Thank you for checking out my e-update this week where you can read about my committee activities, a preview of what will be in the Governor's biennial budget, and the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Don't forget that Tuesday, February 16, 2021 is the Spring Primary where we will narrow down our choices for the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
I hope you have a great weekend, and 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
The two committees on which I am the ranking Democratic member met this week. The Assembly Health Committee, met on Wednesday and Thursday for a public hearing and then an executive session on Assembly Bill 7 (AB 7), a bipartisan bill that addresses pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Pharmacy Benefit Managers are businesses that administer and manage prescription drug benefits, usually on behalf of health insurers. The legislation prohibits banning a pharmacist from informing a patient there is a cheaper option for their medication, prohibits PBMs from charging a copay greater than the amount the pharmacy would charge if the patient was not using insurance, among other provisions. The bill passed out of committee unanimously.
Also on Thursday, the Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules held an executive session to consider directives to the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) regarding special voting deputies and absentee voting at care facilities. Special Voting Deputies (SVD) are trained election officials who are deputized by a Municipal Clerk to carry out the duties of absentee voting at nursing homes, retirement homes, and other care facilities.
Since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Wisconsin, the state has conducted three statewide elections, all of which saw a surge in absentee voting. In each of these elections, WEC provided guidance to Clerks that temporarily altered the use of SVDs to ensure absentee voting for nursing home residents could be done safely while minimizing health risks and preserving residents’ right to vote. Unfortunately, Republicans on the committee again sowed the seeds of distrust and impugned the integrity of our elections, despite evidence and court rulings upholding that our elections were free and fair by ultimately deciding to micromanage the Elections Commission and its ability to protect the health and safety of voters during the pandemic.
Gov. Evers to Introduce 2021-2023 State Budget, Includes Funding for Regional Crisis Centers
On Monday, February 16th, Governor Tony Evers will deliver his biennial budget address to the members of the Legislature. Gov. Evers has been previewing elements of his forthcoming budget proposal for the last two weeks.
Included in these previews was the announcement this week of a $150 million investment in critical mental health services, coupled with an expansion of BadgerCare. This includes a $25 million reform in how Wisconsin delivers crisis intervention & emergency detention services by expanding regional crisis centers. Currently, Wisconsin’s emergency detention process is inefficient and insensitive to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The implementation of regional crisis centers would help those who require emergency mental health care to receive it in a safe and timely fashion without transporting them several hours away to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh.
This change would reduce strain on local law enforcement while providing a more compassionate approach for those experiencing a mental health emergency. The regional approach to this issue is a win-win for Wisconsin and our local communities.
Gov. Evers has also announced the following initiatives that will be included in his budget proposal:
· Addressing soaring prescription drug prices
· $43 million investment in the agriculture industry
· Legalizing marijuana: investing revenue in equity initiatives and rural schools
· $740 million investment supporting kids, families, and caregivers
· Allowing local leaders and community members to have a say in sales tax increases
You can watch Gov. Evers deliver his budget address on Monday, February 16th at 7 PM on PBS Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Channel (21.2 over the air), or Gov. Evers’ YouTube channel or Facebook page.
As of Friday, February 12, 2021, there were 39,139 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Dane County. Visit Public Health's Data Dashboard for the latest on COVID-19 case counts, hospitalizations, deaths, tests by date, county vaccination progress, and more.
On February 8, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued Emergency Order #13. The order went into effect on February 10, and expires on March 10. This new order, like its predecessors, is designed to call attention to where we are seeing the greatest amount of disease spread and interrupt the virus's quick movement through our community.
There were a number of changes in Order 13 compared to Order 12. Check out Public Health's blog post "What's Allowed in Emergency Order #13?" for what is now allowed, and more information and answers to commonly asked questions.
When do I need to wear a face covering?
Under the state and local orders, people five years of age and older must wear a face covering:
Indoors and in any enclosed building where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit, are present.
Outdoors while actively participating in sports, including drills, practices, scrimmages, games, and competitions.
Outdoors while attending a gathering of more than 50 individuals.
In line to enter any enclosed building.
Driving or riding in any vehicle where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit are present.
In any other confined space open to the public where individuals congregate where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit, are present, including but not limited to, outdoor taverns, outdoor restaurants, and outdoor park structures.
