Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Thank
you to all who came to one of my scheduled office hour events in the
district this week. It was great to see many of you and to have such
great discussions about what is happening in the state Capitol and in
our community.
In this newsletter, you will find an update on a bill I’m working on to
restrict the use of shackles on incarcerated women during labor and
childbirth, information about a possible merger between UW’s two year
colleges and four year universities, and shocking news from the Public
Benefits Reform Committee.
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
Senate
Hearing on Shackling of Incarcerated Pregnant Women
Yesterday, I testified before the Senate Committee on
Judiciary and Public Safety in support of Senate Bill 393, a bill I
authored with Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) to restrict shackling of
incarcerated women during labor and childbirth. The bill would also
ensure incarcerated women have access to needed maternal support
services including the supplies for pumping breast milk, postpartum
health care, and testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases. The legislation was introduced in response to reports of
multiple incarcerated women being shackled while during labor and
childbirth in Milwaukee County. Federal facilities and 18 states already
have policies that prohibit or restrict shackling pregnant women, but
Wisconsin lacks any statutory guidelines on the practice.
Click here for a short video from the hearing.
<https://www.facebook.com/RepresentativeSubeck/videos/1758215384478719/?hc_ref=ARRrm2ffONWx1Vn2CXKtWzjw9hzMeiS6KciTIu-IMFd_DaUzKyu4w5MtambLwWqMwZ0&pnref=story.unseen-section>
A
Tale of Two FoodShare Bills
On Tuesday, the Public Benefits Reform Committee held a
public hearing on AB 501 and AB 530, two bills which would make changes
to Wisconsin’s FoodShare program. FoodShare is what most people know as
food stamps for low-income individuals and families. The program serves
predominantly seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children. The
two bills are now scheduled to be voted on in Committee next Tuesday.
The first bill, AB 501 would create a pilot program that provides 2,000
FoodShare households across Wisconsin with discounts on purchases of
produce and other healthy food options at participating retailers. The
program would provide half-price fresh produce and discounts on other
healthy foods as an incentive and to increase the buying power of
FoodShare participants. One of the challenges low-income families and
individuals face when trying to make healthy eating choices is that
fresher, healthier foods typically costs more. This approach of
incentivizing healthy purchases is well researched by the USDA and
others, and the evidence shows it has positive health outcomes for
FoodShare users. The bill has received bi-partisan support with both
Republicans and Democrats sponsoring the bill.
AB 530 takes the opposite approach by imposing restrictions on purchases
by those using FoodShare. The bill restricts foods and beverages “that
do not have sufficient nutritional value,” without defining what
“sufficient nutritional value” is. A food that is sufficiently
nutritious for a senior citizen might not be for a small child and vice
versa. This broad and undefined approach shows that the bill is not
about nutrition. Rather, it is nothing more than an attempt by one of
the most extreme right-wing Republicans to score political points in a
political atmosphere where ordinary Wisconsinites struggling to make
ends meet are too often made out to be villains. The result is that our
most vulnerable neighbors become pawns in a political game of who can
make the most conservative so-called reforms. Most importantly,
evidence-based research has shown this approach does not result in
positive results.
Republicans will have to decide whether they want to incentivize healthy
food or add more barriers for those Wisconsinites already struggling to
make ends meet. The evidence is clear, and we know that incentivizing
healthy eating works, and restricting FoodShare participants only hurts
our community’s most vulnerable residents. I will stand up for our
neighbors in need to fighting for the right choice on Tuesday.
Proposed
UW System Merger
Earlier this month, the UW System announced a plan to restructure UW
Colleges and UW-Extension. The proposal would merge two-year UW Colleges
with four-year UW institutions and UW Extension with UW Madison. The
move is being touted as necessary in order to keep UW Colleges afloat in
the face of declining enrollments.
In November, the UW System will take the proposal before the Board of
Regents and seek approval to move forward with implementation planning.
While the proposal, at this stage, does outline which UW Colleges would
be merged with specific UW four-year institutions, the lack of greater
detail is a cause for concern.
Under the current structure, students have the ability to begin their
education in the UW System at any one of 13 two-year UW Colleges. This
has been a great option for many students. Not only are students able to
save money on tuition and living expenses, but most importantly students
have been able to work directly with world-class faculty in smaller
classroom settings and have greater access to faculty outside of the
classroom. I am concerned about the potential impact to students and
families.
Other questions remain, as well. For example, under this proposal, would
faculty have to split time between institutions? If so, would this
create problems in terms of recruiting and retaining faculty? Of course,
there are many other unknown details at this time, as well.
