Newsletter

June 2011
 

Sussex Volunteer Experience
 

The Sussex-Hamilton School District is an exemplary model of what a school district could and should be in Wisconsin. The school district affords a great value in education thanks to the highly successful volunteer opportunities it provides.

Last year alone, 1,715 parents and members of the community in the Hamilton School District volunteered on numerous school activities and clerical duties. Parents generously donate their time and effort to assist with everything from tutoring students to coordinating special family and fundraising events, such as the Woodside “Turkey Trot” where students and their families do a 5k walk around Woodside Elementary School to help collect non-perishable food items for the Sussex and Pewaukee food pantries. Community members currently serve on the Business Advisory Council and the Hamilton Education Foundation.

In addition, the Hamilton School District offers a Seniors & Students Volunteer Program, in which more than 200 senior citizens are involved. Many of these gracious volunteers tutor elementary and middle school students, help them with their school assignments through Club Success and even monitor their computer lab usage. The tasks of these senior citizens extend beyond the classroom. Twice a month, a group of senior volunteers from the Arboretum in Menomonee Falls read to Lannon Elementary School students. Then there is the Age-to-Age Pen Pal Project, where a number of senior citizens correspond with elementary school children with the goal of developing the students’ writing abilities. Students in the Hamilton School District also benefit from their interaction with senior citizens by interviewing them for class projects. This serves as a way of capturing living history.

According to estimates, if volunteers each serve only three hours, their contribution would have equated to a value of more than $107,000 during the 2010-2011 school year. The majority of the 1,000 annual volunteers have exceeded that average of time since 2001. The Seniors & Students program contributed 56,850 hours of school service, equating to more than $1 million worth of student services! Due to its innovation, the Hamilton School District has one of the lowest levels of cost-per-pupil spending in the entire state. With all their wonderful contributions, Hamilton School District volunteers work to reduce the burden on local taxpayers, provide an opportunity for seniors to become useful citizens again in the community they chose to retire in and all the while improve the educational success of local students.

Hippieville (Entitle Town)

Rather than storm the Capitol, the subsidized professional protesters and other brainwashed student activists had decided to obtain permits from the very accommodating City of Madison to set up their tent city that I've called "Hippieville". They were waiting for the Legislature to take up the budget. I didn't expect to see many public sector union members among them this time, as I sensed they were running low on enthusiasm and were beginning to realize that the budget changes we were making were not nearly as draconian as they have been led to believe.

CONSTITUENT SURVEY

Recently, a survey was sent out via email to gather information on constituents’ opinions on current issues that Representative Pridemore is currently working on. Approximately 29% of our constituents responded and the results are as follows:
*Note that the percentages in some of the following questions may not total 100% because more than one box could be checked.

Question #1 – When asked, “Do you support spending cuts to balance our state budget and overcome our state's budgetary crisis, or do you favor raising taxes?” the responses were:

82% of people said they support spending cuts.
8% of people said they support a raise in taxes.
25% of people said they support an increase of income taxes on the wealthy.
 
Question #2 – When asked, “Do you support legislation to stamp out voter fraud in Wisconsin, including requiring all voters to show voter I.D. at the polling place?” the responses were:

85% of people said they support legislation to stamp out voter fraud in Wisconsin
16% of people said they do not support legislation to stamp out voter fraud in Wisconsin

Question #3 – When asked, “Do you support eliminating sanctuary cities where the immigration status of individuals is not checked?” the responses were:

84% of people said they support the elimination of sanctuary cities.
16% of people said they do not support the elimination of sanctuary cities.

Question #4 – When asked, “Do you support a state constitutional amendment to limit tax and spending increases by state government?” the responses were:

80% of people said, “Yes, I support a state constitutional amendment to limit tax and spending increases by state government.”
20% of people said, “No, I do not support a state constitutional amendment to limit tax and spending increases by state government.”

Question #5 – When asked, “Do you support eliminating all state support for Planned Parenthood?” the responses were:

75% of people said to eliminate state support for Planned Parenthood.
25% of people said to maintain funding for Planned Parenthood.

Question #6 – When asked, “Do you support toll roads as a proper tool to finance some of our local transportation needs?” the responses were:

21% of people said. “Yes, I support toll roads.”
79% of people said “No, I do not support toll roads.”

Question #7 – When asked, “Do you support eliminating the offices of Wisconsin Secretary of State and Wisconsin State Treasurer?” the responses were:

70% of people said they support eliminating the positions.
30% of people said they do not support eliminating the positions.
 
Question #8 – When asked, “Do you support eliminating taxpayer-subsidized 4K schooling or reducing state aid to fund it?” the responses were:

60% of people said to eliminate funding.
18% of people said to reduce funding.
24% of people said to keep funding the same.
 
Question #9 – When asked, “Do you support legislation giving law-abiding citizens the right to carry a concealed handgun?” the responses were:

18% of people said, “Yes, but only if neither training nor permitting is required.”
26% of people said, “Yes, but only if training is required and no permitting.”
39% of people said, “Yes, but only if both training and permitting is required.”
21% of people said, “No, regardless of whether there is a training or permitting process involved.”
 
Question #10 – When asked, “Do you support making Wisconsin a "Right-to-Work" state?” the responses were:

78% of people said, “Yes, I support making Wisconsin a “Right-to-Work” state.”
22% of people said, “No, I do not support making Wisconsin a “Right-to-Work” state.”

Meet My Office Staff
 

From Left: Bill Savage, Liz Pusch, Christy Castaneda, Representative Don Pridemore.

