May 28, 2015

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend and took time to remember and honor those who have sacrificed everything to defend our country and uphold our values. This week's e-update highlights the troubled jobs agencies, school visits, student debt loan relief efforts, the "Under the Dome" update, Wisconsin DNR news, 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.

Sincerely, 

Jennifer K. Shilling
State Senator | 32nd District

Democrats launch website for student loan debt relief plan

Democrats unveiled a website highlighting the benefits of a new legislative proposal to lower student loan debt. The website, www.wistudentloanrelief.com, provides information on the Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act and gives residents an opportunity to share their personal experiences with student loan debt.

With over 800,000 Wisconsin families burdened by student loan debt, we need to find solutions that help lower interest rates and make higher education more affordable. The student loan debt crisis has spiraled out of control. By simply allowing individuals to refinance their student loans at lower interest rates, some families could save thousands of dollars a year.

Since the Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act was first introduced in 2013 the number of Wisconsin residents with student loans has grown from 753,000 to 815,000. The average loan debt for a graduate with a bachelor’s degree has increased from just over $22,000 to $28,400 and total student debt in Wisconsin has now topped $19.3 billion.

"This is a crisis that is only getting worse. And it is being fueled in large part by cuts we’ve seen over the years to higher education that continue to make it more expensive for students to get their degrees,” said Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). “If we’re not going to invest in higher education in Wisconsin the very least we can do is help borrowers refinance their student loans to get lower interest rates like you can a home or car loan.”

In addition to allowing borrowers to refinance their loans at lower interest rates, the Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act allows borrowers to deduct their student loan payments from their state income tax, provides more information for borrowers about their rights and responsibilities, and improves tracking of student loan debt information.

Share your student loan store at www.wistudentloanrelief.com.

Governor Walker fired from troubled jobs agency

Amid calls for a federal investigation into alleged corruption and criminal violations, legislative Republicans voted to remove Gov. Walker from his position as Chairman of the scandal-plagued Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Board.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Gov. Walker is unable to manage his responsibilities as governor as he continues to travel across the nation pursuing his presidential ambitions. While it’s encouraging that Republicans in the State Legislature have removed Gov. Walker from his position as Chairman of the WEDC Board, they have yet to present a plan to correct the ongoing waste, fraud and abuse at this troubled agency. After four years of scandals and scathing audits, it is clear that we need greater public oversight to put an end to the corruption and mismanagement at Gov. Walker’s WEDC.
 

Wisconsin Bikeways Project

Open Houses set for May 21 - June 9
The public will have an opportunity to help identify and develop a network of mapped bikeways in Wisconsin at a series of upcoming open house meetings.

The Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Wisconsin Bike Fed have partnered to work on a statewide Bikeways Project to identify, create, and promote a network of mapped bikeways in the state.

The Bikeways Project will evaluate existing roadway and trail systems to identify priority bikeway routes across Wisconsin that will connect into the U.S. Bike Route System, a network of long-distance bicycle routes across the country linking urban, suburban and rural areas through a variety of bicycling facilities.

While the focus of these open houses is on providing feedback on possible routes that will cross the state and route attributes, the effort recognizes the role that intrastate routes have as regional connectors between the interstate routes and there are a series of draft bikeway study corridors on which attendees can comment.

At the open houses, attendees will have an opportunity to view maps of the bikeway study corridors, provide feedback on importance of route selection methodologies, leave written comments and ask questions of representatives from the project team organizations. There will be no formal presentation, so attendees may come and go as schedules allow. All of the open houses will be held from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Route selection methodologies include factors such as roadway or trail conditions, available services (food, lodging, bike shops), directness and grade (steepness).

Open houses will be held:
• May 21, Madison - Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street
• May 27, Milwaukee - Mitchell Park Pavilion, 2200 West Pierce Street
• May 28, Appleton - (Grand Chute), Grand Chute Town Hall, Community & Board Rooms, 1900 Grand Chute Boulevard
• June 2, Eau Claire - Mayo Health Systems of Eau Claire (Luther Campus Clinic), 1400 Bellinger Street
• June 9, Wausau - Northcentral Tech College, 1000 West Campus Drive

Bikeways Project Wikimap will go live May 21
In addition to the open houses, a Wisconsin Bikeways Project Wikimap will be available from May 21 - June 30, 2015. The Wikimap is an online interactive mapping tool that allows users to draw routes and points on a map and add comments about their entries. The tool will allow users to highlight good routes for bicycling in Wisconsin, routes that need improvement, barriers to bicycling, and bicycling destinations.

On May 21, a link to the Wikimap will go live. That link will be posted on the Bikeways Project web page.