Enrollment decline in the two year schools is cited as a reason for the
proposed change. I am hesitant to jump to the conclusion that this
change is necessary, given that enrollment data tells more than one
story. For example, overall enrollment declined one year while more than
half of the system schools saw an increase. Clearly, further analysis is
needed before drawing conclusions and before choosing a possible
solution.
Finally, prior to making deep and lasting changes to a UW System that
has served generations of Wisconsin residents well, the Board of Regents
ought to consider how cuts to the UW budget since 2011 are impacting
enrollment and tread carefully moving forward.
Audit
Reveals Continued Mismanagement at King Veterans’ Home
Wisconsin presently operates three homes for veterans and their spouses.
The largest and oldest of these homes is the King Veterans’ Home located
near Waupaca. The homes are meant to provide high quality, skilled
nursing care and retirement options for veterans and their spouses.
While initially created to care for veterans of the Civil War, the
people of Wisconsin have continued to operate the home at King to meet
the needs of those who served.
Last year, news reports detailed how King is failing to provide adequate
care. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been transferring funds
from King while failing to properly staff the home. Staff have been
subjected to forced overtime, and there is a prolonged nursing aide
shortage.
An audit was initiated by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee in
response to the media reports, and last week the Committee held a
hearing on the completed audit. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau
released the audit in two parts: one looking at the finances of the home
and one examining staff shortages and quality of care. The first audit
found that $55 million had been transferred away from King to
non-related programs from 2003-04 through 2015-16 and had delayed
several capital improvements. The second found that there were still
significant staffing shortages and employee morale issues to be
addressed.
In May, members of the Joint Finance Committee approved amendments to
the budget which were aimed at increasing legislative oversight of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the operation of the home at King.
Although the amendments passed unanimously, the Governor vetoed the
provisions when he signed the remainder of the bill into law.
It is not possible for Veterans and their spouses to receive the quality
care they need and deserve when caregivers are exhausted. Nor is it
possible to receive quality care when staff is stretched too thin due to
ongoing and continual staffing shortages. I will continue to work with
legislators, on both sides of the aisle, to bring attention to this
issue and to demand accountability of the Administration on behalf of
our veterans.
State
Capitol’s Centennial Celebration
November 8th 100th Anniversary Gala
It’s a once in a lifetime event- and you’re invited! A night of great
music, dancing, hosted cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, history and fun.
Assemble under the Dome to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the
Wisconsin State Capitol. Go back to 1917 and help build the Capitol via
the Centennial selfie station, or dance the night away underneath the
country’s most beautiful dome-- all at the Centennial Gala on Wednesday,
November 8th. Proceeds from the event will go towards restoring the
building, and keeping her looking as good as she did in 1917. For more
information please visit www.wiscapitol100th.com I hope to see you
there!”
November 9th Open House
If you have never been to the Wisconsin State Capitol, or it’s been a
while, now is the time to visit! Come tour the Capitol on Thursday
November 9th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for our special “open house!” See
changes that have been made, and experience some of the areas not on the
regular Capitol tour.
You can look forward to:
-The Capitol’s 100th Anniversary Art and Essay Contest Winners displayed
on the 1st Floor of the Capitol Rotunda
-Self-Guided Tours – Includes the main areas of capitol as well as some
unique rooms not shown on the tour
-Historic slide shows in 411 South and 412 East
-Popping into the Assembly Chambers, Senate Chambers, Supreme Court
Hearing Room, Governor’s Conference Room, and the North Hearing Room
Fall
2017 Legislative Survey
Recently, you may have received a legislative survey from me in the
mail. The survey was on a wide range of legislative issues on which I
would like your feedback. I would appreciate it if you would please
complete the survey and mail it back to my office.
The legislative survey is also now available online.
Click here if you
would prefer to fill out the survey electronically. Thank you in advance
for taking the time to respond.
2017-18
Blue Books Are Here
The newest edition of the Wisconsin Blue Book has arrived. If you would
like one, you may pick one up my at my Capitol office (418 North).
My office is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. If you are
unable to come to the Capitol but would like a Blue Book, please email
Rep.Subeck@legis.wisconsin.gov or call my office at 608-266-7521.
Fun
Wisconsin Fact
Wisconsin has the first electric voting machine in the world installed
in the Assembly Chamber in 1917. It was invented by Milwaukee native
Bornett L. Bobroff and in 1917 cost the state $11,600. While the
technology has been upgraded the same vote register remains in the
Assembly chambers (pictured left/right). Bobroff went on to design
voting boards for several other state legislatures and was even
considered for designing a machine for the United States Congress, but
the project ultimately never happened due to Congressmen’s fear that
speeding-up voting would eliminate filibusters.