Representative Lisa Subeck's E-Newsletter


April 13, 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


For Love of Earth Walk
Sunday, April 15
1:00 pm-2:30 pm

UW-Madison Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway

The coming weeks mark both Earth Day and John Muir's birthday. Join the naturalist to search for signs of spring and renewal. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

 


Preschool Storytime
Monday, April 16
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.

 


Breakfast for Dinner with Ugly Apple
Monday, April 16
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd


Learn to cook a few different types of biscuits with locally sourced ingredients. Registration begins 4/2. Register online or call 288-6160. Part of the series, Cooking with the Chefs of the Madison Public Market. This event is funded in part by a grant from CUNA Mutual Foundation.
 


West Madison Senior Center Lunches
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 17-19th
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.

 


Chess Club
Wednesday, April 18
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.

 


Healthy Soul Food with Melly Mel’s Catering
Wednesday, April 18
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

Learn how to make healthy soul food with Carmell Jackson of Melly Mel's Catering. Registration begins 4/4. Register online or call 288-6160. Part of the series, Cooking with the Chefs of the Madison Public Market. This event is funded in part by a grant from CUNA Mutual Foundation.

 


Knitting for Beginners
Wednesday, April 18
6:30-8:30 pm

Alicia Ashman Library
733 N High Point Rd

Join instructor Kathleen Chapman for a 4-week series for beginning knitters. Adults and teens 13 and older are welcome. Supplies are provided. Please plan to attend all four sessions. Registration begins on March 21--call 608-824-1780 to reserve your spot.

 


Drop in Preschool Storytime
Thursday, April 19
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.

 


Storytime for the very young
Friday, April 20
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Meadowridge Library
5726 Raymond Rd

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

 


Third Fridays- Game Night
Friday, April 20
6:30-8:30pm

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,

This will be my last e-newsletter until after the November election. The legislature has a rule that limits the ability of legislators to use state resources to communicate with constituents via mass communications during the election cycle. Please rest assured that I can still respond to your emails and inquiries, as only mass communications are impacted by the rule.

In this week’s newsletter, you will find a reminder of the 2018 tax deadline, information regarding Autism awareness, and more.

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

 


Tuesday was Equal Pay Day
Tuesday marked Equal Pay Day, the day each year when women’s pay finally catches up to what men were paid during the previous year alone, due to the ongoing wage gap between men and women. Equal Pay Day is determined through examination of data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on updated numbers, each year, Wisconsin women are typically paid $10,959 less than men. African American and Latina women fare worse yet, with African American women earning $19,896 less a year and Latina women earning $24,123 less than white men.

This year, women are rising up to change the shameful power dynamic that allows us not to be compensated with equal pay for equal work. Last week, we elected another woman to our State Supreme Court, and women across Wisconsin and the country are taking to the streets, marching, organizing, and running for public office.

Here in Wisconsin, women have been on the frontlines of the attacks that only further the impact of the pay gap. In 2012, Governor Walker and Republicans repealed Wisconsin’s Equal Pay Enforcement Act which was enacted in 2009 by Wisconsin Democrats to protect women from wage discrimination.

President Trump has taken the Republicans’ war on women to the federal level by repealing President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order which required paycheck transparency and banned forced arbitration clauses for sexual harassment, sexual assault or discrimination claims. The rollback makes it easier for wage theft and means more private proceedings and secret agreements to cover up sexual harassment claims.

Women are tired of unfair pay, discrimination and sexual harassment. From the #MeToo movement to record numbers of women running for office, we are fighting back. It is up to us, as women, to stand up for economic prosperity and equality. Together, we can and will close the wage gap.

 


Reminder: Income Tax Filing Deadline
The income tax filing deadline is next week. Returns must be received or postmarked by midnight on Tuesday, April 17. The deadline is extended this year because April 15 is a Sunday, and Monday, April 16 is Emancipation Day, a holiday in Washington, D.C.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is sharing the following tips to make the filing process easier:

  • Use the self-service options. Use links to locate income tax forms and instructions or find answers to common questions about preparing your tax return, tax credits and much more.

  • Pay your taxes online. The department offers easy online payment of your taxes on its website. Watch this short one minute video to find out how to make your payment online.

  • File an extension request with the IRS if you won't make the April 17 deadline. You must request an extension from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by April 17 to avoid late filing penalties. Go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and search "extension" for more information. Taxpayers who file an extension request with the IRS automatically receive an extension from the state. Keep a copy of the IRS federal extension application (Form 4868) for your records. Please keep in mind that even if you have an extension of time to file your return, you will owe interest on any tax not paid by April 17. You can avoid interest charges during the extension period by paying any estimated amount owed by April 17, using a 2017 Wisconsin Estimated Tax Voucher.