 

News Coverage of Republican Budget Proposal

Associated Press: Voucher plan could mean $48M hit for public schools
Public school districts could face an additional $48 million hit over the next two years under the voucher program included in Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget, according to a new memo from state financial analysts.  -Read Full Article

Appleton Post Crescent: Budget cuts would threaten community clinics
The Partnership clinic and 16 other "federally qualified health centers" like it in the state, the safety net catching the uninsured and others who struggle to access healthcare, may catch fewer of these people in need if a proposed change in Medicaid reimbursement is approved, clinic and local leaders say. -Read Full Article

WiscNews: County critical of Governor's UW cuts

The Sauk County Board became the second local government Tuesday to go on record in opposition to proposed cuts to the University of Wisconsin system. -Read Full Article

Cap Times: Jon Erpenbach: Wisconsin  Republicans have 'fired' Scott Walker from WEDC board

Gov. Scott Walker would be removed as chairman of his flagship jobs agency under a Republican proposal before the Wisconsin Legislature's budget committee. -Read Full Article
 

Leader Telegram: EC school board member: More state aid would be helpful
The Joint Finance Committee’s decision to scrap Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed $127 million cut to K-12 school districts from the budget is nothing to be touted, said Eau Claire board member Chris Hambuch-Boyle. “It will bring us back to zero,” she said. “It doesn’t give us any more to work with.” -Read Full Article
 

Wisconsin State Journal: Top Scott Walker aides push for questionable $500,000 WEDC loan

Gov. Scott Walker’s top aides and a powerful lobbyist pressed for a taxpayer-funded loan in 2011 to a financially struggling Milwaukee construction company that lost the state half a million dollars, created no jobs and raised questions about where the money went, a State Journal investigation has found. -Read Full Article

Milwaukee State Journal: Parents rally after lawmakers expand vouchers

Karen Suarez Flint, a Wauwatosa mother of two, said she watched in shock overnight as the Legislature's budget committee passed a sweeping, 29-page Republican education package that included increasing how much taxpayer-funded voucher schools would receive under a statewide expansion of that program. -Read Full Article

Around the Capitol

It is that time of the year when the Capitol is busy with visiting school groups. I always appreciate the chance to visit with the hard working teachers and students of Western Wisconsin. Left Photo: I had the pleasure to speak with school groups from Bangor Elementary and Viroqua Elementary. Right Photo: This was a special occasion because my oldest son Nate was visiting with his fourth grade class from North Woods Elementary!

Weekly Democratic radio address: "Prioritize children, not special interests"

This past week I offered the weekly Democratic radio address. In the radio message, I expressed concerns with the underfunding of our local public schools and the multi-million dollar giveaways to special interests.

"Rather than falling further behind, Democrats proposed restoring the Republican cuts and investing in our children's' future. Our plan would have strengthened special education programs, boosted transportation aid and provided additional resources to combat childhood poverty. While this forward-looking plan would have put our state back on a path to success, Republicans opted instead to sellout Wisconsin’s public schools and reward the special interests who are backing Gov. Walker’s presidential ambitions. " 

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here:
http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen32/shillingradio5.20.15.mp3
 

State Capitol Update – A recap of recent votes “Under the Dome”

This update is being provided to help keep citizens informed about important decisions happening at the State Capitol and to stay updated on how elected officials are voting on key issues in Madison.

Joint Finance Committee votes - May 19th and 21st

The Joint Finance Committee met on May 19 and 21 to continue voting on provisions of Governor Walker's proposed 2015-17 State Budget. For a list of JFC committee members, click here

Opioid Addiction Treatment Pilot Program - Dept. of Corrections(Motion #448)
Summary: The Governor proposed spending $836,700 on an opioid addiction treatment pilot program within the state prison system. Opioids are narcotics that can be legally prescribed, such as morphine or Oxycontin, or illegal, such as heroin. The pilot program would provide monthly treatment injection and drug testing for 100 offenders.
How they voted: The committee approved the funding and the pilot program with a slight modification on a bi-partisan 16-0 vote.

K-12 School Funding and Private Voucher School Expansion (Motions #438 & #457)
Summary: Republicans and Democrats offered vastly different K-12 school funding proposals for the committee to consider.
- The minority-party Democrats offered a motion to restore public school funding and provide an additional $300 per student, increase rural school funding by $5 million, increase special education funding by $20 million and eliminate the proposed voucher school statewide expansion.
How they voted: The Democrats’ motion was rejected on a party-line vote of 4-12.
- The majority-party Republicans offered a motion that restored the $150 per pupil cut proposed by Gov. Walker, expanded the taxpayer-funded private school voucher program and increased per pupil subsidies for voucher schools which will divert an additional $48 million from public schools.
How they voted: The Republicans’ motion was adopted on a party-line vote of 12-4.

Following passage of the Republican school funding plan, a spokesperson representing the Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance issued the following statement:
“Clearly, this is the best education budget that millions of dollars in largely out-of-state political contributions can buy. And it didn’t seem to bother majority Republicans one bit that this voucher expansion will drive up local property taxes.”

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards had this to say about the school funding plan:
“Because the general aid appropriation is frozen in the first year (i.e., no new money is added) the result is a zero–sum game where the amount of the gains in aid by some districts will equal the amount of the losses by others. The likely losers will be rural districts in the northern, western and southwestern areas of the state where few voucher schools are located. School boards in these districts will likely be faced with the prospect of raising property taxes to offset the loss of aid due to voucher expansion.”

