Lisa Subeck

State Representative

78th Assembly District

Job Creation Down in 2016

Nobody who works should have to be poor, and the people of Wisconsin need jobs that pay well. To ensure those jobs are available, we must not only invest in training workers for jobs that are currently unfilled, but we also need to make sure that the taxpayer money Governor Walker and  Republicans are giving away to private companies create jobs that actually pay a living wage.

A series of wage and job creation measures released over the last couple of weeks paint a bleak picture of Wisconsin under Governor Walker and Republicans. Reports indicate:

• Walker has failed to create jobs he promised, and wages in the state are declining.

• Last year was the worst year for job creation since Governor Walker took office. 10,000 fewer jobs were created last year than in 2015.

• The state lost nearly 4,000 manufacturing jobs in 2016.

• The Governor and Republicans created massive tax giveaways which they promised would create jobs, especially in manufacturing. These tax credits have failed to produce promised job growth but will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by the end of this year.

• Wisconsin remains dead last in the nation for business start-up activity.

Wisconsin’s middle class is shrinking at the hands of Republicans, and the first step to turning that around is providing well-paying jobs that enable working families and individuals to get ahead. That is why Democrats have offered legislation to raise wages, grow our economy, and provide new economic opportunity. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to drive down wages and give big tax breaks to their wealthy campaign donors with empty promises of jobs and opportunity for everyone else.

Budget Update

Last week, the Joint Finance Committee considered the budgets for the University of Wisconsin System and the Department of Health Services.   Democrats on the Committee offered comprehensive budget motions to pave the way for a brighter future for the next generation. These motions were rejected by Republicans on party-line votes.

University of Wisconsin System

Governor Walker and legislative Republicans made $500 million in cuts to the UW System over the last six years. Combined with unfunded tuition freezes, these cuts have severely put into jeopardy educational quality and long-term affordability for UW students. State support for the UW System is currently the lowest in state history when adjusted for inflation.

With those cuts in mind, Democrats offered an amendment to reinvest in the UW and make higher education more affordable.  The amendment would have restored the $500 million cuts to the UW System previously made by Republicans, provided free tuition at all two-year UW Colleges, invested $8 million to expand nursing programs at four UW campuses, and restored the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) and Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST).  The Republicans on the Committee rejected the Democratic motion on a party-line vote. Instead, Republicans passed their own motion which included:

• Failing to restore previous budget cuts to the University.

• Moving to micromanage student activity fees previously managed by the students themselves.

• Deleting a tuition cut and freezing tuition with no funding to cover the freeze.

• Establishing a new Tommy Thompson Center on Public Leadership for which leadership is stacked with Republican appointees and likely to become a right-wing policy think tank.

• Tying some funding to arbitrary performance measures.

• Imposing more red tape and costly unfunded mandates to the University.

Republicans are again leaving our university students and their families to face the consequences of more than 6 years of budget cuts. Democrats have proposed innovative solutions to reduce student loan debt through Higher Ed, Lower Debt legislation and to make college affordable for all Wisconsin families. Every young person deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education, whether at our University or through our technical colleges, to guarantee them a fair shot at success.

Health Services

Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee offered two amendments to the Department of Health Services (DHS) budget.  The first would have accepted federal Medicaid expansion funds and put those dollars toward increasing provider reimbursement rates by 12%. The second incorporated recommendations made by various health care advocates. These recommendations included expanding child psychiatry consultations and dementia care specialists statewide, funding healthy aging grants, communicable disease prevention, Disproportionate Share Hospital payments (DSH) for hospitals, and a 15% reimbursement increase for personal care services.  Republicans voted down each of these amendments.

The good news is that the proposal approved by the Joint Finance Committee does raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care services, nursing homes, and other care facilities. Nursing homes and personal care services will see increases of 2% in each year, while other facilities that serve those with cognitive disabilities will see increases of 1% in each year. Unfortunately, these increases pale in comparison to the 15% reimbursement increase proposed by Democrats and determined to be necessary by advocates. I will continue to fight for increased rates as the budget moves forward, as we must stop underpaying those personal care and nursing workers who care for our most vulnerable friends, neighbors, and family members.

