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.