Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week, the Capitol has been a busy place with committees meeting in
anticipation of the State Assembly being on the floor next week. Stay
tuned to next week’s newsletter for the latest news from the Assembly
floor.
In this newsletter, you will find news about a bill I introduced
yesterday in response to the latest gun shop “smash and grab” in Cross
Plains, an update on some bipartisan bills I have been working on,
information on Mental Health Awareness Month, and tips for staying safe
this Halloween.
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
Time
for Gun Stores to #LockTheGuns
Last week, a criminal drove a stolen vehicle into the front window of a
Cross Plains gun shop in the middle of the night, breaking down the
entry and getting away with several firearms. The firearms were not
secured inside the store, making it possible for the criminal to simply
grab them and get out quickly and without impediment. In April, a
Janesville gun shop was robbed of 18 guns and 2 silencers by an
individual who smashed a glass door to gain entry. The man responsible
has been convicted, but the firearms have not been recovered. In these
instances and others in the state, criminals have been able to smash
glass cases to collect handguns and simply gather rifles up from
unsecured display racks.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
recently released their Summary of Firearms Reported Lost or Stolen from
Federally Firearm Licensees for 2016. 18,394 firearms were reported lost
or stolen from federally licensed dealers last year, averaging 50 guns
per day. Of those, 9,281 were reported stolen, including 7,488
classified as burglaries described by ATF as “the unlawful entry of a
structure to commit a felony or theft.”
Currently in Wisconsin, there are no requirements that firearms be
secure while a gun shop is closed or unattended. To make our communities
safer and keep guns out of the hands of criminals, I am introducing a
bill (LRB-3860), which would require that when the business is
unattended, weapons must be stored in a safe, in a locked steel gun
cabinet, or on a hardened steel rod or cable that runs through the
trigger guards. The bill would also require that the safe, cabinet, rod,
or cable be anchored in a manner to prevent its removal. These measures
would prevent criminals who break into a gun store from simply walking
off with as many handguns and rifles they can carry.
Click here to watch WKOW TV’s story on my proposal.
Walker’s
Economic Agency Fails Again
In 2011, the Governor and legislative Republicans created the Wisconsin
Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), replacing the Department of
Commerce as the state’s lead economic development organization. The law
requires WEDC to develop and implement economic programs to provide
support, expertise, and financial assistance to businesses that are
investing and creating jobs in Wisconsin, as well as programs that
support new business start-ups and business expansion and growth in the
state. WEDC may also develop and implement any other programs related to
economic development. WEDC is funded primarily with state funds and
since its inception has been an agency marred by scandal and failure.
Recently, the Legislative Audit Bureau completed an audit of WEDC’s
operations during the first half of the 2016-17 fiscal year. The Audit
Bureau focused on this timeframe to better assess how changes made in
response to prior audit findings have or have not corrected problems.
The results of the latest audit are nearly as dismal as the findings of
past audits. Of particular concern, auditors found that WEDC still fails
to track basic job creation and retention data. In fact, the agency
cannot be certain about the number of jobs actually created or retained
as a result of any grants or subsidies awarded. Worse, the audit
revealed that the online data maintained by the agency did not
accurately reflect the number of jobs created or retained.
Now, Republicans believe that WEDC can take responsibility for the $3
billion corporate subsidy they have promised to Foxconn. As of now, the
Foxconn contract has not been signed, and WEDC officials have indicated
the contract will not be released to the public before it is executed.
After a delay in signing it for unidentified reasons, Democrats called
for the contract’s release. One Democratic appointee to the WEDC board
has broken the silence and indicated the original contract lacked any
provisions for WEDC to claw back the state’s money if Foxconn goes under
or leaves the state. At this stage, transparency is key, but the
Governor and WEDC are hiding behind their secret contract with Foxconn.
With a vote of the WEDC board on the contract now delayed until at least
November 8, my Democratic colleagues and I will continue fighting for
full transparency and accountability.
Some
Good News from the Senate
Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety voted
unanimously 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 bill
now awaits scheduling for a vote of the full Senate.
