Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I
spent last weekend in Eau Claire for the National Foundation for Women
Legislators (NFWL) Fall Symposium, which brought together state and
local elected women to network and learn. As the Wisconsin State
Director for NFWL I had the honor of planning and hosting the symposium
where we heard from Jessie Garcia, the first female sportscaster in
Wisconsin, about her experiences as a woman in a field where women
typically were not welcomed. We learned from experts about communicating
with our constituents, heard from Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative
Corporation about encouraging and growing women owned businesses in our
communities, and much more.
In this newsletter, you will find an announcement of the CNA Pay Act to
raise caregiver wages, news from the Assembly floor, and information on
open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act.
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
From
the Assembly Floor
The Assembly was on the floor yesterday to take up a number of bills.
Here are a few highlights (or lowlights) from the floor.
New Limits on Women’s Health Care Access (AB 128)
Republicans in the State Assembly passed AB 128 which would prohibit
health insurance coverage for medically necessary abortions for public
employees under the state’s group healthcare plans. Since gaining
legislative majorities in 2010, Republicans have mounted a continuous
campaign of rolling back access to women’s health care. Again yesterday,
Republicans treated women as pawns in their political game of “Extreme
Politics” with their vote to deny health care coverage for medically
indicated abortion. It is time politicians stop practicing medicine
without a license and leave critical women’s healthcare decisions to
women and their doctor.
Click here to hear what I had to say about this rollback of women’s
healthcare access.
Diminishing Nursing Care Quality (AB 432)
Assembly Republicans passed a bill that would reduce the required number
of hours of training a Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) is required to
complete prior to certification, under the guise of addressing a
shortage of these nursing aides. I was proud to lead the way for an
alternative, as I offered amendments that would increase wages and
expand access to training for these nursing aides working on the
frontlines of long-term healthcare and nursing facilities, as an
alternative to diminishing the quality of care through less training.
CNAs are the very people who provide intimate care for our parents,
grandparents, and loved ones when they are at their most vulnerable. The
care they provide is hard work and often technical. Wages are low, and
turnover is high; and we do have a shortage which must be addressed. The
way to address it is not through less training for these workers. The
solution is to raise wages and provide more access to the necessary
training.
Demand for CNAs in Wisconsin is projected to grow exponentially due to
growth in the aging population. Meanwhile, the median starting wage for
personal caregivers is $10.75 per hour according to a joint report of
the Wisconsin Health Care Association, Wisconsin Center for Assisted
Living, Wisconsin Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge Wisconsin, and
Residential Services Association of Wisconsin. The same report indicates
that the median wage paid by non-health care employers for unskilled,
entry level workers is $1.25 more than the wage paid to caregivers. This
is the biggest contributor to the shortage and the problem which must be
solved.
I offered three amendments to address the shortage of nursing aides
through increased wages and expanded access to training. Each failed on
a party line vote with all Republicans voting no.
Endangering Our Environment (AB 499)
Republicans also passed AB 499 which would repeal Wisconsin’s “Prove it
First” law that protects public health and natural resources by
requiring mining companies demonstrate a record of successfully
protecting water quality before receiving permits.
Republicans continue to put big business special interests ahead of
ordinary Wisconsinites, jeopardizing our clean air and water as a
result. If signed into law, AB 499 will have environmental repercussions
felt now and for generations to come.
Introduction
of the CNA Pay Act
After yesterday’s passage by Assembly Republicans of AB 432, which would
diminish nursing care quality by reducing training requirements for
nursing aides, Rep. Jonathan Brostoff and I decided to introduce the CNA
Pay Act. The package of bills would increase wages and expand access to
training for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) working on the
frontlines of long-term care and nursing facilities.
Due to low wages, lack of benefits, and a challenging workload that
frequently requires irregular or overtime hours, caregivers are leaving
their jobs as nursing aides to find other jobs. Now Wisconsin is facing
a significant shortage of these caregivers, with an estimated 11,500
vacant care positions. A recent report and testimony from experts on the
shortage point to worker pay and cost of and access to training as
contributing factors.
The bill passed yesterday by Assembly Republicans will diminish the
quality of care. Instead, we can and should make CNA training more
accessible and affordable and ensure these caregivers earn a living wage
on which they can support their own families.
Click here to read more about the CNA Pay Act and how Democrats are
working to raise wages of these caregivers on the front lines of nursing
and long-term care.
Affordable
Care Act Open Enrollment!
Open enrollment for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
has now begun. As of November 1st, Wisconsin residents and families can
apply for a 2018 health plan, renew their current plan, or pick a new
plan through the ACA’s Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are
uninsured or are seeking more affordable coverage, visit healthcare.gov
to learn more about your healthcare coverage options.
