Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


February 28, 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


Drop in Preschool Storytime
Thursday, March 1
9:30 am - 10:15 am

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

A happy blend of stories, fingerplays and songs that help preschool children develop print ans phonologic awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Groups welcome. Siblings welcome. No registration required.

 


Knitting at the Library
Thursday, March 1
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Learn to knit or bring your current project. Supplies provided. Children under 8 must have an adult present.

 


Minecraft Club
Thursday, March 1
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd


Bring your own device, or play with friends on our server. No account necessary, ages 17 and under.Sign up for 30 minute turns based on attendance. Funded in part by a gift from the Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Foundation.

 


Storytime for the very young
Friday, March 2
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. No registration required.

 


Kindness Rocks! – Madison Chapter
Friday, March 2
3:30pm – 4:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

We're excited to help spread kindness around the community & hope you will join us. Come decorate rocks with kind pictures or messages to leave around the area as a surprise! It's simple: paint, hide, find, smile, repeat! Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. No registration necessary.

 


First Friday Coloring and Crafts Meet Up
Friday, March 2
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

Appeal to the artist in you!

 


Ecological Restoration Work Party
Saturday, March 3
9:00am – 12:00pm

UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

 


Kids in the Rotunda
Saturday, March 3
9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Overture Center for the Arts
201 State St

Free performances designed especially for children and families most Saturdays during the school year. Three performance times to choose from every weekend—including a 1 p.m. performance with an American Sign Language interpreter.

 


Madison Reads Leopold
Saturday, March 3
9:30 am – 3:45 pm

UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

13th-annual free public reading from "A Sand County Almanac" and other works by conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Arboretum’s first research director. Celebrities and citizens alike will share Leopold’s eloquent statements about humans’ relationship to the natural environment. Come for your favorite essays or stay all day. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend.
 


Snow Crust Moon Night Walk
Saturday, March 3
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

This name alludes to frequent snow melting and refreezing. The Ho-Chunk call this full moon (March 1) Raccoon Breeding Moon. It is also known as Worm Moon. By whatever name, it will light our way on this walk. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

 


In Leopold’s Footsteps Walk
Sunday, March 4
1:00pm- 2:30pm

UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

Learn where conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Arboretum’s first research director, conducted famous phenological research from 1935–45 and established the first restorations of Wisconsin’s natural ecosystems. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend.
 


Preschool Storytime
Monday, March 5
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

A happy blend of stories, fingerplays and songs that help preschool children develop print and phonologic awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Registration not required.

 


Read to a Dog
Wednesday, March 7
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Bring a favorite book and read aloud to a furry friend. Time slots available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
 


Storytime for the Very Young
Friday, March 9
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. No registration required

 


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,

 

While the Assembly has likely adjourned for the rest of the year, there is still a lot happening here at the Capitol, and it is possible we may still be back on the floor at least one more time as the Senate has plans to meet at least once in March..

In this week’s newsletter, you will find news of a lawsuit against Governor Walker over his refusal to hold special elections to fill vacant legislative seats, the latest on Democratic efforts to enact common sense policies to prevent gun violence, a schedule of quarterly Verona Road construction meetings, and information from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection about consumer complaints.


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

 


Call for Special Session on Preventing Gun Violence
This week I stood with County Executive Joe Parisi, Madison Schools Superintendent Cheatham, students and community members in calling for a special session of the legislature in order to pass bills that will help end gun violence. Together, we held a press conference at the MMSD Doyle Administration building and will be delivering a letter signed by legislators and petitions signed by Wisconsinites to the Governor demanding action.

Every child has the right to a school that is safe and secure, and parents have the right to expect that their children will be safe at school. I will continue fighting for legislation that moves us closer to that goal, which is why I am working with other legislators, students, parents and local government officials and community leaders to push for common sense policy change.

 


Governor Walker Sued Over Vacant Legislative Seats
Last year, Republican State Senator Frank Lasee and Republican State Representative Keith Ripp resigned to take positions in the Walker Administration. However, the Governor has not called special elections for those offices despite a clear statutory requirement that special elections be called for these seats. A group led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder filed a lawsuit on Monday against Gov. Scott Walker for his decision to leave two vacant legislative seats open for nearly a year.

Under statute 8.50(4)(d), “Any vacancy in the office of state senator or representative to the assembly occurring before the 2nd Tuesday in May in the year in which a regular election is held to fill that seat shall be filled as promptly as possible by special election.” The law is clear, and the Governor is obligated to act.

Both of the seats in question have the potential of changing from Republican to Democratic in a special election – just as the 10th Senate District did in a recent special election. It is clear that the Governor is politically motivated not to hold elections for these seats and purposefully denying the residents of these districts the ability to be represented in the Senate and Assembly.

 


WHEDA Announces Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
Yesterday, I attended Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)’s announcement of the recipients of $13.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Congratulations to Common Bond Communities, who was awarded LIHTC to build the upcoming Tree Lane Senior Apartments right here in District 78. The project was among seven in Dane County to be awarded the credits by WHEDA through a competitive process.

