April has been a busy month for Team Sargent. I have hosted eight, in-district listening sessions on the budget to get a sense of what our community values. These listening sessions have been enlightening and informative. I cannot do my job as a State Representative without the feedback of those I represent.

I also introduced my bill to fully legalize marijuana in Wisconsin. This bill will enhance personal freedoms, increase financial opportunity for our state, and bring safety to our communities. You can feel the momentum around the country on this issue as 58% of people nationally favor legalization.

As this bill moves through the legislature, and as the state budget nears completion, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns or comments.

As always, if you have any topics you would like to see discussed in future issues of the Sargent Voice, please contact me at 608-266-0960 or Rep.Sargent@legis.wi.gov.

Sincerely,

Melissa Sargent
State Representative
48th Assembly District

Marijuana Legalization Bill Introduced

Last session, I was proud to authora bill to fully legalize marijuana in Wisconsin. I did this after extensive research and the realization that the most dangerous thing about marijuana in our society is the fact that it remains illegal. That is why I re-introduced this bill on Monday.

While legalizing marijuana would not be a cure-all to turn our state around overnight, it would enhance personal freedoms, increase financial opportunity, and lead to safer communities.

Throughout the nation, marijuana legalization is gaining momentum. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Right here in Wisconsin, a bill was signed into law last year that legalized the use of cannabidiol for medical purposes, recognizing its healing benefits.

I have had countless conversations with people in the community about this legislation, and my message to them is that this bill (LRB-0188) is 91 pages of protections. A regulated and taxed system for marijuana use will provide structure where it is currently lacking.

With an ever-expanding prison population, the worst racial disparities in the nation, and a black market that puts marijuana users in contact with hardened criminals; it is becoming increasingly clear that Wisconsin must act to legalize now.
 

Long-term Care Listening Session

Walker’s budget presents drastic changes and cuts to our aging and long term care programs like Family Care, SeniorCare, IRIS, while splintering our local ADRCs and managed care organizations (MCOs). These significant changes will have detrimental impacts and consequences for people in our communities.

The significant problem we are facing is that we have no idea what our care programs will look like by the time Walker’s budget is done with them. We’ve been given no details, no explanations, and no models for how these programs will look or operate. That’s alarming.

People in our state are terrified, and rightfully so. We’re concerned about the quality of care our neighbors will receive, that we’ll be forced to change health care providers, and that we’ll incur more out-of-pocket expenses.

These changes affect some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Each and every one of us has family, friends, and neighbors that we care about who are affected by these services and programs every day.

Our current programs save lives and money. We should be having conversations about strengthening and providing further support for these programs and services, not dismantling care for our most vulnerable communities piece by piece.

Budget Update

The Governor's disastrous 'slash and borrow' budget continues to move forward through the process. The Joint Finance Committee has completed their public hearings around the state, to hear thoughts and concerns from everyday Wisconsinites.

Countless people turned up to express their extreme displeasure with a budget bill that is damaging to so many individuals and groups around the state.

The Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee have held a series of their own public hearings in order to ensure that all areas of the state are heard from. Recently, these Democratic members of the committee sent the co-chairs reiterating what they have heard around the state. Some of the points they emphasized:

• The budget must be amended to preserve the Stewardship fund.
• We must make investments in our children and public education system.
• We need to restore the $300 million cut to the UW-System.
• Wisconsin must accept the federal funding to strengthen BadgerCare.

I stand with my colleagues in fighting for these agenda items and so many more. It is clear that this budget is wrong for Wisconsin and we must do everything in our power to fight for the Wisconsin we know and love.

The budget now moves back to Madison where the Joint Finance Committee will begin to vote on each agency's budget requests starting today.

CHIP Press Conference with Congressman Pocan
 

If the federal government ends its funding of CHIP it does NOT mean 36,000 kids will be kicked off of BadgerCare, but it will mean that Wisconsin will be left having to pay a lot more for this.

This program means $84.5 million coming to Wisconsin's budget. As we are debating our financial shortfalls, we must not lose this crucial federal funding.

WI vs. MN

Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, we have seen uninsured rates plummet and premiums go down. Unfortunately, Wisconsin's premiums remain higher than our neighboring states. One of the factors that has led to this situation is the fact that Wisconsin did not create its own state-based exchange.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin recently released their third report on the differences between Minnesota and Wisconsin in regards to health care costs.

Statewide Wisconsin health insurance rates continue to be far above Minnesota rates. Silver plans are on average 60% more expensive in Wisconsin. For individual metro areas, the lowest cost silver plans range from 20-89% higher in Wisconsin, compared to the average cost in Minnesota. These percentage differences translate into $480 - $2,125 more per person per year in Wisconsin for a 40 year old before Affordable Care Act tax credits.

However, if Wisconsin were to lose these tax credits because of the pending King v. Burwell U.S. Supreme Court case, insurance cost disparities would skyrocket and up to 183,000 Wisconsinites could lose health insurance.

I was proud to recently introduce a bill which would create a state-based health care exchange. We need a Wisconsin-based solution to this health care crisis.

Meeting with the Bike Fed

They want budget amendments that would remove the repeal of the Complete Streets law, restore $2 million in TAP funding, and restore the Stewardship Fun.

I support the Bike Fed in their goals and I look forward to enjoying some great Wisconsin bike rides with my family as the weather gets warmer.

Conservation Congress

People in our state value the ability to enjoy clean air, clean water, and beautiful natural spaces. The Conservation Congress plays an important roll in efforts to protect the environment. On Monday night, we had an informative discussion as to how we can best work towards a cleaner Wisconsin. Unfortunately Governor Walker's budget does the following damage to environmental protections in our state.

• Freezes our Successful Stewardship Program
• Ends Citizen Oversight over Natural Resources
• Eliminates 18 Science Services Positions
• Increases Fees for Using State Parks and Lands
• Cuts Important Recycling Programs

Long-term care company laying-off 700

The governor’s lack of planning and failure to involve people in important public policy has had devastating consequences for the citizens of our state. Even the governor’s own Health Services Secretary knew nothing about these long-term changes until the budget was introduced.

Strong long-term care services are vital for maintaining a high quality of life for thousands of seniors and people with disabilities across Wisconsin. Democrats and even some Republicans have called for removing non-fiscal policy items from the budget, but it’s especially important that we remove policy items that can have a negative impact on seniors, people with disabilities and others with fragile health conditions.

If we don’t remove these harmful long-term care provisions from the budget, we could potentially see many more devastating announcements like we saw from GeminiCares.


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April 15, 2015
Issue 51

Wisconsin's state bird is the robin. This was chosen during the 1926-27 session by Wisconsin school children. It received twice as many votes as any other bird.

Dane County will be giving away compost by the car and truck load for free from April 20-25 from 7 am to 3 pm to help backyard gardeners and growers get through another growing season. The county will offer one load of free compost for residential use per person, per day, at the Verona and Waunakee compost sites. The sites are located at: WESTPORT COMPOST SITE Location: 5254 Hwy. 19 one-half mile east of the Hwy. 19 & 113 intersection. Across from the former Sparby's Christmas Barn. VERONA COMPOST SITE Location: Adjacent to the east side of the old County Landfill. Same entrance as Badger Prairie Health Care Center, and then follow the gravel road to the right.