Also yesterday, a bill I authored with Representative Ed Brooks
(R-Reedsburg) and Senator Janet Bewley (D-Ashland) to allow elected
municipal officials to serve as election officials in their
municipalities was passed unanimously buy its Senate Committee. Allowing
City Council and Village or Town Board members to serve as election
officials where their own names were not on the ballot had been a common
practice until a recent legal opinion determined it was not allowed
under state law. SB 66 would correct that and allow elected officials to
work the polls once again. I am pleased that our bi-partisan bill has
now been passed unanimously by both the Assembly Committee on Campaigns
and Elections the Senate Committee on Elections and Utilities. The bill
now awaits scheduling for a vote of the full State Assembly and Senate.
Update:
Tale of Two FoodShare Bills has Bad Ending
Last week, I wrote about two bills being considered by the Assembly
Committee on Public Benefit Reform, Assembly Bills 501 and 530 take
radically different approaches to promoting purchases of healthy foods
by FoodShare participants. AB 501 takes a positive, evidence-based
approach by incentivizing healthy purchases through discounts and, in
turn, enables shoppers to stretch their FoodShare budget. AB 530 takes a
negative and restrictive approach, not supported by evidence, by
creating a list of restricted or banned foods based on some set of
unidentified standards.
With two bills before them – one positive and the other punitive, one we
can afford and one we cannot, one bipartisan and one politically
motivated, one proven effective and the other not – Republicans still
could not choose one over the other and passed both bills. AB 501 passed
unanimously on a bipartisan vote, while AB 530 passed on a party line
vote with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats against.
It is rare in our highly partisan legislative environment that a
committee has the opportunity to consider and choose between two
radically different approaches to one issue at the same time, and it is
unfortunate Republicans chose to squander such an opportunity. The
positive impact of AB 501 will pale in comparison to the costly,
negative impact of AB 530.
Mental
Health Awareness Week
The Wisconsin State Assembly designated the first week of October as
Mental Illness Awareness Week in Wisconsin. Millions of Americans live
with a mental health condition. In fact, about 1 in 4 people will
experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. They are our
friends, family members, coworkers and loved ones who may be
experiencing symptoms of mental health issues that aren’t obvious or
visible. Raising awareness of the prevalence of mental health conditions
helps people know they are not alone. Rather than being left with
feelings such as the fear of being judged and looked down upon, raising
awareness helps to signal to people who are experiencing a mental health
issue that you care and that help is available.
The good news is that raising awareness is not that hard. Below are some
tips and information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
to help raise awareness.
Simply talking about mental health is one of the easiest and most
effective way to raise mental health awareness. Talking about news
articles and stories, or a friend or family member who has a mental
health issue can be a great way to being a conversation. Social media
also provides an effective means to raise awareness. Share information
on Twitter and Facebook, especially information from organizations in
your community that are dedicated to assisting persons with mental
health issues.
When you hear people say, things like, “she’s crazy” or “he must be off
his meds” or other statements that are discriminating against or putting
those with mental health illnesses down, then stand up against it.
People who are experiencing a mental health issue need to know there is
understanding and support in the community, rather than hearing
statements that stigmatize those who need help.
If you have experienced a mental health issue yourself, your personal
story could serve to provide others with hope and a greater realization
that
they are not alone. Your story could help demonstrate just how common
mental health illnesses are, and serve to let others know that there
know there is help.
Click here to view NAMI
Wisconsin's excellent website with information and resources for people
in need
Happy
Halloween
Saturday is Halloween, so here are some tips from the Madison Police
Department to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone:
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Make sure costumes are visible to vehicles & others.
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Do not use toy weapons as part of any costume.
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Do not trick or treat alone.
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Only approach homes that are well lit, & only approach the front
door.
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Stay on sidewalks & obey traffic signs / signals.
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Carry a flashlight.
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Don’t let kids eat any candy until an adult has checked it.
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Make sure costumes do not impede movement or vision.
The City of Madison does not set a specific date or time for
trick-or-treating, however Halloween night from 4-8 p.m. is the
recommended date & time.
Fun
Wisconsin Fact
The first dairy school in the United States was established at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1890. Although only two students
attended the first class, enrollment jumped to 75 within a year after
Professor Stephen Babcock (pictured left) developed a test that
measured the butterfat content of milk. The “Babcock test” provided an
incentive to produce high quality milk and allowed farmers to be paid
accordingly.