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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

This week, the Assembly was in session and we voted on a number of bills relating to reproductive health care, direct care workers, and other topics. Read on for updates about some of the legislation we considered this week, an invitation to my upcoming budget listening sessions, a fun Wisconsin fact, 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 Week's Update:

Update from the Assembly Floor


CNA Pay Act


Jewish American Heritage Month


Budget Listening Sessions


Clean Drinking Water


Family Caregiver Survey


Fun Wisconsin 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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Update from the Assembly Floor

Earlier this week, the State Assembly passed Assembly Bills 179, 180, 182, and 183 with no Democrats voting in support. I voted against these bills when they came before me last week in the Health Committee, and I did so again when they came before me on the floor of the Assembly. The bills included provisions that would eliminate government funding for reproductive health clinics, prohibit abortions in certain circumstances, and require health care providers to provide patients with misleading information about so-called “abortion pill reversal.” As I said last week, these bills would make it more challenging for doctors to comfortably provide safe and legal, constitutionally guaranteed health care to women.  

The agenda being promoted by Assembly Republicans does nothing to address infant mortality or disparities in health care access. Instead of advancing these misleading, hyper-partisan bills, we can and should work together to improve health outcomes for children and families.

Unfortunately, Republicans’ continued obstruction of Medicaid expansion leaves us unable to make needed health care investments such as the Healthy Women, Healthy Babies Initiative to improve access to preventative health services and reduce infant mortality. The Legislature should follow Governor Evers’s lead by expanding Medicaid and investing in the health care services Wisconsinites need and deserve. If you agree, I encourage you to sign this petition to tell legislators that it is time to support the Medicaid expansion. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-please-support-the-medicaid-expansion/

 

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Assembly Discussion Highlights Need for CNA Pay Act

On Wednesday, the State Assembly passed Assembly Bill (AB) 76, which would reduce the number of hours of training a CNA is required to complete. During the floor debate, I introduced an amendment to increase reimbursement rates and raise wages for personal care workers as proposed in Governor Evers’s 2019-21 state budget. The amendment failed with all Democrats voting in support.

I introduced this amendment because Wisconsin faces a significant and growing shortage in personal care workers, while the need for their services continues to grow as our state’s population ages. To recruit and retain more direct care workers, we must pay those who care for our most vulnerable family members and neighbors a living wage and treat them as respected professionals.  

My colleagues and I have also introduced the CNA Pay Act, which would increase wages and expand access to training for nursing aides and personal caregivers working on the frontlines of long-term care and nursing facilities. Like the amendment I proposed, the CNA Pay Act addresses the root causes of the issues facing our direct care workforce by accepting federal Medicaid expansion funds to increase reimbursement rates for long-term care to raise wages and make training more accessible and affordable. Wisconsin can no longer ignore this growing crisis. Our state should take immediate action to raise caregiver wages.  

 


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Jewish American Heritage Month

During Wednesday’s floor session, the State Assembly unanimously passed a resolution I authored recognizing May, 2019, as Jewish American Heritage Month in Wisconsin. 

As a proud Jewish American legislator, I was honored to author this resolution recognizing the vibrant culture and impressive accomplishments of the Jewish community in Wisconsin. I am grateful to my fellow legislators for joining me in acknowledging Jewish American Heritage Month.

Established by presidential proclamation in 2006, Jewish American Heritage Month is a national commemoration of the contributions that American Jews have made to our nation’s culture, history, and society. Each year, a theme is chosen to celebrate Jewish achievements in a particular aspect of American life. The theme for May, 2019, is American Jewish Illustrators. This month, we celebrate the Jewish American illustrators who helped create lasting works of art, from treasured children’s books to iconic graphic novels and cartoons.

Many influential Jewish Americans have called Wisconsin home, including author Edna Ferber, U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, actors Gene Wilder and Charlotte Rae, magician Harry Houdini, and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Jewish Americans have helped shape our country’s character, promote our commitment to religious freedom, and strengthen our communities. I encourage Wisconsinites of all backgrounds to join me in celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month.

 

 

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Mark Your Calendars! 

Join Senator Fred Risser and me for budget listening sessions that are conveniently planned in the 78th Assembly District.  We want to hear from you about Governor Evers’s 2019-21 state budget proposal and the actions the Joint Finance Committee has taken over the past few weeks.  So whether you want to let us know how you feel about Medicaid Expansion, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies initiative, the condition of Wisconsin roads, or any other state budget priorities, we’ll be at the Meadowridge Library on Tuesday, May 28th from 6 PM to 7:45 PM, and then at Oakwood Village University Woods, Monday, June 3rd from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.  I look forward to speaking with you.

