It is Time to Increase Security at Gun Shops
This week, three gun shops in south central Wisconsin were broken into resulting in 24 firearms being stolen. These three incidents were unfortunately not the first, and are part of a growing list of gun store burglaries in Wisconsin.

You might recall, last April, a Janesville gun shop was robbed of 18 guns and 2 silencers by an individual who smashed a glass door to gain entry. The man responsible has been convicted, but the firearms have still not been recovered. In October of last year, criminals drove a vehicle through the front window of a Cross Plains gun shop and were able to get away with 14 firearms. Then, just his week, the same Janesville gun store from the April incident was burglarized, and seven handguns were stolen. Early Wednesday morning, another gun store in Oregon, Wisconsin was burglarized and seventeen guns were stolen in less than 2 minutes. A third gun store was broken into in Janesville Wednesday. Because this gun store’s showroom is essentially a vault that is locked each night, criminals were not able to get away with any firearms. That is why I have called for a hearing on my bill, AB 728, which would increase security for gun shops when they are closed.

Currently in Wisconsin, there are no requirements that firearms be secure while a gun shop is closed or unattended. AB 728 would require that when the business is unattended, weapons must be stored in a safe, in a locked steel gun cabinet, or on a hardened steel rod or cable that runs through the trigger guards. The bill would also require that the safe, cabinet, rod, or cable be anchored in a manner to prevent its removal. These measures would prevent criminals who break into a gun store from simply walking off with as many handguns and rifles they can carry.

Click here to watch WKOW TV’s story about the recent break-ins and AB 728.
 

Governor Walker’s Attack on Struggling Families Will Cost Taxpayers Millions
Governor Walker’s proposals to limit access to our safety net for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable families is estimated to cost more than $90 million each year, with millions more in upfront costs to implement the changes. Due to lack of adequate cost estimates for two of the bills, the real cost to taxpayers could be significantly greater, with little of the spending filtering down to provide real, tangible assistance to families in need.

At a public hearing this week, we heard hours of testimony in opposition of the proposed bills. Those testifying included low-income workers, parents, clergy, and advocates for people with disabilities, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence who raised serious concerns that the bills take a cynical approach that does not work to connect people with family supporting jobs or to alleviate poverty.

It was crystal clear from their testimony that these bills make it harder for our most vulnerable neighbors to feed their families, keep a roof over their heads, and does nothing to lift people out of poverty. We can get people to work at family supporting jobs with policies that increase access to transportation and childcare, expand education and job training opportunities, and raise wages. Instead, Republicans have chosen to make it harder to get help and punish low-wage workers already struggling to make ends meet.
 

Changes in Homestead Tax Credit Law
We have just entered tax season, but changes to the Homestead Tax Credit that were included in the budget Governor Walker signed into law last fall are beginning to generate some questions. The most significant changes relate to who is eligible to receive the credit and the additional requirements placed on persons with disabilities who wish to receive the credit.

This year, in order to claim the Homestead Tax Credit, you must meet one of the following conditions:

• You (or your spouse, if married) have earned income during the year; or

• You (or your spouse, if married) are disabled,

• You (or your spouse, if married) are 62 years of age or older at the end of 2017.

Many individuals and families have filed for the Homestead Tax Credit in the past and may have grown accustomed to glancing over the instructions provided by the Department of Revenue. In order to avoid problems and delays, this year I am encouraging people applying for the Homestead Tax Credit to take some time and undertake a thorough review of the instructions provided by the Department.

Click here to read the instructions provided by the Department of Revenue.
 

National Wear Red Day & American Heart Month
Today is National #WearRedDay. I enjoyed taking time to recognize the day with the American Heart Association - Wisconsin and having the opportunity to meet with local emergency medical personnel and survivors to discuss legislation I co-authored to have trained 911 dispatchers in Wisconsin provide CPR instructions to callers so they can help until an ambulance arrives.

Every year, cardiovascular diseases take the lives of an estimate 14,000 people in Wisconsin. You don’t have to look long to find a family member, friend, co-worker, or neighbor who has lost a loved one or been diagnosed with this disease. The good news is that when we work together to spread awareness, we can dramatically reduce this number.

Doctor Day at the Capitol
This week, I met with doctors who live or work in the 78th Assembly to discuss ideas and concerns of doctors. We discussed how to protect the health and safety of children who want to play sports in school, and efforts to improve health care quality and access to care. Doctor Day is a great way to learn more about health issues from those who work to keep our communities healthy.
 

Don't Let Phony Deals and Booking Snafus Spoil Your Spring Break Plans
On the back of this winter's low temperatures, it's natural to daydream about sun-filled days on sandy beaches. Spring break is just around the bend and many Wisconsin residents are eagerly planning their getaways. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) asks vacation deal seekers to watch for scams and pitfalls that can drain their accounts and sink their trips.

Watch for scams using free or discounted travel in their pitch:

• Mailings, telephone calls, websites, emails or faxes may offer exotic cruises or trips to tropical paradises, but they are often pitches for worthless "vacation certificates" or vouchers. These "prizes" are typically sales gimmicks to get you to make a purchase, attend a sales presentation or commit to a membership contract.

• A "free" vacation offer may come with a request for payment for fees or taxes. Don't pay it. Remember that a legitimate company will not ask you to pay for a prize.

• Scammers post too-good-to-be-true offers for vacation rentals in online classified ads using pictures and text stolen from real estate listings. The owner will offer excuses for why they can't meet in person and ask that you wire money or make a payment using a pre-paid debit card in order to hold the rental. Before you make any agreements or payments on a rental through an online ad, search for information about the address of a rental property. If the property is supposedly located in a resort, contact the front desk of the resort to confirm details about the location.

Apart from outright scams, know that booking a reservation through a third-party cost comparison website is NOT the same as having a ticket. There is a gap in time between when you make a reservation and when the airline issues a ticket or the hotel locks down a room, and problems can arise during that disconnect. There have also been instances where shoppers used unfamiliar booking sites and learned at the airport that they did not have a ticket to fly. After making a reservation through a third-party service, always call the airline, hotel or transportation service with your confirmation numbers in hand in order to ensure that your booking is actually in place.

Additional booking tips to help avoid complications when making travel arrangements:

• Never make a purchase through an unfamiliar travel service without first researching that company to gauge its legitimacy.

• When comparing travel deals from different providers, make sure to take into account all possible fees from the providers as well as their cancellation policies.

• Double check that all of your party member's names and your contact information are correct before you finalize a travel package purchase.

• Regardless of whether you book through a third-party site or directly through a hotel or airline, use a credit card - especially if you have a travel-focused card that offers trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage.

For additional information or to file a complaint, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at datcp.wisconsin.gov, call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-422-7128 or send an e-mail to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov.
 

Fun Wisconsin Fact
While it is hard to think about being outside and in the water with these cold January temperatures, Wisconsin is the Water Park Capital of the World. In Wisconsin Dells, while the best time to enjoy the waterparks are in summer, some indoor waterparks are open year-round.

Noah's Ark Family Park is the largest water park in the United States. The water park has over 50 water slides, 2 wave simulating pools, and many other attractions.