that business leaders agree that funding for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is vital to the economic growth of our state. We also heard about the need for affordable and accessible childcare and healthcare for current employees and for those wanting to enter the workforce.

There was a lot of good discussion and we have several new ideas to pursue thanks to the feedback and input shared at the meeting. Thank you to Senator Risser for co-hosting the event and to all of the business leaders who participated.

What Happens in the Capitol Impacts our Cities, Towns, and Villages

I had the pleasure of serving as a panelist for The League of Wisconsin Municipalities during their lobby corps visit on Thursday. The panel featured two other State Representatives and a State Senator who have also served in local office prior to being elected at the state level. We discussed the differences between the state Legislature and local government, and local elected officials had lots of questions – and comments – on the numerous recent Republican attacks on local control. We also discussed how we work with local elected officials, as well as other state issues with local impact.   

The three Republicans on the panel faced some tough questions as local elected officials in attendance were frustrated by a litany of legislation in this session and last that strips decision making power from local municipalities on a number of issues. Local elected officials in attendance also expressed concern about the state’s burdensome levy limits and restrictions on raising revenues. It was clear municipalities - big and small - across the state are having a hard time balancing budgets and are looking for relief.    

Click here to view a clip from last week’s panel.

Launch of Bunker Labs

In honor of Veterans Day, I joined local and state leaders at the launch of Bunker Labs in University Research Park. Bunker Labs is a national group whose mission is to help support military veterans start and grow businesses. Bunker Labs’ expansion to Wisconsin was made possible by a $10,000 AT&T Innovation Award. The grant will primarily be used to fund an “Innovator Academy,” which will be a mentor-driven, 14 week entrepreneurship course. The course is designed to develop talents and skills in veterans looking to open their own successful business. 

Bunker Labs will be a great addition to University Research Park. They will also provide much needed assistance for those who have served and risked their lives for our country. Our veterans will be able to get the entrepreneurial resources they need to be successful upon returning home.

Friday, National Parental Involvement Day

Friday, November 19^th, is National Parent Involvement Day which provides the opportunity for schools and families to honor and highlight the powerful contributions parents and caregivers provide at school and at home to support student success. In excess of nine million family members participate in volunteer opportunities at 18,000 schools in all 50 states each school year. There is a strong correlation between a student’s ability to succeed in school and consistent parental involvement in our schools. Every school in Wisconsin benefits from the volunteer service of parents and community members. Please join me in thanking parents and community members for their service and encourage others to get involved in our schools. 

Planning for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Thanksgiving is near, and with it comes Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Over the past few years, these one-day extravaganzas have morphed into a nearly week-long discount blitz. The great deals found during these sales tend to have event-specific terms and limitations that vary across retailers, so the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is reminding shoppers to pay close attention to the fine print in newspaper and online ads before shopping.

Retailers’ hours of business, item quantities, and return policies can all be different from normal operation and have additional constraints during holiday shopping special events. Store ads are already hitting mail boxes, email inboxes, and newspapers, so start your shopping preparation now by taking a close look at the terms and conditions on the sales flyers. Some discounts are only offered online or in the store.

Wisconsin law requires stores to charge their lowest advertised price for a product and to refund any overcharge, so it is important for consumers to keep an eye on the prices at the register or in the online shopping cart. Special pricing may only apply to specific products, so be sure that you have the correct item and model name or number before you start to checkout. Review your receipts to make certain that you were charged the advertised price.

Other simple tips to remember when you are shopping for deals this holiday season include:

• Keep the store ad in hand while you shop and take notes of any special prices or sale signage.

• Make sure you understand return/refund/exchange policies before you buy. Retailers may have stricter policies in place for Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases, and online purchases may not necessarily be eligible for in-store returns. Keep your receipts.

• Remember to pick up or print off a gift receipt. Be aware that clearance and “open items” may have different return policies or not be returnable at all.

•  As the items run through the register, keep an eye on the display and speak up if you believe that an item did not register at its advertised price.

If you are charged the wrong price on an item and the business will not correct the error, file a complaint with DATCP’s Weights and Measures Bureau, visit datcp.wi.gov, send an e-mail to datcpweightsandmeasures@wi.gov or call 608-224-4942.

Meet Flora

I am happy to introduce Flora, our newest intern in our office. Flora moved to the 78th Assembly District from Sacramento, California, in September and took advantage of this internship to learn more about her neighborhood and to get acquainted with political issues in Wisconsin. Flora has a long history of non-profit and faith-based work, most recently serving as a Community Organizer working on Immigration Reform issues. She hopes to soon find a position in local government that will allow her to address the problem of racial disparities in Dane County.

Fun Wisconsin Fact

Our State Capitol Building is constructed out of 43 different types of stone from six different countries and eight states, including France, Italy, Greece, Algeria, Germany, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Missouri, Vermont, Georgia, New York, and Maryland. The exterior of the state capitol is Bethel White granite from Vermont, making the exterior dome the largest granite dome in the world.