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Madison, WI 53707
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SENATE COMMITTEES:
Joint Legislative Council
Joint Committee on Finance
Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications
Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
Special Committee on Reporting of Child Abuses and Child Neglect
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October 3, 2013 |
Dear Friends and Neighbors - The fall session of the State Legislation is back in full swing with Gov. Walker supporting the workforce development bill that I authored. This newsletter will highlight the Fall Color Photo Contest, Wisconsin job numbers, Farm to School Month, and some tips on how to be cyber-savvy. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other state legislative issues. Sincerely, |
| Workforce Development Bill Gains Support from Gov. Walker |
| Governor Scott Walker announced that he is supporting a job
creation proposal I authored and is including it in a new package of workforce
development legislation he will be promoting. The
proposal, Senate Bill 274, will increase access for people with
disabilities seeking job training and employment assistance
services. Unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities in Wisconsin continues to be a serious issue. Currently, individuals with disabilities seeking assistance through the state's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) face waiting lists of four to five months. The DVR expects wait times to increase to between five and seven months by 2015 if additional funding is not provided. Over 4,000 people with disabilities are currently waiting for services. We should be doing everything we can to reduce the long waiting lists for worker training and employment assistance programs in our state. By investing in services to help people find work and eliminating barriers to employment, we can empower individuals and improve workplace opportunities for thousands of people with disabilities. The Department of Workforce Development estimates that 3,250 individuals returned to the workforce in 2012 as a result of vocational rehabilitation services. These individuals are expected to earn approximately $56.4 million annually which translates into a 210 percent return on investment for the DVR program. My Democratic colleagues and I advocated for increased funding in the state budget earlier this year to address the long waiting lists, but this proposal was rejected by the Republican majority. Wisconsin is eligible for an additional $14.2 million in federal funding if $3.9 million in state matching funds are invested over the next two years. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau said earlier this year that the DVR could nearly eliminate its waiting list if this funding is provided. This proposal is an important step toward our goal of getting people back to work and helping those with disabilities receive the services they need. The evidence is clear that this program works, and I am hopeful that Gov. Walker's added support will spur legislative leaders to move forward with this important piece of legislation. Senate Bill 274 has been referred to the Committee on Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining, and Revenue and is currently waiting to be scheduled for a public hearing. |
| Fall Colors Photo Contest! |
|
Autumn is upon us and the colder weather is
bringing tree color changes and falling leaves along with it.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reporting that
30-50% of the leaves in Wisconsin are already changing color,
which means it is time to share my new photo contest! The Fall
Colors Photo Contest started on September 24th and will continue
until November 8th. I invite local residents to submit their
favorite photographs of local fall events and scenic fall colors
of the 32nd Senate District for consideration. |
| New Job Numbers Show Wisconsin Continues to Lag Behind Rest of the Nation |
| On Thursday, September 26, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) released the most recent job growth numbers for
Wisconsin. Those numbers show that between March 2012 and March
2013 Wisconsin gained 24,305 private-sector jobs, ranking
Wisconsin 34th out of the 50 states for job creation. The BLS
jobs report – called the Quarterly Census of Employment and
Wages – is based on a census of 96% of U.S. employers, and is
considered the most credible source available on jobs and wage
data. While it is good news that our state added jobs over the course of the year, it is disappointing and concerning that Wisconsin still lags behind the rest of the country as our economy continues to struggle. Compared to our neighboring states, Wisconsin’s private-sector job growth rate of 1.1% put us behind Michigan (2.8% growth), Minnesota (2.1% growth), and Iowa (1.2% growth), but ahead of Illinois (1.0% growth). Although Wisconsin’s economy is showing some positive signs of growth, too many people throughout the state continue to face the hardship of being unemployed and underemployed. I am hopeful that legislative leaders in both the State Senate and State Assembly will work in a bi-partisan manner during the current fall floor period to advance job creation and economic development bills to help create much-needed jobs and spur our state’s economy. For more information about the new jobs numbers, you can read this article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. |
| "Governor Patrick Lucey Highway" Officially Dedicated Along the Great River Road |
| Dozens of community members, elected officials, family and
friends joined together on Wednesday, October 2nd to help
celebrate the unveiling of the “Governor Patrick J. Lucey Highway”
along the scenic Great River Road. The commemorative roadway
extends along State Highway 35 in Crawford County from the
