CONTACT ME
MAIL:
Room 20 South
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
TELEPHONE:
Office Phone
(608) 266-5490
Toll Free
(800) 385-3385
EMAIL:
Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov
WEBSITE:
legis.wi.gov/senate/shilling
SOCIAL MEDIA
Things move quickly here in the Capitol and you can always check my Facebook or Twitter to see what is happening.
"Like" Jennifer Shilling on Facebook:
Or Follow on Twitter!
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
|
May 9, 2014 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Friends and Neighbors - Happy Mother's Day! It's beginning to feel more like spring every day, and summer is right around the corner already. Continue reading for an update on the state's unemployment program, news regarding the Badger-Coulee Transmission Line review process, broadband expansion efforts, and many exciting events around the Coulee Region. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other state legislative issues. Sincerely, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delays in Unemployment Program Trigger Audit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the
Joint Legislative Audit Committee recently approved an audit of
the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to investigate
ongoing delays in the handling of unemployment benefits. Many
workers and families have reported that they have been forced to
wait weeks for their claims to be processed by the DWD which is
overseen by Governor Walker. At a time when we should be doing everything in our power to help working families make ends meet, these delays are unacceptable. Too many workers continue to struggle as a result of Wisconsin’s poor economic performance and we should be doing more to help our friends and neighbors in need. Issues with the DWD unemployment insurance hotline and poor response times have been an ongoing problem. In its 2013 Annual Report, the DWD acknowledged they had a backlog of claims “in excess of 10,000 with a wait time of 12 weeks or longer in some cases.” My Democratic colleagues and I sought to address these issues in May 2013 when the DWD budget was being debated by the Joint Finance Committee. A proposal authorizing additional staff to process unemployment claims (motion #170) was introduced by Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), but Republican legislators rejected this proposal on a party-line vote. We know there are ongoing problems in this agency that are preventing families from accessing their benefits. I’ve heard firsthand from many individuals who have found themselves laid off or unemployed through no fault of their own. These individuals and families need the financial security to pay their bills on time, but they are finding it hard to make ends meet as a result of the lengthy delays at DWD. I encourage anyone who is experiencing problems accessing their benefits to contact my office so we can make sure these claims are being processed in a timely manner. Individuals who are having difficulties filing unemployment assistance claims or reaching DWD staff can email Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov or call 1-800-385-3385 for assistance. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Badger-Coulee Proposal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On April 30th, the Public Service
Commission (PSC) announced that the application for the
Badger-Coulee transmission line project, submitted by American
Transmission Company and Xcel Energy, has been deemed complete
and the public can now officially weigh-in on the proposal. The
proposed high-voltage transmission line would connect to the
CapX2020 line at the Briggs Road Substation in Holmen, WI and
continue on to Madison, WI. I encourage individuals, businesses and organizations along the proposed routes to take part in the process. It is important that concerned citizens submit comments to the PSC, attend public scoping meetings and talk to neighbors and community members about the proposal. The PSC now has 180 days, with a 180-day extension option, to take final action on the proposal. The PSC has already indicated that the Badger-Coulee line proposal will most likely take them the entire 360 days to review. During this review process, the public will have multiple opportunities to weigh in on the proposal, including PSC open houses and public hearings in communities along the proposed routes. The public is now able to submit written comments to the PSC and can do so here. The Badger-Coulee proposal is docket number 05-CE-142. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Award for Support of Local Workers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As part of the La Crosse area’s
observance of International Workers' Memorial Day, Senator
Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) was presented with an award on
April 28th for her strong support of workplace safety rights. International Workers’ Memorial Day is held annually on April 28th in remembrance of workers killed, disabled, or injured in the workplace. Nearly four million Americans suffer a workplace injury every year. While safety initiatives have helped to significantly reduce workplace fatalities, many workers continue to face exposure to job hazards. “This day is a solemn reminder of the ongoing struggle for workplace safety,” said Sen. Shilling. “In communities and small towns across our region, many workers continue to face new dangers and challenges. Whether workers handle volatile chemicals, operate dangerous machinery, or suffer exposure to workplace violence and stress, workplace safety continues to be a significant issue. I am honored by this award and will remain committed to strengthening workplace safety and defending the rights of workers who are injured on the job.” This year’s event was the 30th annual observance of Workers’ Memorial Day. In addition to the event’s program and speakers, a new bronze plaque was dedicated at the ceremony. Workers memorialized on the new plaque include (year of death in parenthesis): Eric Lecher (2013), Anthony Dorava (2013), Paul Petras (2012), AJ Petras (2012), Robert Ideker Jr (2009), Richard Anderson (2007), Gary Rhomberg (1983), and Herman Holtze (1965).  Photo courtesy of Peter Thomson at the La Crosse Tribune. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shilling Recognized for Focus on Job Training | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 2014 Rehabilitation for
Wisconsin/Wisconsin Rehabilitation Association Government
Leadership Award was presented to State Senator Jennifer
Shilling (D-La Crosse) at the Rehabilitation and Transition
Conference in Green Bay, WI on May 1, 2014. Riverfront, Inc.,
headquartered in La Crosse, nominated Sen. Shilling for the
award based on her work to support job creation efforts and
strengthen employment assistance services for individuals with
