April 2, 2015

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Easter weekend with friends and family! This e-update highlights recent budget listening sessions, Wisconsin jobs ranking, the Badger-Coulee decision and a new business of the week!

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!

Go Badgers!

Jennifer K. Shilling
State Senator | 32nd District

Local budget listening sessions

Over the past few weeks as I have traveled across the Coulee Region listening to residents concerns, and one thing is clear. Wisconsin families are strongly opposed to Governor Walker's budget. Thank you to everyone for attending these listening sessions and voicing your concerns. As the budget process continues, your opinions will help me advocate for our shared values and articulate local concerns.

Check out the News Channel 8 coverage from the recent budget listening session that I held in Onalaska with Rep. Steve Doyle.

News Channel 19 covered the budget listening session I held with Reps. Jill Billings and Steve Doyle and the Department of Public Institutions.

Wisconsin plummets again in jobs ranking

According to the latest economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin continues to trail the nation when it comes to job creation. Under Republican leadership, Wisconsin plummeted nine places in the national job creation ranking down to 40th when looking at yearly job creation numbers.

While Gov. Walker continues to campaign across the nation on the taxpayers’ dime, Wisconsin families are struggling here at home. Instead of investing in a pro-growth agenda to expand economic opportunities and create jobs, Republicans have dug a massive $2.2 billion budget hole and failed to keep their promises to Wisconsin families. We can’t afford to fall further behind as a result of an absentee Governor and a distracted Republican legislature.

Senate Democrats will continue to push for action on our jobs agenda to raise worker wages, increase economic opportunities and put the needs of Wisconsin families first. By growing the economy and raising family wages, we can create the broad prosperity and economic freedom that every family in Wisconsin deserves.
 

News Coverage of Gov. Walker's Budget Proposal

Appleton Post Crescent: Stick to the mission: UW is too valuable to cut deeply
In all of the debate over the cuts to the University of Wisconsin System in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget plan, the group that has the most at stake is the most often overlooked: Students. -Read Full Article

La Crosse Tribune: Shilling, Doyle hear education concerns
Education funding dominated discussion at a budget listening session with state Sen. Jennifer Shilling and state Rep. Steve Doyle Tuesday at Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library in West Salem. -Read Full Article

Chippewa Herald: Lawmakers eye end to state's prevailing wage laws
Wisconsin's Republican-run Legislature is poised to eliminate an 80-year-old requirement that workers on local and state government building and road projects be paid a prevailing wage set by the state. -Read Full Article

Superior Telegram: Local officials weigh in on transportation issues
From Superior’s port to county highways, it was omissions in the budget that prompted Jason Serck, Superior’s economic development, planning and port director, and Douglas County Administrator Andy Lisak to testify before the state’s budget-writing committee.                       -Read Full Article

Stevens Point Journal: Gov. Scott Walker's budget cuts make no sense
The governor's budget is rationalized on the idea that the state has a $2 billion shortfall which must be made up by cuts to programs. But how these cuts are realized is not as straightforward as is being presented. -Read Full Article

Superior Telegram: Transportation needs a long-term solution
A strong transportation system is a lifeline for a successful and growing economy. Highways, railways, roads and bridges are an integral aspect to our everyday lives. We all know that transportation infrastructure needs constant upkeep though. As Assembly Republicans begin to work on the 2015-2017 state budget, one of the biggest challenges we are facing is a transportation fund that is short on money while projects keep accumulating. - Read Full Article

Green Bay Gazette: Public to Walker: Don't cut human-services programs
Nell, who uses a wheelchair, says the current state budget enables her to live independently, providing a stipend so she can employ an aide to help her with things she struggles to do: cooking, bathing, personal care. But the biennial spending proposal now being debated at the state level, she fears, would eliminate a program called IRIS — and with it, her ability to remain independent. -Read Full Article

Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh-area residents speak out against state budget
Proposals to eliminate third-shift guards at the state's prison towers and to alter how the state administers its long-term care programs took center stage Monday at a state budget listening session in Oshkosh. -Read Full Article

The Cap Times: Wisconsin worst in nation on shrinking middle class
If you feel like you’re working harder for less money, it’s not your imagination. Wisconsin ranks worst among the 50 states in terms of a shrinking middle class, with real median household incomes here falling 14.7 percent since 2000, according to a new report. -Read Full Article
 

Spring Election Day is approaching... Have you made a plan to vote?

In-person absentee voting (sometimes referred to as Early Voting) has already started for Wisconsin residents. Early voting is a great option for residents who like to avoid long lines or can’t make it to the polls on Election Day.

If you apply for an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office, you must vote immediately, seal your ballot in the proper envelope, and return it to a member of the clerk's staff. No ballots may be taken from the clerk's office.

If you have questions about your voter registration status, polling location or any other election issues, you can visit https://myvote.wi.gov/ or call Wisconsin’s toll-free Voter Help Line at 1-866-VOTE-WIS.

As always, please feel free to email me at Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov or call my office at 1-800-385-3385 if you have any additional questions.

GOP deficit leads to more questions

With major budgetary decisions looming for Wisconsin, Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee continue to avoid answering questions about their self-inflicted $2.2 billion budget deficit. While thousands of Wisconsin families have testified at public hearings and listening sessions about the impact of the proposed Republican cuts, legislators have failed to identify concrete solutions to prevent deep cuts and restore public investments in vital services including SeniorCare, Family Care, IRIS and local Aging and Disability Resource Centers.

