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(608)266-5780 | State Capitol, Room 307 West, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 | rep.billings@legis.wi.gov
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
Norskedalen "Ghoulees in the Coulees" Halloween Event
Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center (MAP)
UW-L vs.
UWEC Football
Saturday, October 24, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
UW-L Football Stadium(MAP)
Halloween "Spoke-tacular" Bicycle Ride
Sunday, October 24 at 4:30 p.m. through Sunday, October 25 at 12:00 a.m.
Riverside International Friendship Gardens (MAP)
Downtown
La Crosse Trick or Treating
Saturday, October 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Downtown La Crosse (MAP)
CONTACT ME:
State Capitol
Room 307 West
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
Phone:
(608) 266-5780
Toll Free:
(888) 534-0095
rep.billings@legis.wi.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
Happy November! 2015 sure is flying by – and there are a lot of exciting things happening in our neighborhoods and down in Madison.
This week's newsletter gives an overview of recent legislative progress,
important community news, and exciting upcoming events in the Coulee
Region. Continue reading for updates you won’t want to miss!
Best Wishes,
Jill Billings
State Representative
95th Assembly District
Legislative Session Recap
This week and last, the Assembly met to debate a number of important legislative issues. One of the most contentious bills made significant changes to Wisconsin’s civil service program. The changes brought forth in the legislation removed basic fairness from the hiring process by eliminating civil service exams – which previously ensured objective hiring – and moving to a purely resume based system. The bill would also allow Governor Walker’s Department of Administration to make hiring decisions for all agencies.
Wisconsin’s civil service system has been in place for more than 100
years to protect taxpayers and public employees, and was reviews by a
Blue Ribbon Commission under Governor Tommy Thompson. If there is a need
to “modernize” how civil service functions, another commission should be
formed with membership from all backgrounds to fully discuss, debate and
develop a program that will support workers while keeping up with new
employment standards.
Unfortunately, this bill passed the Assembly without the appropriate
consideration and study needed to ensure its effectiveness.
Conversely, this week Democrats offered the sensible “Higher Ed, Lower
Debt” proposal before the Assembly. Student loan debt is an issue that
faces nearly 1 in 5 adults in Wisconsin. On average, Wisconsin students
have $29,000 in debt making Wisconsin the 3rd worst in the nation in the
percentage of graduates with loan debt.
The Higher Ed, Lower debt bill introduced a commonsense proposal to
allow students to refinance student loan debts – much like they could
for a car loan or mortgage – and lighten the immense economic burden
they face from loans.
While this proposal would help the 814,000 federal student loan
borrowers in WI, Republicans in the Assembly refused to even consider a
vote on the bill.
Safe Harbor Bill Gets a Public Hearing
Last week, my Safe Harbor bill received a public hearing before the Assembly Committee on Children and Families. I was happy to see the Safe Harbor bill getting its due consideration – especially considering how important this bill’s passage would be to Wisconsin children’s safety.
The Safe Harbor bill seeks to protect child victims of sex trafficking
by eliminating the idea that there is such a thing as a “child
prostitute.” This action not only clarifies legal language in Wisconsin
statutes, but brings Wisconsin in line with neighboring states’ laws on
sex trafficking. And most importantly, the bill would provide refuge and
services to child victims of trafficking – instead of treating them like
criminals.
Safe Harbor’s public hearing went well – with many important groups
around Wisconsin and individuals close to this issue testifying in favor
of the bill. Judge Ramona Gonzalez was a welcome source of expertise and
information at the hearing. In order for Safe Harbor to progress in our
state, it will now need to be scheduled for an executive session.
If you would like to see Safe Harbor become law in our state I encourage
you to contact
Representative Jessie Rodriguez, chair of the Assembly Committee on
Children and Families, and voice your support for the bill.
The Coulee Region Goes Global!
La Crosse’s 3rd annual Global Initiatives Week kicks off this Friday!
The celebration will begin with a “Global Celebration” event sponsored
by the La Crosse Foundation Global Awareness Fund. The remainder of the
week is jam-packed with fun activities throughout the city. New to the
celebration this year, enjoy specials and discounts at La Crosse
restaurants like Dublin Square, Hmong Golden Eggrolls, and New Taste of
India.
Events for the week include film screenings of award-winning films, the
annual Frozen River Film Festival, and a “Global Friendship Celebration”
for kids at the La Crosse Public Library.
Click here for the full events calendar.