There are Many Options for COVID-19 Testing in Dane County:
Your healthcare provider -- If you have health insurance, we recommend contacting your healthcare provider to see if they are able to test you.
Alliant Energy Center -- This community testing site is open Tuesday through Saturday for people ages 5 and older.
UW-Madison -- UW-Madison has testing available on campus for students and staff members.
South Madison Community Test Site -- This community testing site is open Mondays and Wednesdays for people ages 5 and older.
Via Your Mailbox -- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers a service for requesting a test kit delivered to your mailbox.
*Information provided by Dane Co. Executive Joe Parisi
As of Friday, February 12, 669,936 (11.5%) Wisconsinites had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, while 213,571 (3.7%) residents had received both doses.
On February 16th, the Federal Retail Pharmacy (FPP) program will launch in Wisconsin. This a collaborative effort between the federal government and state health officials to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations at participating pharmacies.
There are 178 Walgreens locations in Wisconsin will be a part of this program. You can find a list of participating Wisconsin locations here. While these locations will initially have limited capacity to vaccinate, this program will play a critical role in accelerating local vaccination efforts in underserved communities. The program will start small and expand as the vaccine supply increases. Those allowed a vaccine at this time remain those individuals who are included in Phase 1A. You can find out who is eligible and when in Wisconsin here. You can set up a vaccine at a participating Walgreens here.
The Biden Administration this week also announced that the US has secured 600 million doses by July. President Biden also announced that Pfizer and Moderna have agreed to expedite delivery of 100 million doses each by a month, which moves delivery up to May rather than June. The federal government will ship those doses out to states (including Wisconsin) as soon as possible
This week, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) published a new Emergency Rule that will allow DWD to continue to waive work searches for people who apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits.
State law requires someone applying for unemployment benefits to look for a suitable job and provide information about four work search actions they have taken each week. This requirement was waived early on in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to ease the burden for many people during this time of reduced job opportunities.
Without a waiver in place, thousands of claimants would have been required to provide information about four work searches each week. The rule also continues to ease eligibility for people who would work but cannot for COVID-related reasons, such as being quarantined or subject to subsequent stay-at-home orders.
Governor's Council on Financial Literacy and Capability
On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #106 (EO #106) creating the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability (formerly the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy). EO #106 expands the council’s mission its mission to consist of financial inclusion and to assist Wisconsin residents with improving their financial literacy and capability, and the order expanded the council’s membership from 25 to 35 to bring in expertise in the areas of financial capability and inclusion. The Governor’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and DFI’s Office of Financial Literacy will look to the council for guidance in these areas. Additionally, Wisconsin’s First Lady, Kathy Evers, will serve as an ambassador to promote the council’s mission.
The Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability’s mission includes:
Exploring and identifying how systemic racism creates barriers to financial health, wealth, and retirement security for Wisconsinites and supporting organizations with best practices for creating a new system of financial justice and inclusion;
Working with employers to develop and implement programs to provide employees with tools that help employees measurably increase their financial literacy;
Exploring and identifying best practices in implementing financial literacy and capability through individuals’ life stages – pre-k to college, young adult, adulthood, pre-retirement, and retirement – emphasizing preventing elder financial exploitation;
Expanding financial literacy professional development opportunities by working collaboratively with the Department of Public Instruction, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Wisconsin’s Forward Learning Institute of Financial and Economic Literacy, and other partners, to measure and increase the number of students taught; and
Encouraging savings for post-secondary education and vocation through Wisconsin’s College Savings Programs.
For more information on the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability, visit here.
Wisconsin Fun Fact Celebrating Black History Month
In Milton, WI, in Rock County, stands a hexagonal building that is known as the Milton House.
The Milton House was built in 1845 by Joseph Goodrich and used as a hotel. It was a popular stop for travelers as it was located at the intersection of the Chicago-Madison military road, and the road between Janesville and Fort Atkinson.
The Milton House was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad, as fugitive slaves navigated the nearby Rock River to the area, before traveling on to Racine, and then by boat to Canada. An underground tunnel exists between the Milton House and a nearby cabin. The tunnel is claimed to have hidden runaway slaves. Famed abolitionist Sojourner Truth visited the Milton House in the 1860s.
After falling into disrepair, the Milton House was restored in the 1930s and ‘40s, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998.
