Lisa Subeck

State Representative

78th Assembly District

Joint Finance Resumes Meetings

Tomorrow, the Joint Finance Committee is expected to vote to on the Department of Employee Trust Funds budget.  It is expected that the Committee will vote to reject the move to self-insurance that Governor Walker included in his version of the budget.  

It remains to be seen if Republican disagreement and dysfunction will continue to stand in the way of progress on other stalled topics such as public education and transportation funding. By law, the budget should be completed by the end of this month. It is pretty clear that political gamesmanship among the Republicans will stand in the way of meeting that deadline, leaving our schools and our communities without the funding certainty they need to move forward.

Campaign Finance Reform

Over the last six years, Republicans have systematically chipped away at Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws. Their actions, coupled with the federal Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, have opened the floodgates to record spending in our state’s elections and have reduced transparency, leaving voters to wonder exactly who is trying to influence their votes.

This week, Democrats began circulating campaign finance legislation that would reverse the significant damage that has been done by Republicans. These bills are being introduced with the support of non-partisan watchdog groups like Wisconsin Common Cause and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.  

The proposed legislation would reinstate meaningful spending limits, close loopholes in the definition of political action committees, increase transparency relative to donations and the occupation of donors regarding who is giving and spending money to influence our elections, and would eliminate dangerous coordination between candidates and shadowy groups.

Additionally, I continue working on legislation that would put a statewide referendum on Citizens United on the ballot.

Unfortunately, the Republican majority in the Legislature is unlikely to agree to any positive changes to our campaign finance laws, but I remain committed fighting for what is right. As Republicans continue to game the system and try to stack the deck in favor of themselves and their wealthy donors, my Democratic colleagues and I are standing up for you and all of the everyday people of Wisconsin.

Voter Registration Four Year Maintenance

The Wisconsin Election Commission has sent out 380,000 postcards like the one on the right to Wisconsin residents who have registered to vote but have not voted in the past four years according to Election Commission records.

This mailing is necessary due to current state law requiring inactive voters to be removed from the voter list.  While the voters receiving this mailer have been deemed “inactive,” the mailer provides voters with an opportunity to reply and remain active on the state’s voter list.  If individuals do not respond within a month, they will be marked as inactive on the list.

Since postcards can be misdirected to the wrong mailbox, overlooked, or mistaken for junk mail, you may wish to review your information on the MyVote Wisconsin website, https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/.  This website allows you to enter your name and birthdate and see your current voting address and a listing of elections in which you previously voted.  

If you know you voted at least once in the past four years but received the postcard mailing from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, please contact your municipal Clerk to ensure your registration remains active.

Tour of the UW- Madison Preschool Lab

Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the School of Human Ecology’s Preschool Laboratory. The preschool is a child development and early learning program for community children and a teaching and research laboratory for University students, faculty and staff.

Their current facility, which was renovated in 2012, is a large space that has allowed the preschool to expand teaching and research opportunities, as well as infant care on the central campus. The preschool provides high quality early childhood education for children ages six weeks to five years that focuses on developmentally and culturally appropriate early learning experiences in safe, relationship-based classrooms. As part of the research component of their work, the preschool models their practices on research and contemporary theories of child development.

Welcome to Our New Intern, Natalie

I am excited to introduce Natalie, who will be interning in the office this summer. Natalie hails from Milwaukee but has grown up with family in the 78th district. She is a senior at the University of Wisconsin - Madison studying Political Science and Strategic Communications. She is a lifelong democrat who is passionate about voting rights, criminal justice reform, and women’s issues. An active member of her local College Democrats chapter, she loves working to advance progressive ideals on campus. After graduation, Natalie hopes to work in political communications or government relations. It is great to have Natalie as the newest member of the team!

June is Pride Month

Our state and nation are at our best when we come together to embrace and celebrate our diversity.  This month we reflect on the advancements made in securing equality for members of the LGBTQ community and rededicate ourselves to the work that remains to be done to have true equality for all. 

Last year, in designating June 2016 as Pride Month, President Obama eloquently stated that, “love is love and that no person should be judged by anything but the content of their character."  While there was no similar Presidential declaration made thus far this year, the future is nevertheless bright. Today, all couples are able to express their love and commitment for each other via marriage, and that is something to celebrate.

Free Dental Care for Veterans on June 24^th 

Thousands of veterans will receive free dental care on Saturday, June 24th, when doctors and their teams from nearly 450 Aspen Dental-branded practices in 35 states open their doors for Aspen Dental’s National Day of Service – an event that is expected to be the largest single-day oral health initiative for veterans in 2017. There are practices participating in Madison and 13 other cities across Wisconsin.

Interested veterans should call 1-844-AspenHMM (1-844-277-3646) to find the closest participating practice and schedule an appointment in advance – space is limited and appointments are filling up fast!

Click here for more information Aspen Dental’s Day of Service for Veterans

Hot Weather Increases Chances for Pavement Buckling

With hot weather rolling in, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is warning of pavement buckling and asking motorists to take extra caution.

Pavement buckles are most common when the weather quickly goes from cool to very hot, causing pavement to expand. This can cause concrete slabs of pavement to push against each other, and if the pressure becomes great enough the pavement can buckle. While it’s difficult to predict if or where buckling may occur, WisDOT offers the following tips for motorists:

• Slow down, buckle up and eliminate distractions to focus your full attention on the roadway. Along with pavement issues, other concerns this time of year can include deer or debris on the roadway.

• Watch for slowing traffic and be ready to move over for all roadside workers including highway crews as they repair damaged pavement.

• Before your trip, check the 511 Travel Information system (www.511wi.gov) for the latest on any incidents or delays.

• If necessary, report serious pavement issues by calling 911. Be ready to provide specific location information.

Fun Wisconsin Fact

“On Wisconsin” was composed in 1909 by W.T. Purdy, with lyrics by Carl Beck. The song is one of the most popular college marching songs in the country. Purdy had plans to enter the tune in a competition for the University of Minnesota's new fight song. Beck, who was Purdy's roommate and a former UW student, was able to convince him to allow the UW football team to use the song instead.

Here are the original lyrics written by Beck that are still sung today by loyal Badger fans:

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Plunge right through that line!

Run the ball clear down the field

A touchdown sure this time.

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Fight on for her fame

Fight! Fellows! — fight, fight, fight!

We'll win this game.

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Stand up, Badgers, sing!

"Forward" is our driving spirit,

Loyal voices ring.

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Raise her glowing flame

Stand, Fellows, let us now

Salute her name!

The song has been adopted by thousands of high school bands as their own and 1959 was designated the official state song of Wisconsin. The legislature adopted the lyrics written in 1913 by Judge Charles D. Rosa and J.S. Hubbard:

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Grand old badger state!

We, thy loyal sons and daughters,

Hail thee, good and great.

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Champion of the right,

'Forward,' our motto

God will give thee might!