January 21, 2016

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

While the State Senate has only met twice so far in the new year, we have already seen a flurry of activity and vigorous debates covering many different issues. From civil service changes, to de-funding health centers and blocked access to birth control, this session is off to a bumpy start.

This e-update highlights recent proposals laid out by my Democratic Senate colleagues, Minnesota's recent expansion of student loan debt refinancing, the Democratic radio address, the local business of the week, and more!

I hope you find this information helpful, and don't forget to get out and enjoy all of the fun upcoming events in Western Wisconsin!

Sincerely,

Jennifer K. Shilling
State Senator | 32nd District

Bipartisan effort aims to protect survivors of domestic abuse, stalking, and human trafficking

The column below was authored by Senators Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Representatives Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) and Chris Taylor (D-Madison):

Imagine trying to pay a utility bill, sign a child up for school activities, or apply for a job if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, stalking, or human trafficking. When it comes time to list an address, the fear of being harassed—or worse—can be paralyzing.

While the four of us don’t always agree, there is one thing we can all get behind; the safety of survivors of domestic abuse, stalking, and human trafficking. We are pleased to join a bipartisan group of nineteen Senators and forty-one Representatives who have introduced legislation to strengthen privacy rights and improve public safety.

The “Safe at Home” bill gives survivors and their families an opportunity to reengage in their communities and rebuild their lives by creating the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Address Confidentiality Program which will add a layer of safety for survivors and their families.

Thirty-four states have already implemented similar programs, which provide at-risk families with needed protection. The program gives participants the opportunity to safely send and receive mail without divulging their location, giving them the security to pay utility bills, communicate with their child’s school, and keep in touch with friends and relatives.

For survivors of domestic abuse, stalking, and human trafficking, safety is always a top concern as they work to rebuild their lives. However, these survivors are particularly vulnerable to continued violence and harassment, and many live in fear that their perpetrators will find them. By shielding their home address after a move and providing safety planning through the DOJ, this initiative will help alleviate that fear.

The most dangerous time for a domestic violence survivor is the period immediately after they leave their abuser, and many domestic violence-related murders occur after the survivor has fled. This bill aims to prevent these heartbreaking scenarios by establishing a system through which survivors could create a safety plan and transition into the address confidentiality program after leaving their abuser or relocating.

The “Safe at Home” bill will add Wisconsin to the lengthy list of states that already provide residents with this protection and it is our sincere hope that this program will vastly improve the lives of survivors and their families in our state.
 

-Sen. Fitzgerald, Sen. Shilling, Rep. Kleefisch, and Rep. Taylor

Bi-weekly Office Hours

Families in western Wisconsin continue to have concerns over funding for our local schools, road project delays and access to affordable health care. I want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to weigh in on the choices that are being made and help find new ways to move our state forward.

My district representative Taylor Goodine will hold several local office hours in the coming months. These office hours offer local residents an opportunity to meet with my staff, share their thoughts on state issues and request assistance with state agencies.

Listening sessions are open to the public and no RSVP is required. If individuals would like more information, they can contact my office toll-free at (608) 782-2785 or email Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov.

Republican agenda features familiar ideas,
Dem proposals on school funding, broadband and student loan debt gain support

With a public approval rating at 31 percent and lingering opposition to Gov. Walker’s presidential campaign, many Republican lawmakers have found themselves in a difficult position. In an effort to shift attention away from troubling poll numbers and disappointing job losses, Republican lawmakers are turning to a new source for policy ideas: Democrats.

For five years, Republican legislators followed Gov. Walker’s lead in cutting local school funding, limiting access to health care and rejecting investments for broadband projects. As a result of these misplaced priorities, we’ve seen family wages decline, a shrinking middle class and mass layoffs at a five year high. While it’s taken them a few years to recognize the growing challenges in our state, I appreciate that Republicans are finally looking at Democratic ideas that will jumpstart our economy and strengthen Wisconsin’s middle class.

Complicating matters for those of us who want to see progress on these issues is the fact that Republican leaders are planning to adjourn the legislative floor period as early as February or March. This leaves a short window to pass an ambitious agenda and follow through on unresolved promises to strengthen school accountability, overhaul the state’s troubled jobs agency and pass a long-term transportation funding fix.