Click here to watch and share a PSA reminding others to sign up
before the December 15 deadline.
November
is Diabetes Awareness Month
Yesterday, the State Assembly passed Assembly Joint Resolution 67,
recognizing November as American Diabetes Awareness Month.
Nationwide, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and
disability. Over 30 million people, or about 1 in 10 Americans have
diabetes and another 84 million adults in the United States are at high
risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In Wisconsin, diabetes affects over
475,000 adults and 4,500 children and adolescents, resulting in an
estimated annual $6.15 billion in health care costs.
While 2 out of 5 Wisconsin adults are expected to develop type 2
diabetes in their lifetime and nearly 4 out of 10 Wisconsin adults have
prediabetes, there are steps that can be taken to prevent or delay the
onset of type 2 diabetes. People who are at risk for developing type 2
diabetes can lower their risk by making simple changes to their
lifestyle and health habits. Simple steps to help prevent type 2
diabetes include:
-Watching your weight
-Eating healthy
-Getting more physical activity
In addition to taking these steps, there are great resources available
to help you learn more about diabetes:
American Diabetes Association
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention: Diabetes
National Diabetes Education Program
National
Diabetes Prevention Program
Wisconsin
Department of Health Services: Diabetes in Wisconsin
Daylight
Savings Safety Tips to ‘Fall Back’
This weekend is a great time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors as we “fall back” an hour on Sunday, Nov. 5 as Daylight Saving
Time ends.
Last weekend, two adults and their 4- year-old grandchild died of
apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in Sawyer County. Officials say
carbon monoxide was detected inside the home. The investigation
continues; however, problems with a furnace may be to blame.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reports that every year
about 500 people are treated at Wisconsin hospital emergency rooms for
carbon monoxide poisoning. Health officials say many of these cases
could be prevented by having carbon monoxide detectors.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, fatigue,
dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and confusion. At high levels,
carbon monoxide can cause death within minutes. If you suspect you or
someone may be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, or your detector
sounds an alarm, go outside immediately for fresh air and call 911.
To protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide, follow these
safety tips:
-
Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors. All homes and
duplexes in Wisconsin are required to have detectors on every level,
including the basement, but not the attic or storage areas.
Detectors can be purchased at most hardware stores. Daylight Saving
Time is a good time each year to replace the batteries in your
detector and push the test button to be sure it’s working properly.
Replace your detector every five years.
-
Have your furnace or wood-burning stove inspected annually. Hire a
professional to make sure it is functionally sound and vents
properly outside the home.
-
Never run a gasoline or propane heater or a grill (gas or charcoal)
inside your home or in an unventilated garage. Any heating system
that burns fuel produces carbon monoxide. Use a battery-powered
detector where you have fuel burning devices but no electric
outlets, such as in tents, cabins, RVs and boats with enclosed
cabins.
-
Generators should be run at a safe distance (at least 20 feet) from
the home. Never run a generator in the home or garage, or right next
to windows or doors.
-
Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running, you
must have a door open to the outside.
Click here for
more information on carbon monoxide poisoning.
Next
Week is Winter Awareness Week
Before the snow and cold cover the Badger State, now is the time to get
your home and vehicles ready for winter weather.
According to the National Weather Service, on average, Wisconsin
experiences 3-6 winter storms during a season. Last winter, Lac Vieux
Desert in Vilas County had more than 100 inches of snow. Jackson in
Washington County and Sturgeon Bay in Door County both tied for the
highest snow totals in 24 hours. Sturgeon Bay received 13 inches on Dec.
16-17 and Jackson received 13 inches on March 14. The coldest spot was
Butternut in Ashland County with -36 degrees Fahrenheit Jan. 14.
The risk for bitter cold and heavy snow is also a good reminder to get
your home ready for winter too. It’s important to make sure you have an
emergency kit in your home with non-perishable food, bottled water,
flashlights with batteries, a NOAA weather radio, and a first aid kit.
To help you and your family get ready for winter weather, visit
ReadyWisconsin.wi.gov. Winter weather maps, tips on putting together
emergency kits and winter driving information are located there.
Fun
Wisconsin Fact
Bloomer, Wisconsin is known as the jump rope capital of the world.
Bloomer holds a Jump Rope Competition every year on the Last Saturday in
January. Bloomer refers to themselves as America’s “swingingest town.”
Bloomer's rope jumping boom began in 1960 when a former coach named
Wally Mohrman became the physical education teacher in the schools.
Knowing the value of the exercise, he decided to stir some interest with
a contest. The emphasis was on speed jumping: how many times a student
could whip a rope under his feet in a given period.