Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


February 16, 2018

 

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


Yogaventures
Saturday, February 17
10:30 am - 11 am

Madison Children’s Museum
100 N Hamilton St

Come get your wiggles out through our 20 minute yoga flow. We’ll stretch our bodies as we stretch our imaginations through one of our yoga themes such as: dinosaurs, space, architecture and building, and bugs and gardens. Each week we’ll pick a different theme, stop by to find out if we’ll be bugs, dinosaurs, or astronauts! We’re working on our big body movement, our imagination, storytelling, listening skills, taking deep breaths, and following along.

 


Enduring a Woodland Winter
Sunday, February 18
1 pm- 2:30 pm

UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

Explore how people before European settlement survived a harsh winter using the natural resources around them. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

 


West Madison Senior Coalition Free Lunches
Tuesday-Thursday,
February 20, 21, & 22
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.

 


A to Z: Intro to Machine Shorthand Program
Tuesday, February 20
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

This 8-week course, sponsored by the NCRA (National Court Reporters' Association) and the WCRA (Wisconsin Court Reporters' Association) serves as an introduction to court reporting. Instructions and materials for participants will be provided free of charge. Participants must register with WCRA for the full 8-week series (January 16-March 6); email wicourtreporters@gmail.com to register.

 


Anji Play Date
Wednesday, February 21
10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Lussier Community Center
55 S Gammon

The library will provide play and art materials especially chosen to encourage highly engaged, self-determined play. When kids are done, they'll create a Play Story depicting their play that day. Messy clothes recommended. Open to all ages.

 


WMSC Movie Day- Victoria and Abdul
Wednesday, February 21
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

West Madison Senior Center Programs are designated to provide opportunities for learning, socializing and community involvement.

 


Chess Club
Wednesday, February 21
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Learn how to play chess and play against others with varied levels of experience. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

 


Read to a dog
Thursday, February 22
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

Bring a favorite book (or find one at the library!) and read aloud to a furry friend. Time slots available on a first come, first served basis.

 


Storytime for the very young
Friday, February 23
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. No registration required.

 


After Dinner Mints-Hidden Figures
Friday, February 23
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

PG, 2hrs 7min., 2016; starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer & Janelle Monae. The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. Space Program.

 


Taco Friday: Cooking with Gaylene of Taco Sunrise
Friday, February 23
6:00 pm - 7:15 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Learn how to make different types of tacos with all the fixings. For kids 6+. Register online or call 288-6160.

 


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,

 

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those impacted by the tragic school shooting in Florida this week. I know that thoughts and prayers are not enough, which is why I renew my commitment to advancing meaningful legislation to prevent and end gun violence.

In this week’s newsletter, you will also find information about bills passed by the State Assembly this week, an update about my bill to increase security at gun stores after hours, and brief recap of the inaugural State of Black and Brown Wisconsin Address.

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

 


Gun Store Security Legislation (AB 782) Receives Public Hearing
On Wednesday, I testified before the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety in support of my bill which would require retail businesses that sell firearms to secure all firearms when the business is unattended.

Last April, a Janesville gun shop was robbed of eighteen guns and two silencers by an individual who smashed a glass door to gain entry. The man responsible has been convicted, but the firearms still have not been recovered. In October of last year, criminals drove a vehicle through the front window of a Cross Plains gun shop and were able to get away with fourteen firearms. Last month, the same Janesville gun store from the April incident was burglarized, and seven handguns were stolen. The next day another gun store in Oregon, Wisconsin, was burglarized and fourteen guns were stolen in less than two minutes after the initial break-in.

When firearms are not secured after hours, these shops are easy targets for criminals who can break-in and, within minutes, walk away with a dozen or more firearms. These stolen guns turn up on our streets, in the hands of criminals, posing a danger to the community. This common sense legislation will keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and make our communities more secure.

To learn more about the bill, you can click here to read my testimony.

 


This Week on the Assembly Floor
Good news:

Foster Forward
The State Assembly passed thirteen bipartisan bills intended to improve Wisconsin’s foster care system. One bill, which I authored (AB 787), establishes a foster family support fund administered as a grant program with counties, nonprofits and other organizations to support foster families. The bill passed unanimously.

Foster families in Wisconsin give so much of themselves to provide for the children in their care, but even the most committed families sometimes face challenges in meeting specialized care needs or finding the resources to pay for experiences like field trips and extra-curricular activities.

These grants could be used to assist efforts in retaining existing foster parents, expanding education for foster parents, and reimbursements for expenses related to providing normalcy for foster children like field trip costs, a band uniform, or to cover fees and equipment to play football.

These funds can help attract and retain foster families whether by assisting with extra training or giving families the ability to offer foster children more opportunities. This is a critical first step in improving the lives of foster children and families and addressing Wisconsin’s need for foster families.

Now for the bad news:

Governor Walker’s Spending Bills
Assembly Republicans rubber stamped Governor Walker’s special session bills that chip away at the safety net for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable families.

Wisconsin families work hard every day yet continue to live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to make ends meet. Instead of helping hardworking families get ahead, Governor Walker and Republicans are ramming through legislation that will only make their lives harder.

