April 13, 2016

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With the legislature adjourned for the year, April 15 marks the official start to Wisconsin’s 2016 campaign season. Under Wisconsin state ethics laws, Senators and Representatives who are running for re-election can't use state funds to send large emails or mailings until Election Day. Because of this rule, I am unable to send e-updates during this time but am looking forward to sending them again in November. If you would like to follow along with what I’m up to, things that are happening in western Wisconsin or for other updates, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

This e-update highlights the address confidentiality bill I co-authored that was recently signed into law, upcoming tornado drill details, Equal Pay Day, the weekly Democratic radio address, the local business of the week and more.

I hope you find this information helpful, and make sure to get out and enjoy all the exciting Spring activities in western Wisconsin!

Sincerely,

Jennifer K. Shilling
State Senator | 32nd District

Address Confidentiality Bill signed into law

A bipartisan bill I authored with Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) to create an Address Confidentiality Program and strengthen protections for survivors of domestic abuse, stalking and sex trafficking was signed into law recently as 2015 Wisconsin Act 356. The Address Confidentiality Program will allow at-risk individuals to obtain an alternate postal address and have mail forwarded to their confidential home address.

Safety is always a top concern for survivors of domestic abuse, stalking and human trafficking. Things that most families take for granted – like paying a utility bill, enrolling a child in after school activities or applying for a job – create potentially dangerous situations for many survivors. Wisconsin's new Address Confidentiality program is a simple and effective layer of protection that will help many survivors move forward with their lives.

At least 34 other states currently provide residents with similar address safeguards. Minnesota launched an address confidentiality program in 2007 which has served more than 5,000 residents since its inception. Wisconsin's new law was supported by numerous organizations including End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, Legal Action of Wisconsin, the National Association of Social Workers - Wisconsin Chapter, the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Wisconsin Association of Family & Children's Agencies and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Share your thoughts with me!

As an elected official, my top priority is listening to the voices of local residents, and representing the shared values of our region in the state capitol. If you would like to share your views with me, feel free to complete my legislative survey so that I can better represent our shared values. Senate Democrats remain committed to putting forth policies to support the working families and every day citizens of Wisconsin, and your participation in this survey will aid me in that goal.

It is an honor to represent the people of the 32nd Senate District, and thank you for making your voice heard!
 

Reminder: Two Statewide Tornado Drills Thursday

Wisconsin Emergency Management reminds you that two statewide tornado drills are scheduled for this Thursday, April 14, 2016. The drills are part of the annual spring severe weather campaign to encourage people in Wisconsin to get ready for possible tornadoes and severe weather.

For the first time, a mock tornado warning will be issued at 6:55 p.m. to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans. Earlier in the day, a mock tornado watch will be issued at 1:00 p.m. and a mock tornado warning will be issued at 1:45 p.m. Many radio and TV stations across the state will issue the test tornado warnings. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios and many communities will sound their tornado sirens.

Any changes to the scheduled drills will be issued to local media as well as posted on the ReadyWisconsin website at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov. Updates will also be posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can read the full release about the tornado drills here.

Equal Pay Day

Tuesday, April 12 was Equal Pay Day in the US, the day that symbolizes the number of extra days that women had to work to make the same amount as their male counterparts in 2015.

Rather than driving down wages and rigging the system against workers, we should restore Wisconsin's Equal Pay Enforcement Act to protect women, minorities and veterans from unfair pay discrimination.
 

News 19 La Crosse: National Work Zone Awareness Week

The following article was featured on WXOW La Crosse News 19:

This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week - an annual campaign at the start of the construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones.

“It's a good opportunity to get the word out on work zones,” said Jim Griesbach, Marathon County's highway commissioner.

Dale Taylor, a highway department worker for 12 years, says he has noticed that drivers have become significantly more distracted.

“Probably about 75 percent of them are preoccupied with their cell phones, or people, food,” Taylor said Monday.

You can read more here.
 

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 businesses in each e-update. This week I am featuring Pearl Street Books!