Senate Democrats continue to push our comprehensive Badger Blueprint agenda which includes a wide range of bold, forward-looking pro-growth initiatives that invest in education, infrastructure and economic development. In order to move Wisconsin forward, we need innovative solutions on student loan debt like Sen. Dave Hansen’s Higher Ed., Lower Debt bill to allow families to refinance their loans at lower interest rates. We need to restore rural broadband investments like Sen. Kathleen Vinehout has championed for years. And we need to restore the funding for rural schools that have seen some of the largest cuts from Republicans in Madison. With a short window of opportunity, we need swift action on these priorities and not just legislative lip-service.

Follow me on Instagram!

If you are an Instagram user, you can find me at SenShilling. I will be adding photos regularly as I travel across Western Wisconsin and represent local families in our State Capitol, follow along!

Minnesota launches student-loan refinancing program

The following article was featured in the Star Tribune:

Minnesota state officials are trying to take some of the sting out of high student-loan debt, rolling out a new program that could allow thousands of residents to refinance student loans and drive down monthly payments.

“If a student is graduating with such a high debt load, it makes it just so much more difficult for them to do so much more in our economy, whether it is buy a house or start a small business or buy a car,” Lt. Gov. Tina Smith said Thursday. “If we want to have an economy that works for everyone in Minnesota, we cannot allow these high debt loads to put a crunch on our competitiveness.”

Smith and Higher Education Commissioner Larry Pogemiller announced the launch of the program Thursday at Winona State University.

Pogemiller said that for a borrower who owes $40,000 at an 8 percent interest rate, the new refinancing option could lower monthly payments between $200 and $300. If the same borrower chose a quicker repayment option, they could save $25,000 in interest charges. “For some borrowers, this could be very significant,” Pogemiller said.

The issue is a huge one in Minnesota, which ranks fifth nationally in the amount of college-loan debt carried by residents. Minnesotans have an average of nearly $32,000 in outstanding loans, according to the Project on Student Debt.

You can read the full article at this link.

 

Weekly Democratic Radio Address:

"Dems go big and bold on student debt relief"

Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) recently offered the Democratic radio address. In his radio message, Sen. Hansen highlighted the Higher Ed. Lower Debt bill put forward by legislative Democrats which would allow borrowers to refinance their student loans.

"In survey after survey student loan debt is listed as one of the top issues that people say needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, the plan put forward by the Governor and Legislative Republicans leaves the vast majority of Wisconsin residents at the mercy of Wall Street." - Sen. Dave Hansen

The audio file of last week’s address can be found here:
http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen30/hansenradio1.14.16.mp3

Local Business of the Week!

I always enjoy visiting locally owned businesses and nonprofits throughout the 32nd Senate District and will be highlighting a different local organization in each e-update. This week I am featuring the Mississippi Valley Conservancy!

Mississippi Valley Conservancy (MVC) is a regional, non-profit land trust based in La Crosse that has conserved more than 17,300 acres of blufflands, prairies, wetlands, and streams in southwestern Wisconsin since its founding in 1997. Through work with private landowners and local communities on voluntary conservation projects, MVC is working to conserve and protect land in nine different counties along or near the Mississippi River.

The Conservancy uses voluntary tools such as conservation easements, and land acquisitions to protect lands for their ecology, scenic beauty, outdoor recreation potential, and prime agricultural soils. Additionally, the Conservancy provides hand-on learning experiences in the outdoors for thousands of young people and works to foster a conservation ethic across the state.

Thank you to the people at Mississippi Valley Conservancy for your ongoing conservation efforts and dedication to southwest Wisconsin's natural lands! If you would like to get involved with MVC, you can find more information here.
 

News Across the State

The Cap Times: Democrats knock Scott Walker's college affordability proposal before State of the State

Although Gov. Scott Walker hasn't given much indication what he'll talk about in his annual State of the State address Tuesday evening, Democrats' expectations are low. -Read Full Article

Wisconsin Public Radio: Limiting Referendums Would Hurt Cash-Strapped School Districts, Opponents Say

Education officials and advocates spoke out Thursday against legislation that would limit when school districts can hold votes asking the public for money. -Read Full Article

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin citizens win a round against secrecy

Thank you to every Wisconsin citizen who let his or her elected representatives and appointed officials know that they wanted clean, transparent government in this state. -Read Full Article
 

The Cap Times: Tuition task force looks at why UW students graduate with higher than average debt

More University of Wisconsin System students graduate with debt than the national average, and they owe more money that the average U.S. college graduate, according to data to be presented Friday to the UW Tuition-Setting Policy Task Force. -Read Full Article