The governor thinks that going after struggling families is the best way to fire up his base heading into a tough reelection bid. Instead of throwing away more than $90 million a year on an election year gimmick, Governor Walker and Republicans ought to start addressing the real struggles of hardworking families.

If Republicans were serious about helping working families, they would increase access to transportation and childcare, expand education and job training opportunities, and raise wages. My Democratic colleagues and I remain committed to getting people to work and breaking down barriers to finding and retaining good, family-supporting jobs.

 

Removing Wetland Protections
Republicans in the State Assembly passed AB 547, which would create a number of exemptions for wetlands permitting and mitigation requirements, removing protections for hundreds of thousands of acres of wetland in Wisconsin.

Yet again, Republicans are putting the interests of big developers ahead of the people of Wisconsin, jeopardizing our state’s pristine natural resources. Wisconsin’s wetlands help protect our communities from flooding, provide habitats for wildlife and are an incredible place for residents to enjoy the outdoors. If signed into law, AB 547 will have environmental repercussions felt now and for years to come.

 


Inaugural State of Black and Brown Wisconsin Address
Earlier this month, members of the Assembly and Senate came together and announced the formation of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. The caucus was formed in recognition of Black History Month and the many extraordinary contributions of people of color in the state of Wisconsin.

On Monday, I attended the inaugural State of Black and Brown Wisconsin Address at the State Capitol hosted by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Members of the caucus and community leaders discussed the many strides made by communities of color in Wisconsin, as well as the many problems and concerns they face in our state today.

Click here to view the 2018 State of Black and Brown Wisconsin Address.

 


Vote Tuesday in the Spring Primary
The Spring Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, February 20, and there is a statewide Supreme Court election on the ballot. Depending on exactly where you live, you may also have a primary election for County Board, School Board, or other local offices. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., click here to find your polling place.

In-person absentee voting for the election is still available until Sunday, February 18, at the Madison City Clerk’s Office and additional locations throughout the city. To learn more about in-person absentee voting, including locations and times, please click here.

Remember: You must present an acceptable photo ID card to vote in Wisconsin. Click here to find out if you have the correct identification and to get information on how to obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card for voting purposes.

Click here to see what is on your ballot.

Click here to read the “Candidates’ Answers” on the League of Women Voters of Dane County website.

 


Protect Yourself From Fake IRS and Department of Revenue Calls
This week, Madison Police received a complaint filed by a 20 year old Madison woman who lost $2,000 to a scam artist posing as an IRS agent. She received a threatening call from the individual informing her she owed $9,000 in taxes stemming from a student loan. After being told a warrant would be issued for her arrest if she hung up, the scam artist was able to keep her on the phone three hours prior to instructing her to use a credit card to buy four $500 Google Play gift cards from Best Buy to settle the debt.

Fear-based tactics are a common element of these so-called “government imposter” phone scam pitches. Callers often make specific threats about imminent arrest by law enforcement, loss of a driver’s license, or even deportation. Put simply, phone threats from the IRS or Department of Revenue are scams. The best protection anyone can have is the knowledge that a threatening call about unpaid taxes is fake…period.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue does not email or call you to request your social security number, PIN numbers, passwords, or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts. Wisconsin Department of Revenue policies are similar to the IRS policies. If you owe taxes, DOR will have notified you by U.S. mail – not email or phone. DOR does not ask for payment via debit card or wire transfer. DOR does not ask you to provide a credit card number over the phone. And DOR never requests personal or financial information by text or social media.

To protect yourself and your family, remember these simple truths:

  • The IRS and Wisconsin Department of Revenue contact taxpayers about their accounts by US mail.

  • The IRS and Wisconsin Department of Revenue will never call you, make threats about your tax liability and demand immediate payment. Do not trust your caller ID.

  • The IRS and Wisconsin Department of Revenue will never request that you pay your taxes using iTunes or Amazon gift cards, wire transfers, PayPal, prepaid debit cards or reloadable MoneyPak cards.

If you ever question the authenticity of a letter, phone call or email you receive that claims to be from a government agency, contact that agency directly to inquire.

Click here to view can see a video from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

For more information you can also send an e-mail to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection at datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.

 


Verona Road Update
Despite the recent snowfall, the 2018 construction season is approaching! Click here to watch the 2018 Construction Overview video for the Verona Road (US 18/151) Project in Fitchburg. Construction is currently anticipated to start in March. Please note this is weather dependent and subject to change.

Click here to download the latest Verona Road Project, Stage 2 Construction Schedule. Stage 2 construction extends along Verona Road from Raymond Road to south of County PD (McKee Road) and County PD, between Fitchrona Road and Commerce Park Drive. Construction in the Fitchburg area is currently scheduled to be completed in fall 2020.

For more information an updates visit www.VeronaRoadProject.wi.gov or Facebook.

 


Wisconsin Fun Fact: Black History Month
In recognition of Black History Month, February’s fun facts will highlight pioneering achievements and contributions of African Americans with a connection to Madison. Black History Month gives us all an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions people of African heritage have made and continue to make today.

William Exum, class of 1936, was the first African American to wear a varsity football uniform for the University of Wisconsin. Exum went on to become a nationally recognized track coach and served as the manager of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team in 1972 and 1976.

 

 

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