Republicans All Talk, No Action on Ending Homelessness

Last week, I submitted for introduction the “Housing First” legislative package after circulating the bills for co-sponsorship. The five Housing First bills invest in evidence-based solutions to end and prevent homelessness in Wisconsin. While the legislation received broad support among my Democratic colleagues, not a single Republican legislator was willing to co-sponsor even one of the five bills to invest substantive resources into fighting homelessness. The “Housing First” package provides a stark contrast to an anemic package of Republican bills that recently passed the Assembly under the guise of addressing homelessness, while providing little more than another committee and another pilot program to talk about the problem.

Click here for more information about the bills and to view copies of the legislation.

Madison Parks Rated 9^th Best in the Nation   

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently released their 2017 ParkScore and Madison Parks ranked 9^th out of the United States largest 100 cities. TPL is a nation-wide nonprofit advocating for the creation and protection of park space in the United States. TPL has been ranking park systems of the largest cities since 2012.

The City of Madison has an abundance of parks with several activities including basketball hoops, Frisbee courses, dog parks and playgrounds. The Madison Parks are everywhere throughout the city, walkable to many and accessible to all.

Congratulations to the City of Madison and Madison Parks Superintendent Eric Knepp!

NEW Elver Park Farmers Market

The Madison West Neighborhood Association has just announced the new Elver Park Farmers Market. The Market will be at Elver Park Saturday Mornings from 8 a.m. to noon from June 10 through September 16.

There will be ten to fifteen vendors selling grass-fed meats, vegetables, fruits, eggs, wool, BBQ sauce, fish, soaps, brats, sausage, herbs, and much more! SNAP/EBT cards will be accepted.

Wear Orange Friday for Gun Violence Prevention Day

This Friday, June 2, is National #WearOrange/Gun Violence Awareness Day. Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor after she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15. Wearing orange has turned into a nationwide movement to honor the 93 lives that end and the hundreds more injured by gun violence every day. Orange is a bright, bold color that demands to be seen. The color helps to expresses the hope and need for a future free from gun violence.

People across the country, including legislators, other elected officials, celebrities, sports teams, advocates, and many others will wear orange to honor those who have been impacted by gun violence, and inspire action to stop gun violence. Please join us in wearing orange!

On June 3rd Mom’s Demand Action is hosting a Madison Wear Orange event, which will take place from 3-4pm at the Madison Labor Temple (1602 South Park Street).

The local Madison Group Lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Jennifer Rosen Heinz, will give short remarks and introduce Michael Johnson, CEO of Dane County Boys & Girls Club, who will deliver a short welcoming message. This event is co-sponsored by Madison Teachers, Inc.

For more information, text ORANGE to 644-33 or visit www.wearorange.org

For local information, please contact Jennifer Rosen Heinz, Local Madison Group Lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, jennifer@rosenheinz.com or (608) 217-1435.

Know Before You Go: Car Repair Tips for Travelers

The season of the family road trip is here. For most travelers, this means a leisurely jaunt to a favorite getaway. But some travelers may trade leisure for frustration when an automotive breakdown occurs. If you are on the road and you need repair services, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) offers tips to help consumers know their rights when they are faced with an unexpected auto repair.

If you are in an unfamiliar town and are looking for help during normal business hours, seek out the local chamber of commerce for guidance. Do as much research as you can before you commit to a repair shop, and inquire with DATCP's Consumer Protection Hotline (800-422-7128) to find out if complaints have been filed against a particular business.

Click here to for more helpful car repair tips and information to file a complaint.

Fun Wisconsin Fact

Politics during the first years of Wisconsin’s statehood were defined by the national debate over slavery. The debate became especially intense in 1854, when a runaway slave named Joshua Glover ran away from Missouri and was captured in Racine. Glover was taken into custody under the Federal Fugitive Slave Law, but a mob of abolitionists helped him escape to Canada. After the incident, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared the Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional.

There is a mural (pictured left) depicting Glover’s capture and his escape on the I-43, Fond du Lac underpass in the City of Milwaukee.