E-Update - November 18

Ben Stepanek came to visit the Capitol last week as part of the Senate Scholar Program. The Senate Scholar Program is an intensive week-long educational program offered by the Wisconsin State Senate. Admission to the program is highly competitive and is limited to 33 academically exceptional high school juniors and seniors from around Wisconsin. Each Senate Scholar receives a hands-on, up-close view of the Legislature’s role in our democracy.

Senate Scholars gain experience in such diverse areas as policy development, constituent relations, and processing legislation by working with Senators, legislative staff and University of Wisconsin faculty.

The Assembly Labor and Workforce Development Committee advanced Assembly Bill 450 (AB 450) this week. This bill creates a pilot program called “Wisconsin Wins” to offer voluntary occupational training to Unemployment Insurance claimants for 20-24 hours a week for up to six weeks. The goal of the program is to place job seekers directly into the workplace for on the job training. Unemployment claimants will be given the opportunity to undergo unpaid part-time training while continuing to receive their regular unemployment benefits. The program offers benefits to both employers and the unemployed. The goal of the program is to allow Wisconsinites receiving unemployment to take part-time training jobs with employers potentially leading to full-time employment and allowing job seekers to receive training and demonstrate their skills for potential employers.

AB 450 was passed by the Assembly Committee on Labor and Workforce Development by a vote of 8-0.

Putting Wisconsin back to work is our top priority, this legislation is another step in that direction.

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February 3, 2012 E-Update
Helpful Wisconsin Links Unsubscribe If you would like to unsubscribe from Representative Ballweg E-Update, please click here.	Representative Ballweg provides testimony on Assembly Bill 416, regarding Gas Drive Offs On Tuesday of this week, Joan gave testimony regarding gas drive off legislation in front of the Assembly Committee on Transportation. My office has been working with the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (WPMCA) and staff from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) in drafting this legislation. We are attempting to give the association authorization to access records through WisDOT. In doing so, it will give the small business owner another option to collect a debt owed to them. WisDOT uses the Public Abstract Request system (PARS). It is a secure online service that allows authorized account holders to receive driver and/or vehicle record abstracts quickly and easily using the Web. WisDOT charges for each record obtained through PARS, a cost that WPMCA will pass along to its members, plus their cost for processing the request. Assembly Bill 416 allows the retailer to collect the value of the fuel and a service fee, not to exceed $30. Wild Rose High School Student chosen as Senate Scholar Representative Ballweg with Senate Scholar Ben Stepanek Ben Stepanek came to visit the Capitol last week as part of the Senate Scholar Program. The Senate Scholar Program is an intensive week-long educational program offered by the Wisconsin State Senate. Admission to the program is highly competitive and is limited to 33 academically exceptional high school juniors and seniors from around Wisconsin. Each Senate Scholar receives a hands-on, up-close view of the Legislature’s role in our democracy. Senate Scholars gain experience in such diverse areas as policy development, constituent relations, and processing legislation by working with Senators, legislative staff and University of Wisconsin faculty. "Wisconsin Wins" Legislation The Assembly Labor and Workforce Development Committee advanced Assembly Bill 450 (AB 450) this week. This bill creates a pilot program called “Wisconsin Wins” to offer voluntary occupational training to Unemployment Insurance claimants for 20-24 hours a week for up to six weeks. The goal of the program is to place job seekers directly into the workplace for on the job training. Unemployment claimants will be given the opportunity to undergo unpaid part-time training while continuing to receive their regular unemployment benefits. The program offers benefits to both employers and the unemployed. The goal of the program is to allow Wisconsinites receiving unemployment to take part-time training jobs with employers potentially leading to full-time employment and allowing job seekers to receive training and demonstrate their skills for potential employers. AB 450 was passed by the Assembly Committee on Labor and Workforce Development by a vote of 8-0. Putting Wisconsin back to work is our top priority, this legislation is another step in that direction.