Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


March 9, 2018

 

Contact Me

 

418 North, State Capitol

P.O. Box 8953

Madison, WI 53708

 

PH: (608) 266-7521

TF: (888) 534-0078

FAX: (608) 282-3690

 

rep.subeck@legis.wi.gov

Website

 

Things happening in the district & around Madison


Ecological Restoration Work Party
Saturday, March 10
9:00am – 12:00pm
UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.
 


Donuts With Dad
Saturday, March 10
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

Saturday morning fun with stories, movies and snacks, especially for dads and their kids. Moms welcome, too.
 


Nature’s Springtime Cycles Walk
Sunday, March 11
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
UW Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

Phenology is the study of the timing of life cycle events and changes. Swelling buds, blooming flowers, emerging insects, the arrival of migrating birds—all are part of a Wisconsin spring. Find out what triggers these events. Free, no registration required.
 


Baby Gym
Monday, March 12
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

Help your baby gain good pre-reading and writing skills and have fun at the same time! Baby Gym incorporates large motor activities with stories to develop body and mind. For babies aged 3 months to 18 months. Registration is first come, first served. Please pick up a nametag 15 minutes before the program begins.
 


Preschool Storytime
Monday, March 12
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

A happy blend of stories, fingerplays and songs that help preschool children develop print and phonologic awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Registration not required.

 


West Madison Senior Center Lunches
Tuesday-Thursday,
March 13, 14 & 15
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Nutritious meals are offered to those 60 and older. The suggested minimum contribution is $4.00 per meal but participants are encouraged to pay what they can afford. If you are under age 60 and do not meet the nutrition program eligibility guidelines, you are required to pay the total cost of your meal which is $10.23. Transportation is available by a $1.00 donation round trip. The meal is served at noon and participants must arrive on time. Meal and bus reservations or cancellations should be made by noon the preceding business day by calling 238-7368 ext. 8
 


Anji Playdate
Wednesday, March 14
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Lussier Community Center
55 S Gammon


The library will provide play and art materials especially chosen to encourage highly engaged, self-determined play. When kids are done, they'll create a Play Story depicting their play that day. Messy clothes recommended. Open to all ages.

 


WMSC Movie Day -- Suburbicon
Wednesday, March 14
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

West Madison Senior Center Programs are designated to provide opportunities for learning, socializing and community involvement.

 


Chess Club
Wednesday, March 14
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd
 

Learn how to play chess and play against others with varied levels of experience. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

 


Drop in Preschool Storytime
Thursday, March 15
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

A happy blend of stories, fingerplays and songs that help preschool children develop print ans phonologic awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge and narrative skills. Groups welcome. Siblings welcome. No registration required.

 


Verona Road Construction Project Open House Meeting
Thursday, March 15th
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Verona Road Project Field Office
6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, Fitchburg

A brief construction preview will be shared promptly at 5:30 p.m. Otherwise stop by at your convenience. Maps and exhibits of the Verona Road improvements will be on display. WisDOT representatives will be available at these meetings to discuss the project on an individual basis. We hope to see you there!

 


Storytime for the very young
Friday, March 16
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd


Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. No registration required.(For children ages 030 months.)
 


Game Night: Apples to Apples!
Friday, March 16
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd


Whether you bring your own or use what's there Board Games are never boring at the Library's Friday Night Meet Up for some Friendly Competition.

 


Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) in Madison
Mondays: Noon-6:00pm
Wednesdays: Noon-6:00pm
Saturdays: 9:00am-3:00pm
Through April 14, 2018

Richard Dilley Tax Center, The Villager Mall
2300 S. Park Street


The VITA program is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and many individual states, including Wisconsin. Volunteers trained by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) prepare and electronically file basic income tax returns for free. No appointment required. 608-283-1261

 


Visiting the Capitol
Whether you are planning a visit to the state Capitol as part of a large group, small gathering, or just by yourself, our office can assist you in scheduling a free guided tour of the Capitol building during normal business hours.

Free tours are offered daily, year round. Tours depart from the ground floor Information Desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 am and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm. A 4:00 pm tour is offered Memorial Day through Labor Day. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are also open during the summer months.

 

 
 

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

Happy Women’s History Month! This month, all the “Wisconsin Fun Facts” in my weekly e-newsletters will feature Wisconsin women. Yesterday, I was honored to participate in an International Women’s Day event here at the Capitol. You can read on for more details.

In this week’s newsletter, you will also find some disappointing economic news for Wisconsin, an update on this week’s happenings at the Capitol, and information about how to vote early in the upcoming spring election.

