Assembly Republicans Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood

On Thursday, the Republican majority in Assembly passed AB 310, a bill which would potentially block access to needed health care for women across Wisconsin through further defunding of Planned Parenthood. Under the bill, the Department of Health Services would be required to apply for federal Title X funding and would adopt new guidelines making Planned Parenthood ineligible for the funding.

My Democratic colleagues and I fought back against this unwarranted attack on access to cancer screenings, preventative care, and family planning services. Ultimately, after hours of debate, AB 310 passed on a party line vote. The bill has now been sent to the Senate where it awaits further action. 

Click here to hear what I had to say about AB 310.

Civil Service Under Attack

Governor Walker’s first order of business upon returning to Wisconsin after his failed presidential run is to attack our state’s civil service system. A proposed bill authored by Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton) and Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) would remove vital civil service protections and open the door to corruption and cronyism in state hiring and employment decisions.

Wisconsin’s civil service system has been in place for more than 100 years, and it protects both taxpayers and state employees. The Republicans’ proposal would eliminate the state exams used in the hiring process, and all hires would be made by the Governor’s Department of Administration instead of each position’s respective department. The bill makes changes to how layoffs would be handled and makes it easier to fire state employees arbitrarily.   

This is a politically motivated attack on our public employees that will hurt workers and expose state offices to undue partisan political influence.

Wisconsin Family Medical Leave Insurance Act Introduced

Last week, Democratic legislators put forward a proposal to expand Wisconsin’s current Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The proposal would expand current law to allow eligible employees to take medical leave or family leave to care for grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and those with eligible family members deployed overseas by the military. Current law guarantees these protections to care for oneself, a spouse, child, or parent. 

The FMLA expansion would include insurance offering paid leave to employees, giving workers without paid sick leave the option to obtain it and would make it easier for employees of smaller businesses to receive such benefits. Expanded FMLA is especially critical for low wage workers who cannot afford to lose pay when sick or caring for a sick family member.

As it stands, a few unpaid days off with an ill child leaves too many families unable to pay rent or put food on the table. No one should have to choose between paying the bills and caring for a sick child. This expansion of the Wisconsin Family Medical Leave Act would make paid sick and family leave a reality for hardworking individuals and families who currently face impossible choices.

Another Swipe at Wisconsin’s Most Vulnerable Residents

Yesterday, the Assembly Public Benefits Reform Committee passed AB 188 and held a public hearing on AB 200. If passed and signed into law, both bills would make it harder for our state’s most vulnerable residents to utilize the FoodShare program to put food on their families’ tables.

With these two bills, Republicans are piling on in their quest to demonize hardworking Wisconsin families in need of assistance to get by in a tough economy, using fraud as a smoke screen to add new barriers for FoodShare participants.

These changes will have a significant disproportionate impact on senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, Republicans refuse to allow any exemptions, showing just how out of touch they are with those in need of assistance.

Instead of focusing on expanding access to jobs and increasing wages, Republicans are looking to score political points with extreme right wing voters at the expense of our most vulnerable residents.

Links to the bills:

AB 188

AB 200

Celebrating the Life of Anne Nicol Gaylor

Last week, Senator Risser and I presented Annie Laurie Gaylor, daughter of Anne Nicol Gaylor, with a citation honoring her mother. Anne Nicol Gaylor, who passed away in June, championed women's reproductive rights and was an outspoken proponent of the separation of church and state.

Anne began her long and distinguished career as a pioneer, activist, and reproductive rights advocate in 1967 when, as editor and owner of the Middleton Times−Tribune, she wrote an editorial calling for legalized abortion in Wisconsin. In 1976 Anne founded her two nonprofit organizations, Women’s Medical Fund and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, advocating for reproductive rights and promoting the separation of church and state.

Traveling Asphalt Crew Scam

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has received reports of transient asphalt contractors canvassing the regions looking for work. Though these cases have only been reported in the Superior and Waukesha areas, all Wisconsin residents should be on the lookout for these transient contractors.

The workers show up unannounced at homes and businesses, claiming to have leftover product from a prior job and offering to sealcoat or blacktop a driveway for a cheap price. After a price is agreed upon and a payment is made by cash or check, the crew begins work. The job is quickly and poorly done, and the consumer is overcharged for the quality of the project. In some cases, only a base coat is applied and the promised top coat is skipped despite the consumer being charged for it.

Because these crews are always on the go, there is little reason to suspect that they will remain in any particular area. They are known for arbitrarily increasing their prices as they work, and they come and go from an area without a trace, leaving consumers empty-handed and with no recourse for uncompleted work or property damage.

If a crew stops by your home offering an immediate resurfacing job, ask them to leave and contact local law enforcement. If you wish to have your driveway properly resurfaced, contact local, trusted contractors and gather multiple bids. Never pay the full price of a project upfront. If you have been victimized by one of these transient teams, contact local law enforcement and report the crime to DATCP by filing a complaint on the DATCP website or by contacting the Consumer Information Hotline at 1-800-422-7128 and requesting a complaint form.

Domestic Abuse Prevention Month

October is Domestic Violence Prevention Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and support the work needed to eliminate domestic violence in our communities.

Yesterday I joined members of the Zonta Club and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the Purple Ribbon Walk. We walked in silence around the Capitol in remembrance of the women, men, and children killed in domestic violence homicides across our state in 2014. This was the first of several events that organizations and advocates will be hosting in the coming weeks to raise awareness and help end domestic abuse. Click here to view a list of events in Madison.

If you or a loved one feels abused, threatened, scared, or unsafe in an intimate partner relationship, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) can help you. If you need immediate help, please call their 24-Hour Help Line at 608-251-4445. If you feel your life may be in danger, please call 911.

Meet our Intern, Shannon

I am happy to introduce you to Shannon, the newest intern in our office. Shannon joined us at the beginning of September and will be with us through the fall semester.

Born and raised in Delafield, Wisconsin, Shannon is delighted to be working for the first time in the State Capitol. She is currently in her second year at UW-Madison, with a double major in Gender & Women’s Studies and Political Science.  She hopes to continue her education through law school and ultimately work in human or civil rights law. 

Shannon has already learned so much in these first few weeks and is looking forward to learning even more about the legislative system.