Friends and Neighbors,

It's hard to believe that it's nearly 'Back to School' time already. It's been a wonderful summer in the 48th Assembly District. In this e-update you'll find information about the Health Insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, ALEC, arrests at the Capitol, and one of my bills that is up for a public hearing in the State Senate this week. As always, if you have any questions, or things that you'd like to see in subsequent issues of the Sargent Voice, please call 608-266-0960 or email rep.sargent@legis.wi.gov.

Forward,

Health Insurance Exchanges Set to Begin October 1st
 

Earlier in August, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance released the list of insurance companies that will be participating in the new health insurance marketplace as part of the Affordable Care Act set to begin October 1st. 13 companies will offer plans in the individual market.


The options for consumers, as shown by the number of insurers who applied to be part of the market, point to a successful effort to expand opportunity for consumers and competition in the market.

The central argument of this new health marketplace, as part of the Affordable Care Act, is that insurance companies must play fairly. This will provide greater security and control for consumers. These companies must ensure that citizens can no longer be excessively charged more because of pre-existing conditions, gender or age.  In turn, insurance companies are offered the opportunity, by taking part in this new marketplace, to access large numbers of consumers. Many of these consumers are leaving the ranks of the uninsured because of access to tax credits, increased opportunity and price competition because of the Affordable Care Act's health marketplace.

You can click HERE to see which insurance companies signed up to be part of the exchange. And click HERE to learn about how the exchanges work and how you can sign up for insurance.
 

ALEC

Last week, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) celebrated its 40th birthday. They also held their annual conference in downtown Chicago.

Since 1973, ALEC’s members have maintained the tradition of drafting and pushing through pro-corporate, anti-worker legislation.

Their stated intention is to bring the government a perspective from private companies. In reality, these corporations simply tell the 2,000 (mostly Republican) legislators the agenda they would like to carry out. This agenda favors profits over all else, damaging and demeaning our middle class families. Some items on the agenda at this years ALEC conference:

Anti-environment legislation: Presentations on how frack sand mining can lead to increased profits, discussions of how to pursue offshore drilling, and deniers of climate change who gave a disingenuous talk entitled "A Thoughtful Approach to Climate Science"

Anti-public school legislation: Plans include increasing voucher schools in every state and expanding virtual "schools," which would enrich ALEC's online school corporate funders, such as K12 Inc.

Anti-union legislation and policies: Introduced a call for union certification by a majority of members in the bargaining unit, rather than a majority of those voting. This was the same certification policy pushed by Scott Walker here in Wisconsin, and creates an almost insurmountable burden: few governors or presidents would ever win election if they had to win a majority of all eligible voters, rather than just a majority of those who vote.

Anti-working family legislation: Renewing objections to linking the minimum wage to the consumer price index. I believe that we not only need to link the minimum wage to the CPI, but we also need to raise the minimum wage to a livable standard.

2013-2014 Legislative Survey

I hope you'll take a few moments to fill out my legislative survey. It is crucial to me as a state legislator to hear the opinions of my constituents. I'm interested to learn your thoughts on our most recent state budget as well as the stance of the 48th Assembly District in regards to major policy issues such as women's health, education, and the environment. Click HERE to fill out the survey.


Team Sargent's night at the Mallards Game

I joined my family, staff, interns, volunteers, and friends at the Mallards game last Sunday night. Even though the Mallards lost, we had a great time. My son Keanan even got to throw out the first pitch!

The Mallards provide a wonderful gathering point for our community. And some great news from last week, the Mallards won the NorthWoods League Championship!

If you would like to attend a Mallards game next season, you can visit www.mallardsbaseball.com.

Back to School Tipss

In preparation for the upcoming school year, visit USA.gov's Back to School page for resources to help you:  
  • Keep track of required immunizations
  • See if your child qualifies for low-cost meals
  • Find affordable health insurance
  • Help your child with homework
  • Re-use and recycle school supplies
  • Prepare healthy meals
  • Promote physical activity

Also on the Back to School page, you'll find health and safety resources, free publications, and other information to help you and your child throughout the school year.
 

Arrests at Sing-A-Long Continue

At present, there have been over 200 arrests at the noontime solidarity sing-a-longs over the past 3 weeks. At the behest of the Department of Administration, the Capitol Police have arrested firefighters, teachers, attorneys, elected officials, journalists and many others ranging from 14 years-old to 85 years-olds. These people are Wisconsin citizens who are simply coming to the Capitol for one hour each day to sing over the lunch hour. While the singers continue to be the focus, this is about the much larger issue of our Constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech.

