20180621 SUBECK EmailBanner900x250-2.png

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter. This week’s update includes information about the COVID-19 vaccine, construction on the Beltline, a nod to Women’s History Month, 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


In This Weeks Update:

Covid-19 Vaccine Update


Supporting Our Public Defenders


Forward Wisconsin:
Criminal Justice Reform


Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE)


Citizen's Utility Board


March is Women's History Month! 


Supermarket Employee Day


Flex Lane Construction Begins


Wisconsin Fun Fact


Trusted COVID-19 Resources


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

  emailborderfull40by40.png facebookborderfull40by40.png twitterborderfull40by40.png  

COVID-19 Vaccine Update
“Game-changer” Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Arriving in Wisconsin Soon

As of March 5, over 1.6 million doses of vaccine have been administered, and over 1 million Wisconsinites have had at least one dose. Currently, frontline health care personnel, residents of long-term care facilities, police and fire personnel, correctional staff, adults age 65 and older, education and child care staff, individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs, some public-facing essential workers such as 911 operators, public transit, and grocery store employees, non-frontline essential health care personnel, and facility staff and residents of congregate living settings are eligible for vaccination. As vaccine phases overlap, not all individuals from previously eligible groups will have been vaccinated as new groups are added. Vaccine supply is still limited, so those in eligible groups may not be able to immediately schedule or attain a vaccination. Please remain patient as our health professionals work to get individuals vaccinated as quickly as possible.

This week, the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that about 47,000 doses of the recently approved Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine are expected to arrive in Wisconsin next week, and will be incorporated into Wisconsin’s vaccine allocation strategy. The J&J vaccine only requires one dose, and is easier to store and transport.

Also this week, DHS announced that select Kroger (known as Pick ‘n Save in the Madison area) stores will join Walgreens in receiving COVID-19 vaccines, as a part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Eligible people can go to Kroger’s website to schedule an appointment at a participating location.

DHS has also announced that a new Vaccine Assistance Hotline is available. Wisconsinites can call toll-free 844-684-1064 for personal assistance with their vaccine-related questions.


Back to top

Supporting our Public Defenders

On Monday, I attended a virtual bill signing by Governor Evers for Senate Bill 62. My colleagues and I worked on this bipartisan legislation that would provide merit pay for public defenders.  Over the past year, the State Public Defenders Office (SPD) has lost nearly 80 staff attorneys to higher paying jobs in government or the private sector. Now the SPD can offer merit-based pay raises above the standard 10% in the next fiscal year. This pay increase will help recruit and retain experienced attorneys through greater parity with those working in the public sector.    

Back to top

Forward Wisconsin: Criminal Justice Reform

On Wednesday, Forward Wisconsin held its first virtual meeting focusing the conversation around critical investments in criminal justice reform. If you were unable to attend this meeting, you can watch a recording of it here.

The purpose of these listening sessions is to give Wisconsinites direct access to policy makers who will be voting on the next state budget. Forward Wisconsin
is a project of the Wisconsin Assembly Democrats aimed at lifting the voices of Wisconsinites who believe our state budget should work for everyone. 

Meeting Dates/Topics:

March 10 at 7 pm: Education and Childcare (register here)
March 17 at 7 pm: Climate, Environment and Equal Rights
March 24 at 7 pm: Healthcare
March 31 at 7 pm: Economy and Infrastructure

Click here to sign up for updates and event invitations.


Back to top

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE)

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts are a way for individuals with disabilities and their families to create a tax-free savings account that will allow them to save for the future without jeopardizing benefits such as their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).  ABLE accounts allow parents of individuals with disabilities to be able to save for the care of their child in the future.

During the 2019 legislative session, I introduced bipartisan legislation to require the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to implement and administer a qualified ABLE program, either directly or by entering into an agreement with another state or alliance of states, as Wisconsin is one of only nine states that does not operate its own program or collaborate to do so. As the legislation did not pass last session, I brought this important issue to the attention of Governor Evers and am pleased that he included it in his proposed budget.