disabilities. “Empowering individuals with special needs to identify their unique abilities and maximize their potential continues to be a priority of mine as we work to get our state’s economy back on track,” said Sen. Shilling. “Strengthening job training and employment assistance services for people with disabilities is a smart investment for taxpayers, workers, and businesses.” Each year, Rehabilitation for Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Association solicit nominations for this prestigious award. Decisions about who will receive the award are made based on the nominee’s contributions to legislation, policies, and/or practices affecting people with disabilities. “We nominated Senator Shilling for her ongoing commitment to advocating for individuals with disabilities in Wisconsin, and for her recent legislative success in strengthening job training through increased funding to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation,” said Mary Kessens, Riverfront, Inc. President and CEO. Legislation co-authored by Senator Shilling and Representative Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) was signed into law in December and allowed the state to seek additional federal investments for worker training services through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Access to employment services and counseling provided by the DVR helps people with disabilities to secure employment and increase self-sufficiency. The passage of this legislation, known as 2013 Wisconsin Act 58, has expanded access to employment for individuals with disabilities by significantly reducing waiting lists at the DVR. “Helping individuals with disabilities find steady employment will boost our workforce and expand economic opportunities,” added Sen. Shilling. “There is an exponential return on our modest investments in the DVR program which was sorely in need of public support. I’ve enjoyed working with all our community advocates and partners in the Coulee Region and I look forward to our continued efforts to improve worker training opportunities across our state.” On average last year, 4,360 individuals per month were unable to receive services as a result of the DVR waitlist with an average delay of 5 month for services. The delays for individuals with disabilities seeking DVR employment assistance have dropped dramatically since Act 58 was signed into law. The latest DVR waitlist has been reduced nearly in half to 2,375 as of April 2014 and the Department of Workforce Development anticipates further reductions as Act 58 continues to be implemented. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Issues Persist at Troubled Walker Agency | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Legislature’s Joint Finance
Committee (JFC) met on Tuesday to take up more than a dozen
funding requests from Gov. Walker’s executive agencies including
the troubled Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
Several of the agency requests stem from Wisconsin’s slow job
creation, high unemployment, and a lack of public investments in
job creation infrastructure. Notably, Republican JFC members
approved a WEDC request to cut $10 million in funding from the
state’s Early Stage Business Investment Tax Credit program which
is aimed at growing high-tech start-up companies. It is disappointing that WEDC is throwing in the towel and failing to support new, high-tech start-ups in Wisconsin. Small start-ups are the kinds of home-grown businesses that create the most jobs and we should be doing everything in our power to support these entrepreneurs. Wisconsin ranks 48th – second worst in the nation – when it comes to new businesses created. Rather than cutting funding for entrepreneurs, we should be aggressively working to invest in Wisconsin start-ups and grow our small businesses. In addition to shifting money away from new-start-ups, Republicans rejected a request from the Public Service Commission to establish a State Broadband Office as well as a proposal to restore funding to the state’s Hazardous Material (HazMat) Response Network. We need to increase broadband access in our rural communities if we want our local businesses to be competitive in the global economy. Public investments in rural broadband development will provide the 21st century infrastructure we need to grow our economy and create new jobs. Without these investments, local businesses will be at a significant economic disadvantage and will have fewer opportunities for job growth. Businesses and residents also rely on strong public safety and emergency response services, and I am disappointed that Republicans have once again rejected efforts to strengthen our regional HazMat response teams. We are seeing a massive increase of volatile crude oil being transported through residential communities along the Mississippi. While our local fire departments and emergency responders are doing their best to prepare for accidents, we need to invest in the training and equipment they need to respond when disasters strike. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weekly Democratic Radio Address: "Broadband Infrastructure Key to Local Job Growth" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I offered the Democratic weekly radio
address on May 8th. In my radio message, I highlighted the need
for additional investments in Wisconsin's broadband
infrastructure to create jobs and support the growth of local
small businesses. A written transcript of the address is below: We often talk about private-public partnerships and the infrastructure investment needed for our businesses to grow and create jobs. This infrastructure isn’t just our roads, bridges and water lines. It’s also the broadband infrastructure that we need to invest in and develop statewide. This week, the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee considered a request from the Public Service Commission to establish a State Broadband Office – the first of its kind in Wisconsin. This important, forward-looking proposal would identify areas where broadband access is lacking and work to improve internet services in both rural and urban areas. While Republicans rejected the PSC’s proposal to improve broadband access, Democrats recognize the need to invest in our broadband infrastructure. We know that increasing broadband access will help our local businesses compete in the global economy. I recently visited a rapidly growing business in Viroqua, Wisconsin. This business is booming because of their online sales and the broadband infrastructure in their community. However, just miles away, that type of local, home-grown business could not survive or create jobs because broadband is not available. Without important infrastructure investments, local businesses will be at a significant economic disadvantage and will have fewer opportunities for job growth. As we continue to look for ways to create jobs and grow our economy, investing in a 21st century broadband network will provide the opportunities that our small businesses and communities need across Wisconsin. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Join Options Clinic in celebrating National Women's Health Week | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In honor of National Women's Health Week,
Options Clinic is holding many events around La Crosse from May
11-17th. Make sure to check some of them out to stay informed on
women's health!  Photo courtesy of Options Clinic's Facebook page. Feel free to call Options Clinic at 608-775-8380 for more information on Women's Health Week and their clinic! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calendar of Events | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
If you wish to stop receiving these
emails, please reply to this email
|