  • Call customer service during off-peak hours at 608.266.2772. Customer service hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

    • Customer service is busiest between: 7:45-9:00 and 11:00-1:00

    • The best days to call are Thursday and Friday

    • The best times to call are 9:00-11:00 and 1:00-4:00

  • Download the WI Revenue mobile app (available in the Apple and Android app stores) and watch tax assistance videos, check the status of your return or refund, find VITA sites, take action if you received an ID Verification letter, and more.

  • Remember DOR will not contact you by telephone or email regarding your income tax return. If the Department needs more information to verify items on your return, it will contact you by letter.


STEM Field Trip at the Discovery Building
On Tuesday, I tagged along with 40 first-graders form Orchard Ridge Elementary who were at the Discovery Building as part of a STEM field trip sponsored by UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM programming aims to equip youth with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. STEM Field Trips host hundreds of students a year from across Wisconsin at the Discovery Building.

It was energizing to see how engaged the students were with this hands-on learning experience. STEM education is so important. Thanks to UW and WARF for making this opportunity available to students across our region and state.

 


April is National Autism Awareness Month
This month is National Autism Awareness Month. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability; signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person’s ability to communicate, and interact with others. Some of the signs in children may include:

  • Lack of or delay in spoken language

  • Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)

  • Little or no eye contact

  • Lack of interest in peer relationships

  • Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play

  • Persistent fixation on parts of objects

Autism affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but studies have shown that increased awareness and early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes. For more information on developmental milestones, visit the CDC’s “Know the Signs, Act Early” site.

The Autism Society of Wisconsin provides a community for individuals affected by autism, their families, and professionals who serve them. Click here to visit the Society’s website, Wisconsin families can learn more about Autism, find a local affiliate, locate resources, and learn more about how to get involved.

 


Kwik Trip Ribbon Cutting
This week, I had an opportunity to attend a ribbon cutting for the new Kwik Trip located at 3153 Maple Grove Road. It was great to hear from the owners and from some of the new employees at the location. In addition to providing good employee benefits and great customer service, Kwik Trip also supports local community organizations and activities. At the ribbon cutting Kwik Trip presented $500 to Capital K9s and the Wisconsin Youth Company.

 


"Apple Tech Support" Scam
A number of Wisconsin residents are reporting telephone calls that falsely claim to be from Apple Inc. The robocalls claim there is a problem with the recipients' iCloud or Apple ID accounts.

These are tech support scam calls. If you receive a similar telephone call, hang up immediately and do not press any keys to "speak to a representative" or to "end the call."

In many instances, consumers have reported that the caller ID information has been spoofed to make it appear as if the call is coming from the Apple Store at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa. In at least one other instance, the number provided was that of an Apple Store in Los Angeles.

Reports made to DATCP's Consumer Protection Hotline provide two call scenarios:
-One consumer pressed a button during a robocall in order to speak with a representative. A "support rep" came on the line and asked about the number and types of computers she owns. She granted this scammer remote access to her computer. Over the course of more than two hours, the "support rep" asked her about her online shopping habits and requested $100 iTunes gift cards from Walgreens or Target in order to "fix" each of her three Apple devices (one gift card per device).
-In another incident, a consumer received a live call from a scammer claiming to be with Apple support. The caller claimed that the consumer's Apple ID was being used overseas and warned that the consumer would not be able to shop online or use his passport until the issue was resolved. The caller asked the consumer to run a Google search in order to reach an online support website (that would likely have allowed the caller to gain remote access to the consumer's computer).

To read more about imposter scams, review DATCP's imposter scams fact sheet.

For additional information on consumer protection issues, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at http://datcp.wisconsin.gov, send an e-mail to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.

 


Reminder: 2018 Legislative Newsletter and Survey
My 2018 legislative newsletter will be hitting mailboxes this week. Included in the newsletter is a survey on a wide range of legislative issues on which I would like your feedback. I would appreciate it if you would please complete the survey and mail it back to my office.

The legislative survey is also now available online. Click here if you would prefer to fill out the survey electronically. Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.
 


Wisconsin Fun Fact: The “49-Piece Rule”
The Wisconsin Legislature has a rule known as the “49-piece rule,” which stipulates that members of the legislature are not permitted to send out 50 or more identical pieces of material using state funds between April 15 and the November election. This includes newsletters, Blue Books, highway maps, etc. It also include electronic communications. The purpose of the law is to prevent incumbents from using taxpayer money and state resources for electoral gain. The rule will remain in effect until the end of the election cycle in November. As a result, I will not be publishing this newsletter again until after the November election, but I will continue to answer your questions and assist you with your concerns on an individual basis.

 

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