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Today is the last scheduled session day of the fall floor period which
means most likely my colleagues and I won’t be back on the floor of the
Assembly until January 2016. We’re in for a long day today as the
Assembly leadership rushes to get as many bills on the calendar as
possible before we recess. We are taking up everything ranging from a
resolution declaring November 13th to be “World Pancreatic Cancer Day”
and improved access to hunting for people with disabilities to investing
rules for cemeteries and financial damages to victims of dog bites.
Even with all this going on, I wanted to send you an update to let you
know what has been going on in the Legislature since the passage of the
budget. After the marathon budget session, the Assembly adjourned for
the summer. We came back to the floor in September for the beginning of
the fall floor period. Over the past few weeks, we have debated some
very controversial issues, from dismantling and restructuring the
non-partisan Government Accountability Board (GAB), which administers
all elections in Wisconsin, to the rewriting of our state’s campaign
finance laws. There were many long days down in Madison and partisan
tempers flared as each side fought for their cause.
In spite of this tension and the stark divides we are facing, there have
been moments of true bipartisanship when members of both parties have
been able to come together to support legislation in the best interests
of our constituents. Several of these bills are up today; it ensures
that Wisconsinites have the right to choose the auto repair shop of
their choice without conditions from their insurance company. Another
bill allows our local cooperatives to use electronic voting methods for
their meetings. And another recognizes November as Adoption Month in
Wisconsin.
We’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us. During the recess, I will be
working on a proposal that would provide an income tax credit for
homeowners whose property taxes exceed 8% of their adjusted gross
income. I am also working on my proposal for grants to allow local
businesses and tech colleges to work together to train workers to fill
needed positions in our community. As with everything I do,
bipartisanship is the name of the game and I look forward to getting the
chance to discuss these ideas further with my colleagues on both sides
of the aisle.
As always, please feel free to keep in touch with me. Hearing from my
constituents is the best way for me to ensure that the decisions I make
down in Madison represent the views of the folks back home. In this
newsletter, you’ll find a link to my legislative survey. I hope that you
can take just a few minutes to fill it out and share your opinions with
me.
Sincerely,
STEVE DOYLE
State Representative
94th Assembly
District
Click Here to
Take My Legislative Survey
Deer Hunting Changes
With deer hunting season fast approaching, I wanted to take this
opportunity to make sure that as a hunter and outdoorsman you are aware
of the recent changes made by the DNR to deer hunting permits and
registration this year.
For over 60 years, Wisconsin hunters could use in-person registration at
local gas stations, bars, restaurants and small businesses. This year
however, deer registration must occur by phone at 1 (844) GAME REG
(426-3734), online at www.gamereg.wi.gov or at an in-person registration
station where you can either use a computer or phone station. Once you
submit the information, you will be given a 10 character confirmation
number to write on the carcass tag. Furthermore, all deer must be
registered by 5pm the day after it was recovered and tagged.
Every deer license will continue to come with one Farmland Zone
Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag, but hunters will now have to provide
additional information. Under the new system, hunters must designate the
land type and the Deer Management Unit for the antlerless tag: public
land or private land plus Deer Management Unit (DMU) County or Metro
Subunit. For a map of these units, visit www.dnr.wi.gov and search “deer
management zones.”
As a member of the Sportsmen Caucus, I want to make sure I hear from you
on these changes. There are some who are concerned that this limits the
options for deer registration while others contend that this change
updates practice for the modern technological era. Please feel free to
contact me with your thoughts on these new regulations.
I have created a pocket reference guide that you can print out and keep
with you this hunting season. Please let me know if you have any
questions or concerns.
From the Doyle Newsroom:
October 7, 2015
MADISON – Rep. Steve Doyle (D – Onalaska) released the following
statement after the introduction of the “Justice for Children Package”
of bills aimed at protecting Wisconsin’s children.
One of the proposals in the package, LRB 1942, had been previously
introduced by Rep. Doyle, Rep. Jill Billings and Sen. Jennifer Shilling.
“We had a public hearing on the bill, AB 626, last session and I am
hopeful that we can build on that support again in this term,” said
Doyle.
The original bill was the result of a discussion with the La Crosse Drug
Endangered Children Coalition, which works to protect children whose
parents are using or dealing drugs. From this discussion, AB 626 was
drafted to include the words “exposure to the distribution, manufacture,
or use of controlled substances” to the state definition of neglect.
“We’ve had a number of cases in our area where a local District Attorney
was not able to charge parents with the crime of child neglect when they
were manufacturing, using and distributing drugs in the presence of
their children,” said Doyle. “This proposal aimed to fix that situation
to ensure that we have the tools we need to protect these kids.”
“I am looking forward to working with Sen. Cowles to move forward with
this bill and the rest of the Justice for Children Package,” said Doyle.
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