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

 


International Women’s Day: #PressforProgress
I had the privilege of speaking with a group of high school students and members of Zonta Club and other women’s organizations at the State Capitol yesterday on International Women’s Day. Women attending the event spent the afternoon visiting legislative offices to discuss proposals like my proposed Healthy Babies, Working Mothers Act and issues of women’s health care, teen dating violence, and ending human trafficking. The theme for the 2018 International Women’s Day was #PressforProgress.

In 2018, women have risen to the forefront in news, media, and politics by taking to the streets, marching, organizing, and running for public office. Together, we are engaged and energized, calling for an end to sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate this pivotal time in the women’s movement and challenge ourselves to do more to address gender parity and to #PressforProgress.

In 2014, the World Economic forum estimated that global gender parity would be reached in the year 2095. As of 2016, progress had slowed to the point where global parity would not be reached until 2186, and their most recent 2017 estimate predicts the gender gap will not close until 2234, more than 200 years from today. In 2017, the United States fell from 45th to 49th among 144 countries ranked by the World Economic Forum on measures of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

In Wisconsin, women are paid just 78 cents on the dollar compared to men and face unnecessary barriers to equity in the workplace. Women have lost ground on access to reproductive healthcare in our state, and the Republican majority in the Legislature has refused to act on policies that empower women economically and socially. Only 22% of City Council members, 18% of County Board members, and 38% of School Board members in Wisconsin are women, while women represent less than 25% of seats in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that women are losing ground in our state and our nation, given the underrepresentation of women at the tables where decisions are made. It is up to us, as women, to #PressforProgress every single day as leaders in our schools, workplaces, organizations, and communities. Together, we can and will achieve gender parity.

 


Any School Safety Plan Must Address Access to Guns
Recently, Governor Walker indicated he may call a special session of the Legislature to address school safety. However, he and Republicans have made no promises to address preventing school shootings by making it harder for those intent to do harm to get their hands on guns in the first place. And it is only now that school safety has become a topic of national news that will likely impact his upcoming reelection race that Governor Walker has shown any interest at all in addressing the challenges our schools and communities face during this epidemic of gun violence.

Keeping our children safe – whether at school, at home, or out in the community – must be a top priority, and this takes more than just armed guards, cameras, or new locks on the doors. We can keep guns out of the hands of those who intend to do harm, yet the Governor and Republicans have refused to act on common sense measures like universal background checks that prevent dangerous people from purchasing firearms.

In addition to a proposal that would allow school districts to exceed state-imposed revenue limits for security-related expenditures, Democrats have proposed legislation to close the background check loophole, ban bump stocks that are used to turn guns into automatic weapons, and prevent domestic violence perpetrators from owning guns.

Any proposal by the Governor that falls short of including measures to prevent gun violence by keeping guns out of the hands of those who intend to do harm fails to keep our schools and our children safe.

 


Middle Class Losing Ground in Wisconsin
According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Wisconsin ranked number three on the top ten list of states where the middle class is losing ground.

On several measures of economic health, the U.S. economy was booming under the Obama Administration and has continued to do well. Unemployment is at a near two-decade low nationally; the United States Gross Domestic Product has grown without interruption for one of the longest periods in American history; and the median household income in the U.S. is $7,500 higher than it was six years ago.

Yet, this week we saw another terrible jobs report showing that wages in Wisconsin dropped over the last 12 months, marking the 25th consecutive quarter Wisconsin has trailed the nation in job creation. At a time when the US economy has enjoyed one of the longest periods of growth in American history, policies put into place by Governor Walker and Republicans have resulted in one of the longest periods of economic stagnation in Wisconsin history. The jobs report detailing the woes of the Wisconsin economy under the Governor had previously been touted by the Governor as the “Gold Standard” by which performance of his economy should be measured.

Repeatedly, the Governor and the Republican legislature have passed legislation that drives down wages for hardworking Wisconsin residents. Republicans have created an economy in which far too many Wisconsinites are living paycheck-to-paycheck and working more than one job just to make ends meet.

 


Girl Scout Day at the Capitol
Earlier this week, Wisconsin Girl Scouts gathered at the Capitol for their annual Advocacy Day. Girl Scouts spoke to elected officials about the impact of Girl Scouting on the community and the issues important to girls in 2018.

This event, and Wisconsin Troop 1912 into which elected officials are inducted during the event, was created to honor women elected to serve in the Legislative and Executive branches of state government while amplifying the amazing work tens of thousands of Girl Scouts and their adult role models are doing every day in our great state.