village of Ferryville to the city of Prairie du Chien. Patrick J. Lucey was born in La Crosse, grew up in the village of Ferryville, and graduated from Campion High School in Prairie du Chien. He served with distinction as the 38th Governor of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977 and later as the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1977 to 1979. His best known accomplishments in office include the formation of the University of Wisconsin System, an overhaul of the state shared tax formula, the strengthening of ethics laws, mental health treatment reforms, and progressive land conservation initiatives. The 95-year-old Gov. Lucey was present for the dedication ceremony which started in Prairie du Chien and followed State Hwy. 35 north to Ferryville where a commemorative sign at the River View Park on Main Street was unveiled. As the author of the provision to designate the "Governor Patrick J. Lucey Highway," I was pleased that so many community members were able to welcome Gov. Lucey back to his hometown and reflect on his legacy.  Welcoming Gov. Patrick J. Lucey and his son David Lucey to Ferryville.  Sherry Quamme and I congratulating Gov. Lucey after the unveiling of the “Governor Patrick Lucey Highway” sign.  Rep. Lee Nerison and I posing with Gov. Patrick Lucey in front of the Patrick J. Lucey Historical Society marker in Ferryville. You can view more coverage of the “Governor Patrick J. Lucey Highway” dedication ceremony here: La Crosse Tribune - Hwy. 35 between Ferryville and Prairie du Chien renamed in honor of former Gov. Lucey WXOW Ch. 19 - State Hwy 35 in Ferryville named after Gov. Patrick J. Lucey |
| Farm to School Month |
| October is National Farm to School month in the United
States and it celebrates the connection between local farms and
school in our communities. The Farm to School program exists in
all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and helps connect children
with their food and make healthier choices. It also helps create
new economic markets for local and regional farmers. In Wisconsin, the Farm to School program is run by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and is used by 76 different school districts around the state. In addition, the program helps to connect about two hundred school districts to the resources to purchase local food. I have always been a strong supporter of the Wisconsin Farm to School program since it passed with bipartisan support in 2010. It is important to me to provide healthy and locally grown food for our children because it supports Wisconsin farmers, increases consumption of fruits and vegetables in children and reduces the impact of packaging and transporting food from distant locations. Farm to School month is a great way to celebrate this excellent program, and I hope that everyone can find a way to support our local farmers - from visiting a dairy farm or apple orchard or donating money to National Farm to School Network - to help this program to continue to grow!  I served as a judge for the 2012 Farm to School Harvest Challenge at Viroqua High School. For more information on National Farm to School month and a list of Farm to School events, visit their website here. |
| Be Cyber-Savvy in October |
| October has been declared Cyber Security Awareness Month by
Governor Walker to raise awareness about the dangers of cyber
criminals and to provide tips on how to avoid being the victim
of a cyber criminal. In 2012, cyber criminal victims in Wisconsin lost $6.2 million through scams online. The top five cyber scams were auto sales fraud, romance scams, real estate fraud, intimidation/extortion scams, and phishing and spoofing (faked electronic documents) with each victim losing an average of $1700. Here are some tips by ReadyWisconsin to increase your cyber security: 1. Keep a Clean Machine: Keep your security software current by turning on automatic updates. 2. Protect Your Personal Information: Don’t use the same password for your email, social media, and bank accounts. Once cyber criminals obtain that one password, they can raid all your accounts. Keep those passwords stored in a safe and secure place away from your computer. 3. When in Doubt, Throw it Out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often used by cyber criminals to compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or if appropriate, mark as junk email. 4. Think Before You Act: Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately, offers something that sounds too good to be true, or asks for personal information. 5. Get Savvy about Wi-Fi Hotspots: Limit the type of business you conduct and adjust the security settings on your device to limit access. Criminals may be able to access personal information when you use free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or hotel. To find out more information about ReadyWisconsin and to learn more about how to protect yourself online, visit their website here. |
| Enrollment in the New Health Insurance Marketplace Began October 1st |
| Don’t forget – as of October 1st, you can now sign up for
coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace (or
Exchange). In order to begin coverage in the Marketplace on
January 1, 2014, you must sign up for coverage between October
1st and December 15th of this year. For more information about the Marketplace or to sign up for coverage, you can visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Four things to remember about the new Health Insurance Marketplace and the new federal health care laws: 1. All insurance plans will have to cover doctor visits, hospitalizations, maternity care, emergency room visits, and prescriptions. 2. If you have a pre-existing condition, insurance plans cannot deny you coverage. 3. You might be eligible for financial assistance to help pay for coverage. 4. All insurance plans will have to show the costs and what is covered in simple language with no fine print. |
| State Legislation Update |
| Introduced in the Senate: SJR-51. Honoring Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Battle of Gettysburg. Referred to Senate Organization Committee. SB-303. The display and sale of novelty lighters. Referred to Energy, Consumer Protection, and Government Reform Committee. SB-304. Safety belts on certain school buses that are purchased or sold. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. SB-305. Special registration plates honoring this state’s support of the United States Olympic Committee. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. SB-306. Provider of last resort obligations of certain telecommunications providers. Referred to Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications Committee. SB-307. Traffic violations resulting in harm to vulnerable highway users, driver education instruction. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. SB-308. The age at which a person who is alleged to have violated a criminal law, a civil law, or a municipal ordinance and who is not allege to have committed certain violent offenses or has not previously been convicted of a crime or adjudicated delinquent is subject to juvenile court jurisdiction. