October 14, 2011
 
Cell Phones for Soldiers

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Bull’s Eye Credit Union and State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Wisconsin Rapids) will be collecting cell phones throughout the month of October. The cell phone recycling program supports Cell Phones for Soldiers, a charity that uses recycling proceeds to buy and send free phone cards to military members stationed away from home.

“This program is a very easy way for us to show our gratitude toward our service men and women who are serving away from their homes,” Rep. Krug said.  “Keeping the lines of communication open between our service personnel and their loved ones is so important for morale and the emotional health of our troops.”

Area residents are encouraged to recycle their old wireless phones at either of the following Bull’s Eye Credit Unions from October 3-31:

·     1930 8th Street South, Wisconsin Rapids

·     3316 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point

“Bull’s Eye Credit Union was gracious enough to be the collection point for this charity drive,” Rep. Krug said.  “My sincerest thanks go to the employees and especially President David Stark for being so accommodating.”

The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was founded in 2004 by teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist as a way for military families serving overseas to keep in touch with family back home.  Since July 2007, AT&T has been working with Cell Phones for Soldiers to collect phones for the cause.  Every time a customer recycles a used wireless phone with AT&T, part of the proceeds support the Cell Phones for Soldiers program, which sends free prepaid phone cards to troops overseas.

This year, the group’s goal is to donate 12 million minutes to soldiers. With the help of wireless customers throughout the country, AT&T will match its 2008 recycling totals with the charity, year to year, through 2011, aiming to provide Cell Phones for Soldiers with $1 million in proceeds in that time.

“Our service members deserve our deepest gratitude for the sacrifices they make for our freedom,” said David Stark, President of Bull’s Eye Credit Union.  “Helping our military families remain together across long distances is the least we can do to support them, and I encourage all area residents to participate in this drive to show their gratitude to these great American patriots.”

Please share this with everyone on your e-mail list, we would love to collect as many cell phones as possible to help out our troops!!!!!!

Blue Books are here!!!

Our office has received our supply of Blue Books for the District and we are eager to get them to you.  Please contact us if you would like one.  Also if you are a teacher or know a teacher please pass this along to them.  We have study guides to go along with the Blue Books, a good way to teach Wisconsin history.

 

Nepco Lake

This article is from Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, we wanted to highlight it to make sure everyone is informed.

The state Department of Natural Resources has ordered Domtar Corp. to draw down Nepco Lake so crews can inspect and repair the dam that forms the lake.

Inspectors discovered leaks in the dam embankment in mid-September, and Domtar then lowered the lake's water level by two feet to take pressure off the embankment and to investigate, according to a DNR news release.

On Monday, engineers with the DNR Dam Safety Program ordered Domtar to draw down the lake an additional four feet to eliminate the possibility of dam failure and to further evaluate the problem, according to the release. The drawdown will lower the lake closer to the level of Four Mile Creek, but it will not change the creek's water flow.

The lake bed will be partially exposed during the examination of the dam and might be very soft and unsafe to walk on, according to the release. State law prohibits the removal of any material from the lake bed without a DNR-issued permit.

Lakefront property owners who would like to use the opportunity to conduct shoreline work must contact both the Wood County Planning and Zoning office, 715-421-8466, and DNR water management specialist Will Stites, 715-421-7815, to discuss permitting requirements.

 

We want your feedback!!!

We would like some feedback on legislation that is being introduced in Madison.  So we are going to include some press release or e updates talking about legislation that is being floated around the Capitol and we want your input.  Please e-mail us back with your concerns, comment or questions.

Co-sponsor request for LRB-2898 relating to: posting the proceedings of a school board meeting on the school district’s Internet site.

At the request of a school superintendent in my district I am introducing legislation allowing school boards to post their proceedings on their district Internet site. 

This bill was last introduced as 2005 AB 191 by Rep. Molepske and enjoyed bi-partisan support.  These organizations supported the bill during that session:  Association of Wisconsin School Administrators; Madison Metropolitan School District; Milwaukee Public Schools; Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Inc; Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials; Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators; Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services; and the Wisconsin Towns Association.   

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

            Under current law, the proceedings of a school board meeting in a common union high, or unified school district must be published in a newspaper published in the school district or publicized by school district-wide distribution.  This bill allows the school board to post the proceedings on the school district’s Internet site.

Another piece of legislation was introduced by Senator Moulton it involves Consumer Choice and Wellness Act.  Let us know your thoughts

Informed consumer choice is the key to our free-market system.  Continued consumer choice in healthcare should be no different than other categories.  Efforts to interfere with citizen’s access to natural health choices can only cause harm to consumers in the long run.

Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a growing industry in our state and nationwide.  As of 2007, 38% of American consumers spent $33.9 billion on out-of-pocket purchases of products and services ranging from nutritional supplements and advice to yoga and chiropractic care.  Currently, over 17,000 Wisconsin residents are estimated to be employed in professions related to CAM.

This bill would ensure CAM practitioners will be allowed to continue their current practices as long as they follow rules established by the legislation.  Among other things, a CAM practitioner would not be allowed to:

  • Claim or imply to be a health care provider.
  • Recommend an individual discontinue treatment already prescribed by a health care provider.
  • Puncture the skin, manipulate joints or the spine, or prescribe controlled substances

In addition, before performing any paid services for an individual the CAM practitioner must provide a written statement containing contact information; acknowledgement that they do not hold a certificate, permit, or license as a health care provider in Wisconsin; a description of the complementary and alternative health service that the person proposes to provide to the individual; and a list of any credentials, or other qualifications the provider has with respect to the service that they propose to provide to the individual.  In addition the CAM practitioner must prominently display a similar statement in their place of business.

Finally, if a CAM practitioner violates any of the restrictions in this bill, complaints can be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services which has the ability to bring the violator into compliance.  This legislation also states clearly that any person suffering injury may sue for damages and may recover treble the amount of his or her damages from a CAM practitioner.

Currently Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Idaho, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have enacted similar legislation.  Ensuring consumers continued access to complimentary and alternative medicine can do the following:

  • Lowers health care costs by providing an active health care market, ensuring consumer access to natural care providers.
  • Citizens take responsibility for their health and improve their lifestyles when they pay for services out of pocket thus reining in health care costs.
  • Protect Wisconsin health seekers' rights to access natural and nutritional healing protocols.
  • Maintain public access to unlicensed natural health providers who will not be prosecuted for providing advice and services that do no harm.
  • Maintain public access to persons who sell nutrition supplements or provide nutrition education who will not be charged with practicing medicine without a license.
  • Protect traditional, cultural therapies and remedies practiced historically by persons who are not licensed or regulated by the state.
  • Protect natural health traditions, information, and practices for generations to come.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person must have a license, certificate, or permit (license) to practice medicine and surgery, midwifery, professional nursing, chiropractic, dentistry, perfusion, respiratory care, physical therapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, optometry, psychology, psychotherapy, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, pharmacy, speech pathology, audiology, acupuncture, barbering or cosmetology, aesthetics, electrology, manicuring, and selling and fitting hearing aids. Additionally, a license is required under current law to practice as a physician assistant or to act as an ambulance service provider.

This bill allows a person who provides a complimentary and alternative health service (CAHS provider) to practice any of the above activities without a license as long as they do not do any of the following:

1. Puncture the skin, except by pricking a finger for purposes of blood screening.

2. Prescribe or administer X−ray services.

3. Prescribe or dispense a prescription drug, a controlled substance, or other device that may only be prescribed or dispensed by a licensed health care provider.

4. Perform a chiropractic adjustment or manipulation of joints or a spine.

5. Recommend that a patient discontinue treatment that is prescribed by a licensed health care provider.

6. Make a specific diagnosis using medical terms that are used in conventional western medicine.

This bill defines a complimentary and alternative health service as any health care practice or method or healing therapy or modality that is not one of the prohibited acts listed above and that is provided by an individual who is not licensed to provide the health care practice, healing therapy, or modality, or method. Under this bill, if a CAHS provider does one of the prohibited acts listed above, he or she is subject to any applicable penalties for unauthorized practice. Additionally, a person who suffers an injury due to a CAHS provider doing one of the prohibited acts, may sue the CAHS provider and may recover treble damages and costs, including attorney fees.

Under this bill, before providing a complementary and alternative health service for a fee, a CAHS provider must provide a consumer with written information that contains the CAHS provider’s contact information; the fact that the CAHS provider is not licensed as a health care provider; a description of the complementary and alternative health service that is to be provided; and the CAHS provider’s education or other qualifications that relate to the service that is to be provided. The CAHS provider must also obtain written acknowledgment from the consumer that he or she received the required written information and post a similar written statement in a place that is visible to consumers. This bill also requires a CAHS provider to update the required written information to reflect any relevant changes and to obtain a new written acknowledgment from a consumer before performing a complementary and alternative health service after the written information is changed.

Under the bill, a CAHS provider who fails to provide a consumer with the required written information or fails to obtain the consumer’s written acknowledgment may be subject to a forfeiture. The Department of Health Services may also pursue a temporary restraining order or permanent injunction against the offending CAHS provider

 
 

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E-Update, please feel free to contact me.

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State Capitol Room 316 North- PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-0215
Email: Rep.Krug@legis.wisconsin.gov