Fall 2009 Session Preview

On September 16th and 17th, the Assembly will reconvene for its fall 2009 session.  Among the issues Speaker Sheridan has indicated he would like to address are tougher penalties against drunken driving offenses and the appointment of the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.  With the 2009-2011 State Budget behind us, I have no doubt that legislation pertaining to these particular issues will be at the top of the floor agenda this fall.

Currently, Wisconsin is ranked among the worst states in the country for the number of drunk driving fatalities recorded annually.  Of the traffic fatalities in our state, 42% are the result of drunk driving and that number is even higher for motorcycle-related fatalities in which alcohol is involved (47%).  While the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities decreased by 3.7% nationwide in 2006, Wisconsin saw a 2% increase.  Clearly, these are troubling statistics that reflect poorly on our state's ability to keep our roads and highways safe from drunk drivers.

At this time, there are at least thirteen bills in the Assembly that are either under consideration or have been passed out of the Committee on Public Safety alone that address drunken driving.  The proposals range from installing ignition interlock devices in automobiles (AB 17) to making a fourth drunken driving offense a felony (AB 244).  Speaker Sheridan has indicated a strong interest in getting these particular bills through the Assembly by late September.  Though we can all agree that we need to keep intoxicated drivers off of our roads, I anticipate that the debates this session will be heated over how involved the government should be in the personal lives of Wisconsin residents.  Many of you have already expressed your concerns to me over how far the government should go with this issue while at the same time realizing that we still need to protect motorists from dangerous intoxicated drivers.  I welcome your continued feedback on this issue throughout the fall session.

In addition to drunken driving offenses, the Assembly will also consider changing the process by which the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources is appointed.  As some of you are aware, this is a position that has been filled by someone appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate since 1995.  However, from 1927 until 1995, the Natural Resources Board, consisting of members appointed by the governor, held appointing authority in selecting the DNR secretary.  Under Assembly Bill 138, introduced by Representative Spencer Black, the authority to appoint the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources would be transferred back to the Natural Resources Board.  Furthermore, AB 138 would allow the Natural Resources Board to remove the secretary from office at any time if the board believes that the appointed individual is not doing their job.  This will certainly be another "hot button" issue as people remain split over just how much control we should allow the Natural Resources Board or the governor to have in selecting the DNR secretary.

Cell Phone Ban on School Buses Passes Committee

I am pleased to announce that on Thursday this week, the Assembly Committee on Transportation unanimously voted in favor of passing Senate Bill 91.  Once signed into law, this bill will ban the use of cellular phones and other wireless devices by school bus drivers while transporting children between school, events and their homes.  I introduced this bipartisan legislation with Senator Tim Carpenter. 

As I had explained in a previous edition of Capitol Insight, SB 91 is common-sense legislation that I believe is needed to ensure the safety of children while riding a school bus.  We've all heard too many tragic stories of traffic accidents resulting from the use of a cell phone by at least one of the drivers involved.  Thus, to prevent similar tragedies involving several children at once, Senator Carpenter and I introduced SB 91, which will now be submitted to the Assembly Committee on Rules for further consideration.  The committee will determine if and when SB 91 should be scheduled for a floor vote by the entire Assembly this fall.  If the bill does reach the floor, and the majority of my colleagues vote in favor of passage, SB 91 will be sent to Governor Jim Doyle for his approval.

I-94 North-South Freeway Project

Keeping up with tradition, construction season is in full swing in Wisconsin, with the orange barricades now appearing along I-94 North and South.  For your convenience, the Department of Transportation created a website specifically for this project to ensure smooth and safe travels when driving along the interstate.  To learn more about the project and plan your travel route, please visit http://www.plan94.org/. 

Experiencing Autumn in Wisconsin

Once you survive the long drive through the many construction sites set up across our state, you will be rewarded with the incredible beauty of the colorful foliage Wisconsin has to offer residents and visitors during the autumn season.  I strongly encourage you to take a day or a full weekend to venture out with your family and/or friends and enjoy the amazing scenery and fun fall activities communities throughout our state have to offer.  Please visit http://tourism.state.wi.us/ to learn more about what Wisconsin has to offer during the autumn season and for assistance in planning your family's autumn vacation.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Few of us will ever forget the horrific tragedies that struck our great nation eight years ago today or where we were when we learned of them.  On September 11, 2001 we were confronted with the worst attacks on our soil in history when members of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization flew commercial airplanes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon while a fourth plane en route to Washington, D.C. crashed in rural Pennsylvania.  Today, may we remember and honor the innocent lives that were lost on that fateful day and the heroes that emerged in the days that followed.  From the police officers and firefighters, to the port authority officials, to the passengers of American Airlines Flight 93, to the average citizens willing to make incredible sacrifices, and to all those serving in the Armed Forces, may we commemorate their heroism and service to the United States.  God bless them and God bless America.