 

New Staff Intern

Hello everyone, I am Christy Castaneda. Proud Wisconsinite since 1996. Soon I will be making my parents proud when I become the first person in my family to graduate college. This August I will be receiving a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I plan to start a family and attend graduate school in the near future. Aside from studying and staying politically involved, the activity that I enjoy the most is teaching my Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Foxy Lady) how to herd livestock. She mostly herds the cat, though.
 

Earlier this month Representative Don Pridemore gave me the amazing opportunity to work for him in his Assembly office here in Madison. My goal is to learn as much as possible about the legislative process while helping Don serve his constituents. I truly look forward to assisting Don and our great 99th District.
 

Howard Black
 

I am standing on the left of Howard Black, the Guest of Honor of the 2011 Hartford Memorial Day parade. I was also honored to be the Master of Ceremonies and had the pleasure of introducing Howard, World War II Army veteran who served in Europe when the US marched through France, Italy, and finally Germany. On May of 1942, Howard enlisted in the U.S. Army before getting his diploma from Hartford High School. In the U.S. Army he trained to become an Infantryman and a Signalman. Howard would go on to earn the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star during World War II. It was an honor meeting you Howard. We thank you for your service, dedication, and courage.

Concealed Carry

Since my Constitutional Concealed Carry bill drew limited support and the State Senate and Governor seem to be driving this issue, I offered a substitute amendment to AB 126, the permit carry version, which would have required a referendum on the 2013 fall general election. The 2 questions on that ballot would have been:

1. Do you want to continue to require the permit and training requirement process in order to carry a concealed weapon that was enacted in 2011 State Legislature?

2. Should a constitutional concealed carry law that requires passing a minimum two hour training class also be enacted?

This week the Joint Finance Committee advanced legislation to give Wisconsin residents the right to carry a concealed firearm. I have been a strong supporter of legislation to allow law-abiding citizens the right to protect themselves as guaranteed by our US Constitution and I also support legislation that would implement the Castle Doctrine. However, the Personal Protection Act that passed the Joint Finance Committee puts into place a permit requirement that costs $50, is renewable every 5 years, and places your name on a government list that a police agency could use to check if the owner of the vehicle you are driving is licensed to conceal carry. Does this make sense to anyone reading this? Aren’t police officers trained to approach any vehicle with the assumption they may have a weapon? In addition, a federal background check and training is required, but if you have had training as a police officer or in the military or if you have graduated from a hunter safety program and can prove it, you are exempt from the training.

Here's how it would work. In order to get a permit, you would need to be 21 years or older, a Wisconsin resident, and not prohibited under federal or state law from possessing a firearm. The license fee would be set by the Department of Justice, but could not exceed $37 with an added fee of $13 for a background check. The fee would be set at least until the next budget is passed or the next legislature convenes  There is a list of places where people would not be allowed to carry, including a police station, prison, jail or any courthouse, in or near a school and beyond the security checkpoint in an airport.

The bill now heads to the state Senate this Tuesday for a vote. I'm sure that the bill will pass that chamber and the Assembly but I will not be voting for it. This is a middle of the road bill that is a compromise with the Senate but I am not a middle of the road guy. Someone has to stick up for those who believe that constitutional conceal carry should be the eventual law of the land. I don’t believe you should be required to have a permit for a constitutional right. I don’t want my name on a government list, even if it has the protection of the Justice Department and is not subject to an open records request, especially when the database serves no useful purpose. I don’t object to training if the person has never fired a handgun and doesn’t know what the ramifications of drawing his or her weapon when they intend to use it. Voluntary training would be a common sense approach but not everyone has common sense. The permit process could become available later this fall and should be available even after constitutional concealed carry passes in the future for reciprocity with other states. Currently, 48 states in our country have some kind of concealed carry legislation on the books and when Wisconsin becomes the 49th, Illinois will be the only state left without it. Again, I realize this bill gets us closer to a constitutional right to carry but this bill has too many government strings attached for me to support it!

September 11 Memorial

The Town of Lisbon is constructing a September 11 memorial that will be located at the Town Hall Park. This inspiring memorial will feature a 5-foot-long, one-ton, I-shaped steel beam which was part of a column in the World Trade Center. The estimated cost for the construction and maintenance of this memorial is expected to be $100,000 and the goal is to have this entirely funded through donations. The unveiling of this patriotic Memorial is slated to take place on the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center. The hope is not only to remember those whose lives were taken by terrorists on that day, but also to instill a sense of patriotism in all who visit.

Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made online at:

www.townoflisbonwi.com

Or by mail:
Lisbon Town Hall
911 Memorial Fund
 W234 N8676 Woodside Road
Lisbon, WI 53089

*Donations of $100 or more will be given special recognition.
Please call Joe Klemm at (262) 246-3416 for more information.

 

HATA To Help Raise Funds For Pregnancy Help Center

SECOND ANNUAL BIKE RIDE

The Hartford Area Taxpayers Association (HATA) is proud to announce that Bill Savage, who is the Research Assistant for Representative Don Pridemore, will ride from Madison to Hartford to raise money and awareness for the Hartford Pregnancy center. The ride will be on Wednesday July 13th leaving the steps of the State Capitol and arriving downtown Hartford during the Maxwell Street Days festivities. To donate, checks can be made out to:

Hartford Pregnancy Help Center or HPHC
64 North Main Street Ste A
Hartford, WI 53027
 

Donate Online at:
www.Hartfordpregnancy.org

How to Contact Me: