It was another busy week at the Capitol. On Tuesday evening, Governor Evers delivered his first ever virtual State of the State address. In the speech he called on the Legislature to address the major issues facing our state including broadband expansion, unemployment insurance, and redistricting.
This week's e-update includes information on the Assembly Health Committee which has already met for the second time this session, this time to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Other topics covered this week include Dane County's most recent public health order, the federal eviction moratorium extension, and a call for public input from the Department of Workforce Development on worker misclassification and payroll fraud.
Also of note, this weekend is Free Fishing Weekend!During the weekend of January 16th through the 17th, Wisconsinites can fish on all lakes and streams without a license. For more information, and a list of rules and regulations, visit the DNR;s website.
As always, 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
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Discussed by Health Committee
Thursday, the Assembly Committee on Health met to hear from state health leaders about Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccine plan and distribution.
The committee heard testimony on the collaboration that has been happening on COVID-19 vaccination distributionplan amongst health leaders in state and local government and the private and non-profit sectors.
Ultimately, we all share the same goal: widespread COVID-19 vaccination in Wisconsin. Achieving this goal will be a massive, complicated undertaking which will require all of us working together. I want to thank Wisconsin’s health care providers and leaders for all of their hard work over the course of this pandemic, and all of the hard work yet to come.
The lack of urgency that has defined the Trump Administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as it relates to development, production, and distribution of vaccines to the states has been frustrating to witness. I am thankful Governor Evers has repeatedly requested that the federal government allocate more vaccine doses to Wisconsin. I am heartened that President-elect Biden will make vaccine distribution one of his first priorities in office, and am hopeful this will allow our state to get more shots into more arms in the very near future.
On January 11, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued Emergency Order #12, which continues to allow indoor gatherings of up to 10 people. Outdoor gatherings are now permitted as long as they are 50 people or less, with physical distancing. Drive-in activities may now also offer outdoor seating, as long as it complies with gathering limits. The order went into effect on January 13 and expires on February 10, 20201. This new order, like its predecessors, is designed to call attention to where we are seeing the greatest amount of disease spread and interrupt the virus's quick movement through our community. Check out Public Health's blog post "What's Allowed in Emergency Order #12?" for more information and answers to commonly asked questions.
When do I need to wear a face-covering?
Under state and local orders, people five years of age and older must wear a face covering:
Indoors and in any enclosed building where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit, are present.
In line to enter any enclosed building.
Driving or riding in any vehicle where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit are present.
In any other confined space open to the public where individuals congregate where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit, are present, including but not limited to, outdoor taverns, outdoor restaurants, and outdoor park structures.
There are Many Options for COVID-19 Testing in Dane County:
Your healthcare provider -- If you have health insurance, we recommend contacting your healthcare provider to see if they are able to test you.
Alliant Energy Center -- This community testing site is open Tuesday through Saturday for people ages 5 and older.
UW-Madison -- UW-Madison has testing available on campus for students and staff members.
South Madison Community Test Site -- This community testing site is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for people ages 5 and older.
Via Your Mailbox -- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers a service for requesting a test kit delivered to your mailbox.
*Information provided by Dane Co. Executive Joe Parisi
Federal Eviction Moratorium Extended through January 31, 2021
This week, The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced that recent federal legislation has extended the federal eviction moratorium. This extension currently runs through January 31st. COVID-19 has brought on housing insecurity for many people in Wisconsin.
To invoke the moratorium, tenants, lessees, or residents of residential properties must provide a signed copy of the declaration form provided by the CDC (or a similar declaration) to their landlord or residential property owner. Each adult listed on the lease, rental agreement, or housing contract must provide their own separate declaration.
The federal legislation that extends this CDC order also includes $25 billion in emergency rental assistance for states and local governments. Renters who are eligible for this assistance may use the funding to help pay rent or utility bills. As more information on this federal emergency rental assistance becomes available, DATCP will update its Landlord Tenant COVID-19 FAQs.
The federal eviction moratorium does not exempt tenants from their obligations to pay rent and follow the terms of their lease. Tenants are still required to pay their rent and may still be evicted for reasons other than not paying rent. Landlords may still charge and collect late fees, penalties, or interest. The order also does not change Wisconsin law that prohibits housing discrimination. If you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, contact the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s (DWD) Equal Rights Division.
*Information provided by Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Public Invited to Provide Input on Worker Misclassification and Payroll Fraud
On January 21st, members of the public are invited to how worker classification issues have impacted their job, business, or workplace, in front of Governor Tony Evers’ Joint Enforcement Task Force on Payroll Fraud and Worker Misclassification. The task force would like to share with the Governor and the Legislature how misclassification is affecting Wisconsinites ahead of state budget deliberations.
Misclassification denies workers legal protections, such as the right to earn a minimum wage and freedom from discrimination, as well as benefit programs, like unemployment insurance and worker's compensation. The practice also results in millions of dollars in losses to state government and taxpayers due to underreported wages. Employers who misclassify workers gain an unlawful competitive advantage that allows them to under-bid and out-compete law-abiding employers.
Galena became Wisconsin’s state mineral in 1971. The Kenosha Gem and Mineral Society proposed the idea of a state mineral to the Wisconsin Legislature because they wanted to promote awareness of Wisconsin’s geology. Galena was selected because of its abundance, uniqueness, economic value, historical significance, and because it is native to our state. Galena can be found in Wisconsin’s lead belt (primarily in Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Counties).
Galena grows in cubes or square crystals and is dark gray. It is the most important mineral source of lead, and is also an important source of silver. Some galena deposits contain about 1–2% silver. Additionally, Galena has been used for many things over the course of history, such as cosmetics, fly repellent, glare protection, in paints, and in ceramics.