In honor of the event, I found and brought to the Capitol my original Girl Scout sash from the early 1980s (pictured left).

 


Madison’s Youth Apprenticeship Program
Yesterday, I heard from students and businesses who participate in the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Youth Apprenticeship Program. The program allows students to earn credit, learn new skills, and get paid while being mentored by and working for a local businesses. Depending on the apprenticeship, students can earn transcript college credits and industry certifications such as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). The program is currently serving 31 students with 19 partnering businesses offering apprenticeships in a diverse range of fields including health care, architecture and construction, engineering, biotechnology, and more. Thanks to the students and businesses for stopping by the Capitol and sharing their success stories.

 


Early Voting Begins Monday
The Spring General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 3. There is a statewide Supreme Court election on the ballot as well as a statewide referendum on whether or not to eliminate the office of State Treasurer. Depending on where you live, you may also have an election for County Board, School Board, or other local offices.

You do not have to wait until April 3 to cast your ballots. In-person absentee voting for the election has begun in Madison and will continue through Saturday, March 31, at the Madison City Clerk’s Office and additional locations throughout the city. To learn more about in-person absentee voting, including locations and times, please click here.

Absentee ballots are also available by mail. Everything you need to know to receive a ballot by mail is available via the Madison City Clerk by clicking here.

Remember: You must present an acceptable photo ID card to vote in Wisconsin. Click here to find out if you have the correct identification and to get information on how to obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card for voting purposes.

Click here to see what is on your ballot.

Click here to read the “Candidates’ Answers” on the League of Women Voters of Dane County website.

Note: If you vote outside of the City of Madison, you will need to contact your local city or village clerk’s office for absentee voting locations and times.

 


Meet Our Intern, Michelle
Michelle is originally from Fond du Lac, and moved to Madison last year after a decade on the west coast. She is not a student, but rather a determined community member who hopes to someday serve in public office or service. She is the Vice Chair for Volunteers with the Democratic Party of Dane County and an avid volunteer herself, serving as a volunteer Development Director for a small nonprofit called Brighter Tanzania Foundation and helping out on campaigns. She hopes to use the knowledge gained from this internship to serve her community in the future.

 


Spring Forward, Be Ready Wisconsin
On Sunday, we set our clocks ahead one hour, marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. This is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and to get other emergency safety items ready for spring storm season.

 

Wisconsin Emergency Management urges you to check these items:

  • Smoke alarms save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or homes without working smoke alarms.

  • It is recommended to have a smoke alarm inside each bedroom and install alarms on every level of the home including the basement. Make sure the alarms are tested monthly. All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

  • Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, about 450 people each year in Wisconsin are taken to hospital emergency rooms for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. At high levels, carbon monoxide can cause death within minutes. Detectors can be purchased at most hardware stores.

  • Emergency Kits- Daylight Saving Time is a perfect time to put together an emergency kit or restock an existing kit. Check to make sure food and other items are not near or past their expiration dates. You should have supplies such as food and water to last you and your family for at least three days. Other items like a battery powered or crank radio, flashlights and batteries, first aid kit should also be included.

  • Emergency NOAA Weather Radio- Spring brings the threat of tornadoes and severe weather. Make sure you have an emergency weather radio. It’s like having a tornado siren in your home. When it goes off, go to a safe place. Listen, Act, and Live!


Wisconsin Fun Fact: Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, March’s fun facts will highlight women’s contributions to Wisconsin’s history. The facts have been researched and written by the Wisconsin Women Making History Project, a collaboration of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, Wisconsin Public Television-Education, UW Women’s studies consortium, UW Gender and Women Studies Librarian, and the Wisconsin Humanities council.

Bonnie Blair: World record-holding speed skater, six-time Olympic medalist, and the most decorated woman in Winter Olympic history.

Bonnie Blair was one of the top speed-skaters of her time. After graduating from high school in Illinois, she moved to Milwaukee to train with the U.S. national speed-skating team. She went on to compete for the U.S. in four Olympics: In the 1988 Winter games, she won her first gold medal in the 500-meter race and also set the world record. She won gold in both the 500- and 1,000-meter races in 1992, and again in 1994, when she finished .36 seconds ahead of the second-best time in the 500-meter and 1.38 seconds ahead of second-best in the 1,000-meter race — the largest margin of victory in the history of the speed-skating event. Blair also became the first American woman to win five gold medals at any Winter Olympics.

Blair is a member of both the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. In 2004, she was also elected to the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and at her induction she was the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian of all time. After retiring from competitive speed-skating, Blair became a motivational speaker and founded the Bonnie Blair Charitable Fund.

 

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