July 10, 2014

Dear Friends and Neighbors -

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the recent Fourth of July weekend and spend some time with family and friends.

With summer in full swing, there has been a lot of activity around the 32nd Senate District. This e-newsletter features some of the local events I've attended as well as a few updates on environmental issues and the status of the Veterans Trust Fund.

You can read all about these issues below, and don't forget to take a minute and fill out my new online survey at Senate.Shilling.wi.gov if you haven't already so I can continue advocating for our shared values.

Sincerely,

Jennifer K. Shilling
State Senator | 32nd District

I am excited to share that the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters (WLCV) recently recognized me as one of their “Conservation Champions” and named me to their organization’s exclusive “Conservation Honor Roll.” In announcing these awards, the WLCV noted my record of supporting local control and defense of clean drinking water initiatives.

“Senator Shilling is a true conservation leader,” said Anne Sayers, Program Director for Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. “At a time when our air, land, and water face significant threats, voters recognize and applaud Senator Shilling for her leadership to protect the things that make Wisconsin such a beautiful and special place.”

Over the past year, I've been proud to champion efforts to protect local control of frac sand mining and was successful in stopping Republican legislation that would have overridden local public health and safety protections. As a member of the Joint Finance Committee, I was also able to secure bipartisan support to strengthen oversight of frac sand mining facilities. These efforts have helped to improve community outreach and respond to complaints of fugitive dust and leakage from frac sand mining sites.

While I am grateful for this recognition, I know that there is still more work to be done to protect local control and prevent corporate special interests from imposing their will on our communities. In order to maintain our way of life and ensure freedom for future generations, we need to protect the clean drinking water, fresh air, and unique land we have here in Wisconsin. I am honored by these awards from the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters and will continue to stand up for our local communities.

For more information on the WLCV's Conservation Scorecard report you can visit their website here.
 

My 2014 Legislative Survey is now available online. If you haven't already taken a minute to answer these 10 short questions, there's still time to visit my website and take the survey here: Shilling.Senate.wi.gov

Your opinion is important to me and I hope you'll take a few moments to let me know your thoughts on some of the important issues that have been proposed in the Legislature. Knowing how people feel about these topics helps me to best represent our shared values. Thanks!

A recent report from the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) has revealed a growing structural deficit in the state’s Veterans Trust Fund. While the fund had a cash balance of $19.9 million in 2011, it is now projected to face a $46.1 million budget shortfall by 2019.

The DVA report to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee identifies declining revenue projections and increasing program expenditures as the reason for the Veterans Trust Fund budget deficit. The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates this deficit will total $46.1 million by 2019 unless corrective actions are taken.

Neither the current administration nor DVA Secretary John Scocos have identified a long-term solution to balance the Veterans Trust Fund budget or address the projected structural deficit. In addition to the deficit in the Veterans Trust Fund, Wisconsin is facing a projected deficit of over $800 million in the General Fund, Transportation Fund and Medical Assistance budget.

Our veterans and their families have made tremendous sacrifices and they deserve to be treated fairly. This new budget deficit reveals a troubling trend that threatens the long-term solvency of the Veterans Trust Fund as well as important job creation and health care programs in our state.

Wisconsin’s sluggish economy and recent cuts to important state programs have denied too many veterans and families the opportunities they need to succeed. Whether recently returning from deployment overseas or entering the golden years of retirement, all our veterans deserve the same opportunities for success and they should not be penalized as a result of this budget deficit.

The Veterans Trust Fund deficit news comes as veterans have grown increasingly critical of Republicans in Madison. Veterans and grassroots advocacy organizations have been particularly concerned with newly enacted legislation making it more difficult for veterans to seek justice for employment discrimination claims and compensation for injuries caused by asbestos exposure.
 

7 C's Health Initiative Meet and Greet

I recently enjoyed taking part in the 7 C's Health Initiative meet and greet in Cashton. It was a great opportunity for legislators and attendees to discuss current issues and policies to help build safe and strong communities.

Sen. Jennifer Shilling with local students advocating for healthy living

Tourism Promotion

I was happy to join Driftless Wisconsin as they received their third Travel Wisconsin JEM (Joint Effort Marketing) Grant to continue funding an advertising campaign marketing the Driftless as a tourism destination. The grant represents the third year of a JEM campaign designed to brand the Driftless Wisconsin name and invite visitors to the area.
 

A recent study by Tourism Economics shows that visitor spending in the Driftless Wisconsin region reached $52.6 million in 2013 and spending has grown 5.9% over the past three years. That direct visitor spending generated nearly $80 million in total business sales in 2013 as tourism dollars flowed through the region’s economy. Additionally, a total of 812 jobs with a total income of $16.0 million were created or sustained by the spending of visitors to Driftless Wisconsin last year.

Driftless Wisconsin contains Gays Mills, LaFarge, Ferryville, Soldier’s Grove, Viroqua, Westby, Boscobel and Prairie du Chien. You can visit www.DriftlessWisconsin.com to learn more.
 

From the Wisconsin DNR:

Where should state environmental officials focus efforts to protect surface water quality in Wisconsin over the next three years?

State officials are seeking public input on 22 water quality standard topics for Wisconsin lakes and rivers related to the protection of public health, recreation, fish and other aquatic communities.

This process, which occurs every three years, is called the triennial standards review. The topics under consideration address things such as levels of pollutants, algae and nutrients as well as guidance for implementing water quality criteria.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is proposing to revise some existing standards because of new information on certain contaminants and to reflect changes in federal or state regulations. Also under consideration is the development of standards for certain emerging contaminants that may need to be monitored and controlled to protect people and the environment.

Any actual changes to standards must be approved by the Natural Resources Board, the Wisconsin Legislature and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

There are many potential standards-related topics that may benefit from a review under this process. However, due to limited resources, not all of the changes can be addressed at the same time. To help prioritize which standards and policies should receive attention first, DNR is asking for input from the public.

Stakeholders are invited to comment on the standards-related topic priorities through August 7, 2014 via an online survey tool. The goal of the survey is to determine which surface water quality standards and policies the public most strongly wants to see reviewed or developed in the next three years. The Public Ranking Survey and topic descriptions are available by visiting the DNR website at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/surfacewater/tsr.html

After the survey, DNR will use the public priorities and DNR's internal rankings to prepare a final list of topics for 2015-2017 as required under the Clean Water Act. The DNR will use that final priority list to plan its work over the ensuing three years and each topic will be addressed as resources allow.

A public hearing will be held on July 30, 2014 from 10 to 11 a.m. This hearing is for citizens to comment on or ask questions about the process and the topics presented. Anyone who would like to participate is invited to join online through a webinar using the link posted on the DNR website, or in person at the State Natural Resources Building, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, in Room 313 after signing in at the visitor's desk.

Questions or comments on the triennial standards review process should be directed to Ashley Beranek by calling 608-267-9603, e-mailing ashley.beranek@wisconsin.gov, or mailing to Wisconsin DNR WT/3, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.

Senator Jennifer Shilling
P.O. Box 7882 - Madison, WI 53707

phone: 608.266.5490   

email: sen.shilling@legis.wi.gov

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