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Restructuring (Motions #494 & #501)
Summary: In light of numerous concerns raised in a recent audit by the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau, as well as an investigative report which revealed a $500,000 loan being improperly awarded to a Scott Walker campaign donor, there was bi-partisan agreement among JFC members that changes need to be made at the WEDC. The committee took action to remove Gov. Walker as Chair of the WEDC Board, rejected $55 million in additional funding for WEDC and voted down the Governor’s proposal to merge WEDC with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
How they voted: There was bi-partisan support for the WEDC restructuring proposals, with efforts by minority-party Democrats to push for additional changes being rejected on a 12-4 party-line vote.

Medical Assistance (MA) and BadgerCare – Dept. of Health Services (Motions #495 & #503)
Summary: Republicans and Democrats offered different MA proposals with some agreement on key issues. Notably, there was bi-partisan support to reject the Governor’s proposal to phase out SeniorCare and move seniors to Medicare Part D for their prescription drug coverage. As a result of the committee’s actions, the SeniorCare program will remain unchanged. On the issue of BadgerCare expansion, the two parties remain divided with Republicans on the committee rejecting the Democrats’ proposal to increase BadgerCare coverage and secure additional federal funding for the state’s health care program. Budget experts estimate that expanding BadgerCare coverage would save state taxpayers $360 million.
How they voted: On a 12-4 party-line vote, the committee adopted the Republican proposal which included 19 MA-related provisions and increases MA spending by $74 million above the Governor’s proposed budget.

                                                                          Signed into Law

Increase maximum speed limit to 70 MPH - 2015 Wisconsin Act 19
On Wednesday, May 20, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 27 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 19, which will allow certain sections of Wisconsin freeways to increase the speed limit to 70MPH. This bill received bi-partisan support in both the State Senate and State Assembly. The law change went into effect on Friday, May 22. A memo describing the law change can be found here.
 

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 B&E Trees - Forest Foraged Foods and Farm!

Co-founded by Bree Breckel and Eric Weninger, they set out to craft the most delicious organic maple syrup in the Coulee Region. They collect sap from their tree farm throughout the winter and make certified organic maple syrup. Over the past year they have also teamed up with Central Waters Brewing Company and have crafted bourbon barrel aged maple syrup from aging their organic maple syrup in bourbon barrels.

Make sure to check out B&E's Trees, it is sure to be a local favorite! 

Shilling Staff Office Hours

As legislators continue to debate the Republican state budget, my district representative Taylor Goodine will hold several local office hours between May 28 and June 2. These office hours offer local residents an opportunity to meet with my staff, share their thoughts on the state budget and request assistance with state agencies.

Thursday, May 28th from 12:00pm-1:00pm
Holmen Village Hall
421 South Main Street
Holmen, WI 54636

Thursday, May 28th from 3:00pm-4:00pm
Bangor Community Center
100 17th Avenue North
Bangor, WI 54614

Monday, June 1st from 10:00am-11:00am
Cashton Memorial Library
720 Broadway Street
Cashton, WI 54619

Monday, June 1st from 12:00pm-1:00pm
Bekkum Memorial Library
206 Main Street
Westby, WI 54667

Monday, June 1st from 2:00pm-3:00pm
La Farge Village Hall
105 West Main Street
La Farge, WI 54639

Tuesday, June 2nd from 10:00am-11:00am
Eastman Community Building
112 Shanghai Ridge Road
Eastman, WI 54626

Tuesday, June 2nd from 12:00pm-1:00pm
Lynxville Community Center
475 Bench Street
Lynxville, WI 54640

Tuesday, June 2nd from 2:00pm-3:00pm
De Soto Community Center
53 Crawford Street
De Soto, WI 54624

These budget 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 1-800-385-3385 or email Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov.
 

Wisconsin DNR Updates

June 6-7 is Free Fun Weekend in Wisconsin
The first weekend in June offers ample opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors in Wisconsin as the state celebrates "free fun weekend." Admission stickers are waived for Wisconsin's state parks and forests, trail passes are waived for state bicycle and all-terrain vehicle trails and no fishing licenses are needed to fish state waters. People who camp at state parks still need to pay for their campsites. -Read Full Article

Wisconsin celebrates 50 years of rail trails on National Trails Day June 6
National Trails Day is June 6 and it will have special significance in Wisconsin with a 50th anniversary celebration of rail trails in the state. Wisconsin became the first state to convert an abandoned railroad corridor into a recreational trail--the Elroy-Sparta State Trail--in 1965. The "rails to trails" movement has since spread across the state, nation and the world. -Read Full Article

Comments sought on proposed statewide general permit for maintenance dredging
Maintenance dredging of navigable waterways would undergo a quicker, less expensive review as part of a proposed general permit process now up for public comment. -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.