It is stunning to me that Governor Walker's administration continues to put time and effort into stifling peaceful singers while our economy continues to lag and there are so many other issues facing our state. I assure you that I will continue to be out in the rotunda each day looking out for my constituents who are raising their voices in protest of the Governor's agenda.

While the other side claims that the singers should simply get a permit, my question is; if you have to request permission from those who you are protesting against, is the speech really free?
 


 

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August 19, 2013
Issue 15


Contact Me

State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708

Office: (608) 266-0960

Email:
Rep.Sargent@legis.wi.gov

On the Web: sargent.assembly.wi.gov
 

Stat of the Week

because of Governor Walker's decision to reject the federal Medicaid expansion money. This decision will also cause 98,000 statewide to lose their coverage and cost state taxpayers $149 million. This is a historically bad decision.
 
 

In the Capitol

 

Bills of interest:  

AB218 / SB223:  The 'Social Media Protection Bill', which I authored in the Assembly, will have a public hearing in the Senate tomorrow. This bill prohibits employers, Universities, and landlords from requesting social media usernames and passwords from employees, students, and tenants. This bill has received broad bi-partisan support, and I hope to seen it continue to move forward through the legislative process.

AB 256:  I co-sponsored this piece of legislation which would stop University students from receiving an underage drinking citation if they call for help for themselves or a friend. AB 256 seeks to prevent situations in which students refrain from calling emergency services because they are afraid of receiving a citation. This bill ensures that they will receive the necessary care while also providing students a way to safely look out for one another. The bill is not an attempt to legalize underage drinking but rather, a common sense measure to improve public safety. There is a provision in the bill which penalizes students for falsely requesting medical assistance to avoid an underage drinking citation. 

 


In the District


New Eastside Bus Routes and Schedules

On August 25, the eastside gets a new bus route through the neighborhoods east of the  interstate. This affects other routes in Heritage Heights, too, so make sure to visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/ to check the schedules before you ride.

Specifically, Route 14 stops are now served by new Route 33 and Route 15 is now Route 32.

Be aware of these changes before traveling via Metro in the coming weeks.

Update on Pinney Library:

In June, the Madison Library Board recommended that the Pinney Library move from its current location and that a new library should be built in 2015 and open in 2016. The Board made no recommendation on the new location.

Alder David Ahrens has recommended to the Library Board that the new library should be located at the Royster Corners development at Dempsey and Cottage Grove Rd. He said that this would be the best site because it is near the current location and would be able to continue to serve its patrons. Also, it is centrally located for the greatest number of potential patrons on the Eastside.

A new library would also be a valuable addition to the 27-acre development. This housing/retail and commercial development along with improvements in Cottage Grove Rd. could provide a big boost for all of the surrounding neighborhoods. Mayor Soglin must now decide whether to include the new library in his Capital Improvement Budget. If it is included in his budget it will then have to be approved by the Board of Estimate and the City Council.

After it passes those hurdles, the issue will then return to the Library Board. The Board will decide where the new library will be located. Hopefully, we will have a new library for our community by November!

 

School Voucher Update


Vouchers Pay for your Neighbors to Continue to Send their Kids to Private School

Despite what we were told during the budget process, there is NO preference for public school students when applying to receive a voucher Over 75% of applicants came from outside the public school system, with over 65% already attending private schools. The statewide voucher program is simply not an option for families that want a choice other than their public school.

The GOP’s expansion of vouchers for private schools overwhelmingly went to families who already send their children to private schools. The voucher program is a new entitlement for those who can afford it, not a choice. A massive expansion of the voucher program has taken place before any safeguards could be put into place to protect taxpayers from fraud, waste and abuse at voucher schools. The GOP’s statewide voucher expansion is just another tax break for families who don’t need it, while Wisconsin’s working families go ignored. 

These voucher schools have severely limited accountability and transparency, including:

o Uncertified teachers who are not required to undergo background checks
o Exempted from graduation standards
o They are shielded from Open Records requirements, despite their coffers full of taxpayer dollars

Voucher schools have not out-performed public schools in Milwaukee and Racine, and in most cases, they have underperformed.

Studies have shown that when voucher students return to public schools, their test scores increase, sometimes dramatically
Prioritizing state funds for private schools depletes the resources for public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of citizens, forcing communities to make even more cuts in the classroom.