With the spring season finally here, there's no better way to spend an afternoon than sitting outside and reading a good book! Located in the heart of downtown La Crosse, Pearl Street Books offers thousands of titles including new, used and collectible books of every genre. With the huge variety provided here, there is hardly a single book that owner Jim Auler won't be able to help you find.

So whether you're looking for a mystery thriller, historical fiction, children's book or fantasy tale, stop in to Pearl Street Books to crack open a cover and dive into some reading. Thank you, Jim and all the folks at Pearl Street Books for keeping our minds active, and our pages turning!
 

Weekly Democratic Radio Address:

"Children’s Caucus Seeks
Evidence-Based Solutions"

Recently, Senator Julie Lassa (Stevens Point) offered the following Democratic Weekly Radio Address on Wisconsin’s first Legislative Children’s Caucus.

“Children are our most precious resource, and their well-being has a tremendous impact on the health of our entire society. That’s why I’m pleased that the Children’s Caucus will bring legislators together to meet with well-respected researchers and economists, and explore how to translate their latest findings into model public policy." - Sen. Julie Lassa

The audio file of last week’s address can be found here: http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen24/lassaradio4.7.16.mp3 

News Across the State

Wisconsin State Journal: Across UW System, campuses reduce courses, advising and jobs as budget cuts take hold

Institutions across the University of Wisconsin System have laid off employees, consolidated administration, reduced advising services and cut course offerings over the past year, according to documents released Monday summarizing the impact of state cuts to higher education funding. -Read Full Article

La Crosse Tribune: Organic Valley rides 'biggest surge ever' to billion — and beyond

Organic Valley business is “never better than now,” coming off of its first billion-dollar revenue year and riding the “biggest surge in the market we’ve ever seen,” CEO George Siemon says.  -Read Full Article

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Registering to vote holds challenges for college students

Long lines at polling places on several college campuses during last week's primary election had at least one thing in common: students who waited until the last minute to register to vote. -Read Full Article

WSAU News: Party Politics Affecting Progress on Ground Water Legislation

Comprehensive ground water legislation has not been passed through the state government after decades of research. That may change in 2017, if both parties can agree to terms. -Read Full Article

Wisconsin Radio Network: Report highlights ‘structurally deficient’ bridges in Wisconsin
The head of a state transportation advocacy group says a recent report shows there’s a real need to change how Wisconsin funds highway and bridge projects. -Read Full Article

Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin Army National Guard Gets Its First Female General
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker promoted Col. Joane Mathews to brigadier general this week, making her the first female general in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. -Read Full Article

Post Session Happenings

Left Photo: Recently I attended the Onalaska School Board meeting to give an update on the end of our legislative session. While it is always hard to discuss the funding challenges our schools are facing in Wisconsin, it was wonderful to learn about the success this school district is having with their farm-to-table initiatives, as well as their robotics program.

Right Photo: I was pleased to stay at the school board meeting and listen to the students from Onalaska High School as they demonstrated their robotics knowledge. I was very impressed by both Ruth and Laik and the entire team with their problem solving and technology design! Congratulations!

Wisconsin DNR updates

News from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:

Deer season recommendations to be finalized at April County Deer Advisory Council meetings
County Deer Advisory Councils will prepare their final antlerless quota, permit level and season structure recommendations during the last round of spring meetings from April 18-21. - Read Full Article

Where's Walleye? Major tagging project aims to find out
A major research effort by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Michigan DNR intends to learn more about walleye and their movements to aid in management of the sought-after species. - Read Full Article

Volunteer opportunities abound to aid wild Wisconsin

Volunteers can count cranes, listen for frogs, whip-poor-wills and owls, search for freshwater mussels and rare plants, monitor monarchs and water quality and join in a host of other efforts underway to collect information about Wisconsin's wildlife, plants and waters. - Read Full Article

As the spring turkey season kicks off, keep new Go Wild tagging procedures in mind

Wisconsin's regular spring turkey season begins Wednesday, and hunters will notice a few changes related to their turkey carcass tags under the new Go Wild licensing system. - 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

 "like" me on Facebook      "follow" me on Twitter     visit my website

If you wish to stop receiving these emails, please reply to this email
with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.