If you do not want to receive News from the 92nd, please respond to this email with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

October 19, 2011

Representative Mark Radcliffe
State Capitol, Room 321 West
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53703

Phone: (608)266-7461
Toll Free: (888)534-0092

Rep.Radcliffe@legis.wisconsin.gov

legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/radcliffe/






In the District


Teacher of the Year

       

Congratulations to Bradley Markhardt on being named to the Teacher of the Year program on behalf of Wisconsin. I have always been impressed with the educators in our public schools and I am so proud that their excellence is being recognized. Specifically, Mr. Markhardt has made a real impact on our students as their agricultural education teacher at Black River Falls High School. He has an enthusiasm for agricultural science and an innovative approach to the subject that enables his students to learn and enjoy this important part of our region's economy. His partnership with community organizations and businesses to provide students with a hands on learning experience is a model for all educators. Congrats again Mr. Markhardt and thank you for all you do!


Downtown Farmers Market and Car Cruise

Join community members and friends in Black River Falls for the last farmers markets of the season. The market is located on South Third Street between Main and Fillmore and the last two will take place Thursday, October 20 and Thursday, October 27 from 5-7PM. Head downtown to enjoy fresh, local food from our neighborhood farmers.


World Food Day

In honor of World Food Day which takes place every year on October 16th, the Jackson County UW-Extension and other organizations have been hosting educational events in Black River Falls all week. World Food Day exists to increase awareness of the problem of hunger and to promote a more food-secure world. The last event is tonight at the BRF Public Library (6:30-8:30pm) and highlights local responses to hunger in our community. There will be a showing of a 60 Minutes segment called The Line which focuses on the prevalence of hunger among the working poor. You can also hear from folks at the BRF Food Shelf who will tell use about the reality of those who use food pantries in the area. If you have any questions, call the UW-Extension office at (715)284-4257.

Learn more about World Food Day here.


Tomah Community Halloween Festivities

Enjoy safe family fun this Halloween in downtown Tomah on Oct. 31 4:00-8:00pm. The night includes games, Trick or Treating, and a costume contest. To welcome children to stop for candy, folks who live in Tomah should leave their front light on.

See a schedule of the night's events here.
  



Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Here are a few important safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Help make sure your little ones stay safe this Halloween!
-  Only go to homes that have the porch light on.
-  Always use the sidewalk, or walk on the far side of the road facing traffic.
-  Each child should bring a flashlight; consider adding reflective tape to costumes.
-  Never cut through yards or use alleys.
-  Check through candy and treats when your children get home, throw away all spoiled, unwrapped, or conspicuous items.

More safety tips are available here.

Welcome to the News from the 92nd, my legislative newsletter. So much of what happens in Madison directly affects folks in the 92nd District, and I want to make sure that you can stay informed about what's happening at the Capitol and in our community.

It is a privilege to serve as your Representative, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have.

Sincerely,

Mark Radcliffe
State Representative
92nd Assembly District



Special Session

Gov. Walker recently declared a new special session, which he says will focus on bringing jobs to Wisconsin. Like the Governors first special session in January, this means that bills introduced can be fast tracked directly to the Assembly floor, speeding up the Legislative process. A lot of bills have been introduced that have the potential to help folks get back to work. At this point, each bill is set to go through the regular process throughout the special session, and has been referred to the appropriate committee. I will keep you updated on the bills as we move forward.

Vocational High School Diploma Bill

One of the special session bills is legislation that I originally offered at the beginning of the year, the Vocational High School Diploma Bill. This would allow high school students to take more career and technical education classes and graduate with a vocational diploma. Unlike the standard Wisconsin diploma, a vocational diploma would allow students to take coursework that prepares them directly for a career.

I introduced this bill after I heard from businesses back home with open jobs that they can't fill because young people don't have the technical skills they are looking for. I also heard from students that want to start working right out of high school, and don't feel like they are prepared for the real world. Vocational diplomas offer a fresh new perspective for Wisconsin schools, and the time to try different educational models is now.

We must be committed to manufacturing and industry and jobs in our state. In order to keep these important jobs here, we need to look to the next generation of students - those in middle school and high school right now - as the key. I believe if we want to create jobs and improve the economy, we need to provide our children, the next generation of the workforce, with the skills they need to succeed for any path they choose to take.

Read the text of my bill here.


Blue Books

The 2011-2012 Blue Books are now available. Blue Books are packed with information about the organization and functions of state government and about the people that represent Wisconsinites at the Capitol. Please email me with your address or call my office to request a free copy.


Updated Voter ID Rules

Since the passage of the Voter ID law, which requires people - even if they're already registered voters - to bring a photo ID to the polls, there has been a lot of confusion about the new rules.

Here are some important changes to remember as you navigate the new voting process:
- Corroboration is no longer an acceptable way to prove where you live. If you are not registered to vote at your current address and your ID does not list your current address, you must provide proof of residence in the form of a utility bill or lease when registering to vote. See a full list of acceptable proof of residence here.
- You will be asked to show a photo ID at the polls at every upcoming election but do not technically have to do so until the 2012 Spring Primary in April.
-  Only certain government-issued IDs will be accepted at the polls. See a full list of IDs here.
- If you do not have any of the IDs listed, you can get a free state identification card at your local DMV. You must tell the DMV that the ID is for voting purposes to receive it free of charge, otherwise the cost is $28.



Dept. of Health Services Looking for Input on Medicare Changes

Because of the cuts in the 2011-2013 biennium budget, the Department of Health Services is currently looking at ways to reduce spending and services to cope with the decrease in funds. Due to a provision in the 2011 Budget Adjustment Bill, the DHS Secretary can make changes without legislative oversight approval. Unfortunately, I, and other members of the Legislature will have no say over the proposed changes.

Medicaid in Wisconsin has grown sizably since the program was first offered in 1990, and some reforms may be effective. On the other hand, these changes will reduce the quality of services that the most vulnerable members of our community rely on. DHS has called for enrollment caps for both BadgerCare and FamilyCare that would prohibit many from receiving necessary health services. They have provided a summary of the proposed changes here and you can offer your thoughts by clicking here. I urge you to look over the proposal and share your opinion with DHS so that their reforms can best reflect the needs of our community.

News from the 92nd

Rep. Radcliffe's Legislative Update

News from the 92nd