Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


 March 1, 2017

 

Contact Me

 

418 North, State Capitol

P.O. Box 8953

Madison, WI 53708

 

PH: (608) 266-7521

TF: (888) 534-0078

FAX: (608) 282-3690

 

rep.subeck@legis.wi.gov

Website

 

Things happening in the district & around Madison


West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches

Thursday, March 2

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

Nutritious meals are offered to those 60 and older. The meal is served at noon and participants must arrive on time. The suggested minimum donation is $4.00 but participants are encouraged to pay what they can afford. Transportation to the meal is available with an additional $1.00 donation. Meal and bus reservations or cancellations should be made by noon the preceding day by calling 238-0196.

 


Skills in Computers and Literacy for Employment with Literacy Network

Thursday, March 2

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

This is a course in computer and employment literacy for adult students who want to improve their reading, writing and general communication skills. Each student will have an individual lesson plan created for them and will work through the semester on completing that plan. Skills learned will help with job searching and applications, completing the GED and improving skills on the computer. Please register for the entire series, January 26-May 11. Contact Ezi at the Literacy Network, (608)244-3911, ext. 33, for more information or to register.

 


Walking in Leopold’s Footsteps

Sunday, March 5

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

UW Arboretum Visitor Center

1207 Seminole Hwy.

 

Learn where conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Arboretum’s first research director, conducted famous phenological research from 1935–45, and helped establish the first restoration of Wisconsin’s natural ecosystems. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend. 


West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches

Tuesday, March 7

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

Nutritious meals are offered to those 60 and older. The meal is served at noon and participants must arrive on time. The suggested minimum donation is $4.00 but participants are encouraged to pay what they can afford. Transportation to the meal is available with an additional $1.00 donation. Meal and bus reservations or cancellations should be made by noon the preceding day by calling 238-0196.

 


Big Brothers Big Sisters Information Session

Tuesday, March 7

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Alicia Ashman Library

733 N High Point Rd

 

Coty Roberts of Big Brothers Big Sisters shares how to get involved in your community by becoming a mentor and making a difference in the life of a local child.

 

Click here to register

 


Tabletop Game Night

Tuesday, March 7

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library

5726 Raymond Rd.

 

We've got a ton of tabletop games, just waiting to be played! Drop in and join us!

 


VITA Free Tax Filing Assistance

 

Central Library, Meeting Room 301

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

March 11, March 25, April 8

Call 266-6350 to make an appointment.

 

Sequoya Library

9:00 am - 3:30 pm

March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28, April 11

 

12:00pm -5:00pm

March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12

 

Call 266-6385 to make an appointment.

 


Visiting the Capitol

Whether you are planning a visit to the state Capitol as part of a large group, small gathering, or just by yourself, our office can assist you in scheduling a free guided tour of the Capitol building during normal business hours.

 

Free tours are offered daily, year round. Tours depart from the ground floor Information Desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 am and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm. A 4:00 pm tour is offered Memorial Day through Labor Day. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are also open during the summer months.

 

 
 

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

With budget season underway in the Capitol, groups, organizations, and constituents have been visiting my office to share their priorities and how the Governor’s budget proposal would affect them. This week, engineers from the American Council of Engineering Companies – Wisconsin met with me (pictured right). Like many others, they are concerned that the Governor’s budget fails to address Wisconsin’s transportation funding crisis. Without sustainable funding, road and infrastructure projects will face continued delays and out of control levels of borrowing supported by Republicans in the last two budgets will continue.

 

This week’s newsletter contains lowlights from the Governor’s Department of Corrections budget, information about a Republican proposal to diminish environmental and water protections to make way for dangerous high capacity wells, and a fun fact about Wisconsin history.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office. 

 

Sincerely,

Lisa Subeck

State Representative

78th Assembly District

 


Corrections Policy Failure in the Budget

Presently, Wisconsin taxpayers pay over $15 million per year to keep 400 people in the prison system who are eligible for parole.  These individuals are housed in minimum security facilities. When you look at the crimes these individuals committed, their behavior while incarcerated, and the steps they have taken to educate themselves in order to successfully re-enter society if paroled, these are individuals who are widely viewed as deserving of parole. There are over 2,000 additional prisoners in our corrections system who, on a case-by-case basis, could have their eligibility for parole reviewed as well.

 

Despite all of this, in his budget bill, Governor Walker eliminates the Parole Commission. With this action, he is effectively negating the ability of current inmates to earn parole.

 

Governors have a job with lots of perks, benefits and prestige. They also have a job that requires them to make tough decisions, regardless of how those decisions may impact their next run for office. However, since taking office, Governor Walker has refused to even consider issuing any pardons or commuting any sentences as allowed under the Wisconsin Constitution. He has now chosen to render the process of parole meaningless, as well. This is clearly a cowardly yet politically motivated move to protect himself from potential criticism over tough decisions. 

 

The question Wisconsin taxpayers need to ask is this:  Is it worth more than $30 million of taxpayer money over the course of a biennium just to provide Governor Walker with political cover?

