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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It's been another busy week at the capitol as the rush is on to get legislation passed before the legislative session ends. In this week's e-update you can read about the legislation I authored that was signed into law, the status of my Food Allergy legislation, learn about the Governor's latest call for Special Session, and more!

It was great to hear from so many of you this past week with your requests for Blue Books and State Highway Maps. Even though we had a great response, my office still has a good supply of Blue Books and State Highway Maps, so if you have interest in receiving one or both, please fill out this form or contact my office at rep.subeck@legis.wi.gov.

I hope you have a great weekend, and 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


In This Weeks Update:

Two Bills to Support Children & Families Signed into Law


Food Allergy Bills Pass Committee


Week in Review


Doctor Day


Citizen Group on Sustainable Transportation


Wisconsin Black History Fact


Whats Happening?


Contact Me:

109 North, State Capitol

P.O. Box 8953

Madison, WI 53708

Phone: (608) 266-7521

Toll-Free: (888) 534-0078

Fax: (608) 282-3690

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BillSigning02052020.jpgTwo Bills to Support Children and Families Signed into Law

This Wednesday, Governor Tony Evers signed into law two bipartisan bills I authored that improve the lives of children and families, Act 92 (AB 564) and Act 95 (SB 158).

Act 92 expands eligibility for federal special needs adoption assistance in Wisconsin to include families adopting children 7 years of age and older or adopting siblings who are waiting for permanent adoptive placements. This will help children in our child welfare system who are waiting far too long for forever homes and forever families.

Act 95 creates an administrative paternity option, with safety mechanisms in place for the best interest of the child, to allow fathers who go through genetic testing to opt out of having to establish paternity through a court hearing. This change will not only speed up the paternity process, but also help alleviate some of the strain on an already overburdened court system. By removing a barrier that can cause unnecessary delays for families seeking child support simplifies the process of paternity adjudication.

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Food Allergy Bills Pass Committee

Also this week, the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection passed a pair of bills I co-authored with Rep. Pat Snyder (R-Schofield) and that would reduce the risk of exposure to allergens to consumers with food allergies. Assembly Bills 240 and 241 (AB 240 and AB 241) require certain retail food establishments to display posters with information about how staff should handle food allergies and would require a statement on menus instructing customers to inform staff of any food allergies.

AB 240 ensures that restaurant staff know what to do if a customer informs them of a food allergy and what steps to take if a customer does experience an anaphylactic reaction. AB 241 not only provides guidance to customers but also serves as a reminder to servers about the necessity of communicating food allergy information.

According to FARE, Food Allergy Research and Education, an estimated 32 million people in the United States have food allergies, including 5.6 million children. Each year in the United States, 200,000 people require emergency treatment for food-related allergic reactions.

As someone with severe food allergies, I know firsthand how important it is that the food service industry takes these allergies seriously and that employees in this industry fully understand how to deal with such allergies. Though food allergies cannot be cured, we can help mitigate their impact by reducing the risk of exposure, potentially even saving lives.

These bills have already passed the Senate Committee on Local Government, Small Business, Tourism and Workforce Development and may now be scheduled for a vote in either house.

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BuyAmerican.pngWeek in Review

On Thursday, Governor Evers called for legislative special session to invest in Wisconsin's classrooms and lower property taxes. These proposals will give desperately needed support to school districts across the state by prioritizing Wisconsin students. The special session proposals include renewing the state's commitment to two-thirds state funding for public schools and investing in special education, mental health services, and rural sparsity aid. My Democratic colleagues and I stand with the Governor on his plan to invest in our students and improve economic opportunities for future generations. Sign this petition and tell your legislators to support Governor Evers' call for a Special Session on Public Education.

Earlier this week, Legislative Democrats introduced the Buy American Legislation Package to ensure Wisconsin tax dollars are invested in American workers. The Buy American Act requires the state purchase goods– to the greatest extent possible – that are made in the United States. Legislative Democrats are committed to working on legislation that encourages economic growth and protects Wisconsin's middle class.

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Doctor Day

Last week, doctors and medical students from across the state visited the capitol.  As a member of the Assembly Health Committee it is very important to me to hear from the medical community, and learn what issues are impacting patients and doctors alike. Doctor Day allows for that dialog to take place, and for legislators and physicians to discuss ways to work together. To learn more about Wisconsin Doctor Day, you can visit their website.

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Citizen Group on Sustainable Transportation

In the 2019-2021 state budget, a $75 annual surcharge for hybrid electric vehicles was implemented. A hybrid electric vehicle is one that is capable of using both electricity and gasoline, diesel fuel, or alternative fuel to propel the vehicle.

On September 21, 2017, a new law created a $100 annual surcharge for electric vehicles (motor vehicles propelled solely by electrical energy and not capable of using gasoline, diesel fuel, or alternative fuel).

Frustrated with these surcharges, Bobbi White contacted my office to see what could be done about this beyond pleas to the Joint Committee on Finance to change course. She now wants to create a citizen group to address how these surcharges are a disincentive for motorists to purchase sustainable vehicles. If you are interested in helping Bobbi with her mission on low emissions and addressing registration surcharges, please contact her at bobbiwhite43@gmail.com.

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Wisconsin Black History Fact

Between 1842 and 1861 more than 100 escaping slaves were helped to freedom in Canada by Wisconsin residents. But, because both the slaves and their helpers had to conceal their work, details of how fugitives passed through Wisconsin are scarce.