The Isthmus: Save the Mounds rally draws hundreds to Capitol

Tebeau, a Menominee, and his wife, a Ho-Chunk, were among hundreds of Native American tribal members and their supporters who rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday afternoon to protest a bill that would loosen the protections on sacred burial mounds. -Read Full Article  

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Report: State college degree gap widens between whites and African-Americans

Wisconsin has the second widest gap in college degree attainment in the nation between African-Americans and white non-Hispanics — second only to West Virginia, according to a new report that grades states on how well they support public higher education. -Read Full Article

Celebrating Cheese Lover's Day!

In case you missed it, January 20th was National Cheese Lover's Day. I celebrated by enjoying some delicious mac and cheese from The Old Fashioned!

If you're a cheese lover like me, be sure to check out these great, cheesy stories from across the state, courtesy of Discover Wisconsin.

Cheese Lovers Unite! Seven Wisconsin Cheese Tours

Perfect Pairs: 23 Ways to pair Wisconsin Cheese!

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Tray

'Smallest freedom fighter' shares how King inspired her

Civil rights leader Sheyann Webb-Christburg spoke Monday evening of the inspiration Martin Luther King Jr. provided a young girl growing up in the 1960s.

The keynote speaker at the 30th La Crosse Area Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, she spoke of meeting King and how he told her to get good grades in school and that she could go to college. Webb-Christburg was hailed by King as the “smallest freedom fighter” when she participated in the Selma march at the age of 8 and said his presence made her feel special, leaving an indelible mark on her growing up.

“He motivated me to do something and to make a difference,” she said during her speech, later adding, “He inspired me not only to do my best but to be my best and not be ashamed.”

Monday’s celebration at the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center honored the life, work and legacy of Martin Luther King. After a welcome from university President Rick Artman, a prayer was given by Pastor David Myron Smith Jr. of the Bountiful Harvest of Faith Church calling for people to remember King's vision.

You can read more here.
 

Action from the Capitol

Left Photo: Thanks to Ho-Chunk Nation members for visiting with me and discussing efforts to preserve burial mounds. Your hard work is much appreciated!

Right Photo: The Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers Association (WPMCA) recently had their lobbying day in the Capitol. I had a great time meeting with members from Kwik Trip, METCO, and Hartland Fuel Products. We discussed the challenges facing small businesses in Wisconsin, especially rural communities, and meaningful ways we can support and expand our local economies from the ground up.

Lower Photo: I had a great time meeting with members from WCCU Credit Union, Altra Federal Credit Union,Verve, a Credit Union and the Governmental Employees Credit Union (G.E.C.U.). We discussed many different topics including programs to encourage financial literacy for youth.

Wisconsin DNR updates

News from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:

Natural Resources Board to meet January 27 in Madison
Proposed 2016 bear harvest quotas and rule revisions to address issues the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raised with Wisconsin's management of wastewater permits are among the items the state Natural Resources Board will address when it meets Jan. 27 in Madison. - Read Full Article

Volunteers needed for MacKenzie Center's Maple Education Program
Volunteers are needed to help students from around south central Wisconsin learn the process and history of making maple syrup in Wisconsin. - Read Full Article

Still time to submit wildlife observations with the Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey

As the deer hunting season comes to a close, state wildlife officials are reminding hunters to send in their wildlife observations. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources asks hunters to record all of their hunting activity throughout the deer season, even if no wildlife sightings were made during a hunt. The observations provide biologists with an index to abundance for many wildlife species. - Read Full Article

Proposed Badger Coulee transmission line may result in the incidental take of rare lizards, turtles and frogs

The construction of a new electrical transmission power line between La Crosse and Dane counties may result in the "incidental taking" of rare lizards, turtles and frogs under an authorization the Department of Natural Resources proposes to issue for the project. - Read Full Article

Recently Introduced Legislation

If you are interested in legislation that is being introduced, the Wisconsin Legislative website posts bills as they are being introduced in the Senate and Assembly. Check it out and stay informed!  

 

Calendar of Events

I apologize if any upcoming events in the area were left off. If you would like me to include an event in future e-updates, please email me the date, location and a website with details.

Senator Jennifer Shilling
P.O. Box 7882 - Madison, WI 53707

phone: 608.266.5490   

email: sen.shilling@legis.wi.gov

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