Democrats have consistently supported SeniorCare and have repeatedly fought back Republican attempts to limit this successful and cost-saving program. I remain concerned that cuts to SeniorCare are even on the table for Republican legislators.

The fact is, we wouldn’t be debating these massive cuts to SeniorCare, local schools and community services if it weren’t for the $2.2 billion budget deficit created by Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans. Our nation is in a time of economic prosperity and job creation, yet Wisconsin is lagging behind because of the choices made by Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans.

Wisconsin, once a leader in economic growth and financial prosperity, has fallen behind as a result of stagnant family wages and a lagging economy. Wisconsin has dropped to 40th in the country for job creation and remains dead last in the Midwest according to the latest job numbers. Additionally, a recent report from the Pew Charitable Trust has shown that Wisconsin ranks worst among the 50 states in terms of a shrinking middle class.

Rather than focusing on financially irresponsible “cut and borrow” policies, Republicans should adopt the Democratic plan to invest in our communities and grow our economy. The Democratic plan to put Wisconsin Families First will raise worker wages, increase economic opportunities and secure economic freedom for families in our state.

Photo: Thanks to the Rodgers family for sharing their support for IRIS with Rep. Steve Doyle and I. The IRIS program has allowed them to access critical health services including the Life In Harmony Music Therapy, LLC which is helping their daughter Adrianna to learn and grow. Many families rely on IRIS to self-direct care for their loved ones, and we need to protect this vital program rather than dismantling it as Gov. Walker has proposed.

Constituent Visits 

Left: As a member of the Wisconsin Honorary Girl Scout Troop 1912, I always enjoy participating in the annual briefing and investiture. I joined Reps. Dianne Hesselbein and Amy Loudenbeck in addressing the group and was honored to meet and hear from Girl Scout Ambassador Ananya Murali and other troop leaders. Right: State Senator Julie Lassa and I were pleased to meet with Lilly and Vanessa from Norwalk who came to our Sparta listening session to share their concerns about tobacco marketing aimed at teens and young children. Thanks for being strong community leaders and advocates for your peers!

To see all of the local residents I have been meeting with, check out my Facebook page!

North Crawford Schools to Host Second Annual Spring It On!

Healthy Lifestyles Event - Saturday, April 26th

In order to raise awareness for the North Crawford physical education and nutrition programs, which were bolstered by the U.S. Department of Education’s Carol M. White Physical Education Promotion Grant ($800,000), North Crawford School District, along with its healthcare partner Vernon Memorial Healthcare, is proud to host its second annual Spring It On! Healthy Lifestyles event. This event will be held on-site at North Crawford School District from 9:00 AM until Noon on April 26th. All activities are free of charge and open to the public. The goal of this event is to get the news out about local and regional resources and activities that promote healthy lifestyles to individuals and families in the Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin. Featured at the Spring It On! event are a variety of activities running concurrently from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:

• A 5K Family Fun Walk/Run on our scenic trail, to include two start times, 9:15 AM and 10:00 A.M. For those who prefer a more consistent surface the track will also be made available for this event. Free T-Shirts will be provided to the first 200 participants.
• A PEP Grant Exercise Equipment Showcase designed to provide an interactive experience with our new Climbing Walls and Fitness Challenge Course, iDance, Polar Cardio GX system, and many other elements that make up the new face of North Crawford School District’s Physical Education program.
• A PEP Grant Greenhouse and Raised Bed Gardens Showcase highlighting an elementary/middle school project created to show younger students how much fun gardening can be and to promote the health benefits of consuming fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Free Health Checks provided by Vernon Memorial Healthcare to include: body composition analysis, blood pressures, shoe checks, and confirming healthy backs.
• A Healthy Lifestyles Fair will include a host of representatives from local farmers’ markets, parks and recreation, outdoor motion activities and upcoming events.
In order to celebrate this occasion a light healthy lunch, prepared by esteemed Chef Monique Hooker, will be provided at 11:15 AM. Honored guests for the event include US Congressman Ron Kind, State Senator Jennifer Shilling, State Representative Lee Nerison, and Crawford County Board Chairman Pete Flesch.

Vernon Memorial Healthcare has served as North Crawford’s PEP Grant Healthcare partner, and is a vital sponsor of Spring It On! Organic Valley and Driftless Organics, also major sponsors of the event, will be providing many of the food supplies for the luncheon prepared by Chef Monique Hooker.

The 2012 Carol M. White PEP grant was an honor awarded to just 56 schools nationwide. North Crawford’s staff is excited at the opportunity to demonstrate the impact this grant has had on furthering our goal to promote a community of wellness in our district and in the communities we serve. Spring It On! brings together like minded businesses, organizations, and individuals that also have a commitment to community wellness.

 

Badger-Coulee decision

Local Business of the Week!

I always enjoy visiting locally owned businesses throughout the 32nd Senate District and will be highlighting a different local business in each e-update. This week's featured business is Driftless Brewing Company!

Co-owners Chris Balistreri and Michael Varnes-Epstein are dedicated brewers to hand crafting delicious premium ales and lagers using the finest locally and regionally sourced ingredients. Their beer can be found at various beer festivals across the state as well as the Viroqua Peoples Food Co-op. But you better hurry, supplies are limited!

Make sure you check out Driftless Brewing Company in Soldiers Grove and purchase locally brewed beer!

Final Four Bound!

Congratulations to the UW-Madison Men's Basketball team on making a second trip to the NCAA Final Four! Cheer on the Badgers this Saturday, April 4th at 7:49pm as they take on the Kentucky Wildcats.

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.