Slavery was prohibited in Wisconsin under the 1787 Northwest Ordinance, which also founded our state. However, in 1850 the federal government passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which forced all citizens to help return any escaping slaves to their owners. Anyone who refused to assist the authorities, or who helped slaves to escape, was subject to heavy penalties. The Fugitive Slave Act became a rallying point for abolitionists, who felt morally compelled to disobey it and so become criminals in the eyes of the law.

The earliest escape of which we have record is that of 16-year-old Caroline Quarlls, who arrived in Milwaukee in early August 1842 and was secretly helped by Wisconsin abolitionists around Chicago, through Indiana, across Michigan and into Canada. The state's most famous incident was the liberation of Joshua Glover in March 1854 from a Milwaukee jail; he was conveyed out of the city by much the same route but boarded a steamer in Racine and landed in Canada. Also in 1854, an unnamed father and two children passed through Chilton to safety among the Stockbridge Indians. After repulsing their pursuers, the Stockbridge got them safely to Green Bay and then by ship to Canada. About 1855, the Rev. R.L. Cheney of Janesville assisted a family escaping northward on the road from Beloit. He saw them to Racine, where they embarked safely by steamer for Canada. At the outbreak of the Civil War, three escaping families were harbored in Beloit and remained there after the war. In early 1861 Janesville citizens rallied to drive away a slave catcher who had tracked down one of their city's residents.

Facts about these events first surfaced the 1880s and '90s. At the time of the escapes, both the ex-slaves and their abolitionist helpers faced severe consequences if they were caught. As a result, they created very few records documenting their illegal activities. For decades after the Civil War and Emancipation, racism permeated American society to the extent that many participants feared to speak up about their activities before the war. But A.P. Dutton and Maximillian Heck of Racine later admitted that between 1854 and 1861 a number of that city's residents conspired to help fugitive slaves board steamers bound for Ontario, often taking up collections to cover their expenses. They recalled that most of their "passengers" came up the Illinois River to Chicago and then overland along the shore to Kenosha, Racine or Milwaukee. Others came up the Rock River to Beloit, then to Janesville, where the Tallman House was a well-known refuge, then to Milton, where the Milton House provided another safe house. Finally, the ex-slaves were transported across the prairie to one of the lake ports, where several ship captains were willing to conduct them to Canadian cities. Dutton estimated that more than 100 went by boat from Racine alone in the years before the Civil War. Abolitionist editor Chauncey Goodwin included a 75-page memoir in his family history, and other participants gradually wrote and published reminiscences. Historian John Nelson Davidson solicited letters from as many as he could find and printed these in small pamphlet issues in Milwaukee. via Wisconsin Historical Society

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Things happening in the district & around Madison:

Madison College Children's Dental Clinic
February 10th, 12th, and 14th

By Appointment
Madison College Room 151
1705 Hoffman St., Madison


February is National Children's Dental Health Month. The Madison College Dental Clinic is offering FREE dental cleanings, x-rays, and sealants for children ages 3-17. To schedule an appointment, call 608.258.2400

Tax Assistance
Tuesday, Febrary 11, 2020

9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Sequoya Library
4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison


Free assistance from Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers to help you fill out and file your Federal and Wisconsin personal income taxes.

The VITA program is an IRS and Wisconsin DOR initiative designed to support free tax preparation service for the underserved. In conjunction with the AARP, the VITA program offers free tax help to people who generally make $56,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

Some situations are outside the scope of the service -- ask if in doubt. You must have lived in Wisconsin for ALL of 2019 to use this service.

**Tax assistance at Sequoya is by appointment only. Come in or call 266-6385 to register.

Badgercare Enrollment
Wednesday, Febrary 12, 2020

11 AM - 1 PM
Central Library - Study Room 211
201 W Mifflin St.


Recieve help enrolling in Badgercare

Job Search Assistance
Thursday, February 13, 2020

1 PM - 4 PM
Alicia Ashman Library - Study Room
733 N. High Point., Madison


Need advice from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development/Job Service? Sign up for a 30 minute or 1-hour appointment by calling the library at 608-824-1780 (or take a chance and drop-in!). You'll get one-on-one help applying for unemployment benefits, resume writing, job search strategies, interview skills, and more.

The Alicia Ashman Library is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to offer one-on-one assistance with job searching, resume writing, interview skills and more!

Kids Night Out
Friday, February 14, 2020

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Sky Zone Madison
2134 W Beltline Highway


Parents, enjoy a child-free date night! Drop kids ages 6+ off from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Valentines Day! Parents get some time for uninterrupted romance, while kids get dinner and three hours of jump time. It’s a win-win!

Reserve your spot here.

Zor Shrine Circus
Saturday, February 15, 2020

2:30 PM
Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison


For over 50 years the Carden family has been bringing an astonishing and awe-inspiring show to people across the country. From amazing feats of athleticism with our aerial acrobats, to our magnificent elephants, awesome tigers, and so much more for the entire family. Doors open at 1:30 pm Show Begins at 2:30 pm Accessible Seating: Accessible seating is available online through Ticketmaster by clicking Request Accessible Tickets, or in person at The Coliseum Box Office during business hours. For addition information call 608-267-3955.

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