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. SB-309. Parental notification for questioning pupils about criminal activity. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-310. The definitions of an all-terrain vehicle and a utility vehicle, restrictions on operating all-terrain vehicle or a utility vehicle on a roadway, and seating requirements for utility terrain vehicles. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. SB-311. A dental hygienist’s administration of nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia and practice of dental hygiene. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee. SB-312. Collective bargaining over workplace safety for employees of the Department of Corrections. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-313. Driver education instruction and driver’s license examinations. Referred to Education Committee. SB-314. The effect of changes in requirements for development-related permits or authorizations on persons who apply for the permits or authorizations. Referred to Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications Committee. SB-315. Exceptions to the prohibition of release of customer information by a municipal utility. Referred to Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications Committee. SB-316. The school district levy for community programs and services. Referred to Education Committee. SB-317. Race-based nicknames, logos, mascots, and team names. Referred to Government Operations, Public works, and Telecommunications Committee. SB-318. Authorizing the City of Milwaukee to sell eligible school facilities to eligible purchasers. Referred to Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications Committee. SB-319. Animals taken into custody. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-320. Exemption of outside salespersons from the minimum wage law. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-321. Limitation of a property owner’s liability when lands are used for noncommercial aviation. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-322. Income and franchise tax credits for insulating concrete forms used to construct a building. Referred to Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining, and Revenue Committee. SB-323. The return of federal funds to the federal government. Referred to State and Federal Relations Committee. SB-324. Limiting the times for voting by absentee ballots in person. Referred to Elections and Urban Affairs Committee. SB-325. Controlled substances. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-326. Relinquishing custody of a newborn child. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee. SB-327. Snowmobile registration, trail use stickers requirements, calculating the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment, ad funding for supplemental snowmobile trail aids. Referred to Agriculture, Small Business and Tourism Committee. SB-328. Changing the method by which a municipality may collect the costs of razing a building from a property owner. Referred to Economic Development and Local Government Committee. SB-329. A cumulative preference system for sturgeon spearing permits and the transfer of a sturgeon spearing license to a minor. Referred to Natural Resources Committee. Introduced in the Assembly: AB-381. The definitions of an all-terrain vehicle and a utility terrain vehicle, restrictions on operating an all-terrain vehicle or a utility vehicle on a roadway, and seating requirements for utility terrain vehicles. Referred to Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage Committee. AB-382. The school district levy for community programs and services. Referred to Education Committee. AB-383. Criminal procedures. Referred to Judiciary Committee. AB-384. Exceptions to the prohibition of release of customer information by a municipal utility. Referred to Energy and Utilities Committee. AB-385. Changes to the local room tax. Referred to Tourism Committee. AB-386. The effect of changes in requirements for development-related permits or authorizations on persons who apply for permits or authorizations. Referred to Housing and Real Estate Committee. AB-387. The age at which a person who is alleged to have violated a criminal law, a civil law, or a municipal ordinance and who is not alleged to have committed certain violent offences or has not previously been convicted of a crime or adjudicated delinquent is subject to juvenile court jurisdiction. Referred to Corrections Committee. AB-388. Traffic violations resulting in harm to vulnerable highway users, driver education instruction. Referred to Transportation Committee. AB-389. The maximum speed limit on freeways and expressways. Referred to Transportation Committee. AB-390. Parental notification for questioning pupils about criminal activity. Referred to Education Committee. AB-391. The display and sale of novelty lighters. Referred to Consumer Protection Committee. AB-392. Co-payments, deductibles, or coinsurance for oral chemotherapy and injected or intravenous chemotherapy. Referred to Health Committee. AB-393. Residence of election officials. Referred to Campaigns and Elections Committee. AB-394. Labeling of duplicate ballots. Referred to Campaigns and Elections Committee. AB-395. Creation of a Joint Committee on State Mandates and required funding of state mandates. Referred to State Affairs Committee. AB-396. Absentee voting at residential care facilities. Referred to Campaigns and Elections Committee. AB-397. Shining wild animals. Referred to Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage Committee. AB-398. Technical excellence higher education scholarships. Referred to Children and Families Committee. AB-399. Career and technical education incentive grants. Referred to Workforce Development Committee. AJR-55. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Referred to Rules Committee. AJR-56. Recognizes October 6 as German-American Day. Referred to Rules Committee. AR-16. Proclaims October as Italian-American Heritage Month. Referred to Rules Committee. AB-400. Participation in certain training by unemployment insurance claimants. Referred to Workforce Development Committee. AB-401. A Transitional Jobs program. Referred to Workforce Development Committee. |
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