Back to top

Citizen’s Utility Board

An important organization that fights to level the playing field for “small customers” is the Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB), an independent, non-profit that works to make sure we have reliable, safe, and affordably utility service. Their “small customers” are our families, neighbors, friends, and local small businesses. CUBs are located all over the United States, and have been around for around 40 years.

A few years ago, a law was passed that encouraged utilities to settle Public Service Commission cases with customer groups. This law had an unintended consequence that impacted the way CUB hired experts in these cases. This lead to Assembly Bill 27, which would allow the Public Service Commission to address this problem with CUB’s funding. Fixing this issue is part of a broader omnibus bill recently considered by the Assembly Energy Utilities Committee. I voted with all other committee members to pass this bill out of committee and hope it will soon be scheduled for a vote of the full Assembly.

Back to top

March is Women’s History Month!

March is Women’s History Month, when we celebrate and recognize all of the incredible contributions women have made to the history of our country and the history of our great state. Beginning in March, 1982, the United States began celebrating “Women’s History Week” as the result of a joint resolution passed in Congress. In 1987, Congress dedicated the entire month of March to women’s history after the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned them. A number of my colleagues and I have introduced an Assembly Joint Resolution proclaiming March 2021 as Women's History Month.

Back to top

Supermarket Employee Day

Grocery store employees have served as heroes on the frontline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They have faced unprecedented challenges ensuring we all have access to the food and supplies we need. They have consistently gone above and beyond in maintaining health and safety while providing customer service and community outreach.

Governor Evers proclaimed February 22 as Supermarket Employee Day. To honor the work of all of our grocery store workers, Senator Kelda Roys and I issued legislative citations honoring the employees of all six supermarkets in the 78th Assembly District. Thank you to my Legislative Aide, Alex, who delivered and presented the legislative citations on our behalf.

All of our frontline essential workers in all of their various capacities deserve our thanks and gratitude for their work and service.

Back to top

Flex Lane Construction Begins

On March 1, DOT crews began the first phases on the $45.1 million project that will convert the inside median shoulders of the Beltline between Whitney Way and I-39/90 for use as an additional travel lane during peak traffic periods, called the “Flex Lane”. The project will also address deteriorating pavement; improve existing drainage deficiencies; and replace the existing median barrier wall.

Expect to see off-peak and overnight ramp and lane closures until the project is completed in December 2021. Click here to watch a demonstration video. Learn more about the Flex Lane project at the 511 Wisconsin website.

Back to top

Wisconsin Fun Fact
Celebrating Women's History Month

Wisconsin’s first non-indigenous doctor, Mary Ann Menard, was born sometime around 1763 in Cahokia, IL. Known simply as “Aunt Mary Ann”, Menard was born to a French creole father, and a slave mother, from whom she gained her knowledge of healing and midwifery. Aunt Mary Ann eventually moved to Prairie du Chien, WI, and at one point, was the only doctor between Mackinac, MI, and St. Louis, MO. When Fort Crawford was built in Prairie du Chien, and a surgeon arrived with the troops, locals would still seek out Aunt Mary Ann for her services, rather than the surgeon.

Aunt Mary Ann had 13 children by three husbands. One of her most memorable acts as a healer came in 1827, when her baby granddaughter was scalped during an attack. Aunt Mary Ann covered her granddaughter’s exposed brain with a silver plate hammered out of a silver dollar. The granddaughter survived. Aunt May Ann died around 1833.

Back to top


Trusted COVID-19 Resources:

Department of Health Services COVID-19 Site

CDC COVID-19 Information

Governor Evers's COVID-19 Information Hub

County & Tribal Health Officials

Dept. of Workforce Development COVID-19 FAQs

World Health Organization Corona Virus Info

Public Health Dane County & City of Madison

WHA COVID-19 Situational Awareness Update

 

DHS COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Map

DHS COVID-19 Vaccine Data

|  | Rep Subeck's Website 

  facebookborderfull30by30.png twitterborderfull30by30.png  
Back to top