 


Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Day
On Tuesday, I met with district residents who participated in Alzheimer’s Association Lobby Day. I appreciated hearing from them firsthand how Alzheimer’s disease is affecting their families. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. There are 115,000 Wisconsinites living with Alzheimer’s, 7,000 in Dane County.

The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned information because Alzheimer's changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer's advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

Click here to visit the Alzheimer’s Association website detailing 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's.

 


Meet Our Intern, Laura
Laura is originally from the suburbs of Minneapolis and started interning in the spring. She is sophomore at the University of Wisconsin Madison studying Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies. Laura has always been very passionate about women’s rights and is also involved with the Campus Women’s Center and UW Chapter of NOW. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and reading a good book. Post-graduation, Laura hopes to pursue a career as a lobbyist.

 


Mark Your Calendars: Quarterly Verona Road Meetings set for 2018
Back by popular demand, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will host quarterly open house meetings in 2018 to discuss design and construction activities for Stage 2 of the Verona Road (US 18/151) reconstruction project, from Raymond Road south to County PD (McKee Road) in Fitchburg.

When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
-Thursday, March 15, 2018
-Thursday, June 21, 2018
-Thursday, September 20, 2018
-Thursday, December 13, 2018

Where: Verona Road Project Field Office
6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, Fitchburg, WI

A brief construction preview will be shared promptly at 5:30 p.m. Otherwise stop by at your convenience. Maps and exhibits of the Verona Road improvements will be on display. WisDOT representatives will be available at these meetings to discuss the project on an individual basis.

 


Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) in Madison
The VITA program is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and many individual states, including Wisconsin. Volunteers trained by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) prepare and electronically file basic income tax returns for free.

Richard Dilley Tax Center,
The Villager Mall (Atrium Entrance)
2300 S. Park St.
Madison, WI 53713
608-283-1261

Mondays: 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Wednesdays: 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Saturdays: 9:00am-3:00pm
Through April 14, 2018

No appointment required

You can also become a volunteer by clicking here and filling out the volunteer information form. When VITA receives your form, a site coordinator in your area will contact you about the available volunteer opportunities.

 


Top Ten Consumer Complaints of 2017
Telemarketing continues its streak at the top of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP) annual list of consumer complaints. DATCP received 4,147 telemarketing complaints last year, an increase of more than 12% over the 2016 total and a 62% increase over 2015.

A significant number of 2017 telemarketing complaints were about unsolicited calls to renew extended automotive warranty service contracts and to lower credit card interest rates. Imposter scams were also a major issue last year, with scammers falsely claiming to represent government agencies and well-known businesses such as the Internal Revenue Service, utility companies and "Microsoft Tech Support" in an attempt to rip off call recipients.The goal of these scams is to trick you into making a payment or to unwittingly share your personal information. Thankfully, most of the reports DATCP received about scams last year were from consumers who did not fall for the ruse.

The rest of the top five complaint categories include:
 

2. Landlord/Tenant (1,141 complaints; up 20 from 2016): Complaints commonly involved security deposit returns, evictions, unauthorized entries, inadequate disclosures, and unsatisfactory services.


3. Telecommunications (763 complaints; up 65 from 2016): This category pertains to complaints involving long distance, cellular phone, internet, satellite, and cable services as well as bundled service packages.
 

4. Identity Theft (453 complaints; up 22 from 2016): Complaints involved data breaches, tax identity theft, and fraud.


5. Home Improvement (403 complaints; up 20 from 2016): Complaints commonly involved a failure to provide services, charges for work not provided, failure to honor warranties, improper installations, and poor workmanship.


6. Gas Pumps (232 complaints; down 34 from 2016): These complaints involved concerns about gas pump accuracy and credit card skimmers in gas pumps.


7. Medical Services (new category this year with 195 complaints): The primary complaint issues for this category were billing disputes, misrepresentations, and unauthorized charges. This category covers medical services related to clinics, hospitals, and professional services in the medical field. It does not include complaints about medical devices or products.


8. Motor Vehicle Repair (182 complaints; down 18 from 2016): Complaints commonly involved unauthorized charges, workmanship, and failures to provide services or honor warranties.


9. Motor Vehicle Sales (149 complaints; down 24 from 2016): Complaints involved inadequate disclosures and misrepresentations.


10. Fuel Quality (113 complaints; up 33 from 2016): These complaints centered on concerns about the quality of fuel at retail stations.

In all, DATCP received 10,756 complaints to the Bureau of Consumer Protection and another 456 to the Bureau of Weights & Measures. The agency returned nearly $2.7 million in funds to Wisconsin - the majority of which were returned to consumers in the form of mediated refunds, negotiated settlements or court-ordered restitutions.

 


Fun Wisconsin Fact
The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, which was founded in 1846, became the first state historical society to receive funding from a state government. The legislature appropriated $500 for the purchase of books and other materials. Lyman Copeland Draper (pictured left/right) was one of the guiding forces behind this institution. Draper was a librarian and historian who served as the first secretary for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison. Draper also served as Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin from 1858 to 1860.

 

 

 

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