 


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Clean Drinking Water 

In Governor Evers’ State of the State address, he announced 2019 as the “Year of Clean Drinking Water” and for good reason: contaminated drinking water is a statewide public health crisis.  From aging municipal pipes leaching lead into the water to well water contamination from run off from farms, businesses, and even military bases, every Wisconsinite should be concerned about the quality of our water, and aware of what contaminated water means for their health.  Even here in Madison, the City has closed Well #15 on the North side until later this summer because of a federal health advisory at this location.   

Clean water is one of the topics legislators have been hearing about most frequently from our constituents. Wisconsin has Lake Superior to our North, Lake Michigan to our East, and the Mississippi River to our west. Even the word "Wisconsin" is derived from a Miami Indian word meaning: “River running through a red place," illustrating how vital and influential water is to the people of Wisconsin. That’s why it is so disappointing that legislative Republicans are once again refusing to listen to the people, and refusing to take meaningful action to address this issue.  Instead, they are once again pitting Milwaukee against the rest of the state, and not working with Democrats or the Governor to find permanent, sustainable solutions for our own health and the health of future generations. Everyone in our state should be able to have access to and drink clean and safe water from their tap – no matter where they live.

 

 

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Statewide Family Caregiver Survey

Are you a family caregiver caring for a loved one or close friend? If so, the Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance (WFACSA) wants to hear about your experiences.

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CaregiverSurvey2

A new statewide survey of Wisconsin family caregivers wants to know how you find and utilize resources to help you care for your loved one. A few minutes of your time will help state and other caregiver support agencies make it easier for family caregivers to learn about and access supports and services that will help them care for a loved one.

 

WFACSA works on direct programs to support caregivers and informs public policy on whether or not you can find what you need to care for your loved one; if there are adequate resources available to meet your needs; and what barriers are keeping you from receiving the information and resources you need. Once the survey results are compiled and analyzed, the findings will be made public.  All individual results will remain anonymous and grouped together so no individual responses are identifiable.

 


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Fun Wisconsin Fact

This week in history in 1919, one of Wisconsin’s most famous icons was born in West Allis.  The name of this legendary performer was Wladziu Valentino Liberace (or simply Liberace) who is best remembered for his extravagant costumes and glitzy pianos with a trademark candelabra perched on top. At age 14, Liberace debuted as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony, and received a scholarship to attend the Wisconsin College of Music. Liberace earned icon status in 1952 when syndicated television program, The Liberace Show, hit the airwaves. He was adored by audiences for his extraordinary talent and distinctive showmanship. Over the course of his career he was awarded two Emmys, six gold albums, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Additionally, he sold out 56 shows at Radio City Music Hall just a few months before his death in 1987.

 

 

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Things happening in the district & around Madison:

Syttende Mai Festival
Friday, May 17-Sunday May 19

9 am - 10 pm Friday & Saturday, 9 am - 5 pm Sunday
Downtown Stoughton


Stoughton's Syttende Mai festival is a weekend-long celebration of Norwegian heritage featuring fun activities and cultural experiences for the whole family. Come join us for three days of parades, amazing food and drink, arts and music, athletic competitions, and kids’ activities steeped in centuries of Norwegian culture. For more information see https://www.stoughtonfestivals.com/

Saturday Family Movie Matinee: Kubo and the Two Strings
Saturday, May 18

2 pm - 4 pm
Alicia Ashman Library


Free and open to the public: A young boy named Kubo must locate
a magical suit of armour worn by his late father
in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past

History Sandwiched In, Brown-bag lunch Program
Tuesday, May 21 

12:15 pm
Wisconsin Historical Museum, 30 S Carroll


"Carrie Catt, Belle La Follette, and How the Battle for
Woman Suffrage Was Won," by author Bob Kann.
$3 donation.

60th Annual Bean Feed
Wednesday, May 22

6 pm - 8 pm
Madison Labor Temple

1602 S Park St


Fundraiser for South Central Federation of Labor’s
Committee on Political Education Program

Madison College Jazz Ensemble
Thursday, May 23 

6 pm
Capital Brewery, Middleton

7734 Terrace Ave


Live music in the bier garten

Proud Theater Madison 20th Annual Show
May 23rd-May 25th

7:30 pm
Diane Ballweg Theater at Edgewood College

1000 Edgewood College Dr


Tickets are $15, and proceeds go to Proud Theater, a nonprofit organization that helps facilitate youth activism through theater.

   
   

|  | Rep Subeck's Website 

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