 


Rural Wisconsinites should not have to drink tainted water.

State residents whose drinking water is negatively impacted by high capacity wells and CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations) visited the Capitol to lobby against the continuation of policies that pollute their water.  They had photos showing the manure tainted water that now comes out of their faucets.  Although the dismal water quality is directly attributable to changes in regulations made by Republicans, these visitors to the Capitol all came from areas represented by Republican legislators.  

 

Incredibly, the Senate Republican Majority Leader has introduced Senate Bill 76 which would make it even easier for high capacity wells to be placed with little regard for the overall impact on lakes, streams, rivers and groundwater levels.  It has been labeled the death by 1,000 straws bill.  This legislation was introduced despite studies which have shown the detrimental impact of these wells and despite the strong opposition to the legislation by Wisconsin residents.

 

It begs the question, while the visitors to my Capitol office do not support Republican legislators, why do their neighbors elect Republicans who support polluting their drinking water?

 

One answer is found in the lack of good paying jobs and dismal nature of our economy under Governor Walker and legislative Republicans.  Like many other people in our state, people in these rural areas are desperate for jobs that pay a living wage.    They are promised that good paying jobs will come, but only if lawmakers are sent to Madison that will prevent “job killing” regulations from passing.   In the meantime their water gets dirtier, health problems increase, and the vicious cycle of Republicans blaming regulations for their woes continues.  Never mind that good paying jobs aren’t going to be created where the water is too dirty to drink.  

 


Coexist

Last week media outlets carried the following headline: “After much prodding, Trump condemns anti-Semitism.” 

 

I cannot imagine such a headline appearing during the tenure of President Obama, President Bush, or any of their predecessors who served during the lifetime of most Wisconsinites.   As much as we may have agreed, or disagreed, with these Presidents on policy matters, the fact is these Presidents and the men and women who served in their administrations consistently stood on common ground and spoke out swiftly and forcefully against the type of threats, vandalism, and violence we are now seeing all too often.

 

In Wisconsin, we have not been spared from the threats that have become increasingly common during Trump’s short tenure.  The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay was evacuated last week Monday morning after receiving a phoned-in bomb threat, the second threat in recent weeks.      

 

It is clear the election of Trump has emboldened individuals and groups who thrive on hatred.  Trump has repeatedly been given the opportunity to speak out against anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice by the press.  He was asked repeatedly what steps he was going to take to address the increase in anti-Semitism since his inauguration.   Rather than recognizing the fear and anguish many Americans, and visitors to our country, are experiencing, he lashed out at reporters and acted personally insulted that a reporter had the audacity to ask the question.       

 

Although the Trump Administration is failing to live up to the standards set by prior Presidents on both sides of the political aisle, we can still find reason for us to have hope in communities across the country.

 

In Missouri, after the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery was vandalized by the overturning of over 200 tombstones, people of the Muslim faith immediately came together and raised over $80,000 to repair the damage that had been inflicted on this Jewish cemetery.  

 

Locally, residents of Madison’s west side have displayed yard signs and made other gestures of support for an inclusive community and nation. I am also proud to say that people across our neighborhoods are energized, reaching out, and asking what they can do to stop the ongoing persecution of their neighbors.

 


Visit to the Vet School and Diagnostic Lab

Last week, I toured The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) with other legislators to learn more about their work. Both are working to keep Wisconsin’s agricultural industry strong and both pets and humans healthy, particularly in the area of infectious diseases.

 

The SVM’s work with the livestock and dairy industries helps keep millions of animals healthy and productive — helping feed our community and the world. The school has trained more than 50% of the veterinarians in Wisconsin and serves as a resource and referral clinic. SVM scientists conduct 75% of the infectious disease research at UW-Madison, including work to prevent the Ebola virus, Zika, and pandemic influenza.

 

The WVDL plays a key role in Wisconsin’s agricultural economy by performing more than 400,000 animal disease tests per year and supporting the industry’s need to maintain production during routine and disease outbreak situations.

 

In addition, I know that many of my feline and canine constituents right here in Madison have experienced the extraordinary care provided at the school’s veterinary hospital. It was great to see some of the incredibly important work the SVM and the WVDL are doing right here in Madison.

 


2017-2018 Official State Highway Maps

My office still has new 2017-2018 official state highway maps. If you would like one, please feel free to stop by my office, call, or email your request. If you can’t get to our office to pick yours up, we are happy to mail maps to you.

 

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact

Lloyd Barbee was one of the most prominent figures in the Milwaukee civil rights movement during the 1960s. In 1962, Barbee started his own law firm and became involved in the dispute over school segregation. He presided over a number of civil rights organizations including the Madison NAACP and also served in the Wisconsin State Assembly where he introduced the State Fair Housing bill. Barbee was a longtime advocate of total school integration, leading the struggle to desegregate Milwaukee public schools.

 

 

 

Click here to unsubscribe