		LARSON REPORT
		WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
		Click here to view this Email in your Web browser *April 12, 2012*

CONTACT ME Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or opinions you might have. Office Phone: (608) 266-7505 Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487 Email: Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov Mailing Address: State Capitol P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 Web Site: SenatorChrisLarson.com COMMUNITY EVENTS Supporting our neighbors and being involved in our community is of the utmost importance. Some community events that might be of interest to you and your family are listed below. Spring Chef Series Date: Every Saturday Now through April 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location: Milwaukee Description: Develop your culinary skills with the talented executive chefs of Marcus Restaurants. In these classes you will learn how to prepare a variety of amazing seasonal dishes just in time for spring. Classes will be held every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through April 28. The cost is $29 per person or $49 per couple. For reservations please call (414) 935-5942. CLICK HERE for more information. The Pfister (MAP) 424 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 West Side Story Date: Now through Sun., April 15 Location: Milwaukee Description: Known as one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time, West Side Story explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs in New York City during the 1950s. CLICK HERE or call (414) 273-7206 for additional information. Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (MAP) 929 N. Water Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Fishing Clinics for Kids Date: Sat., April 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Varies Description: Stop by this clinic to learn more about Wisconsin's fishing heritage. Kids 15 and under will learn about technique, equipment, knots, safety, and fish ID at this free event. Equipment will be available by sponsors, but participants should bring their own rod and reel if possible. Clinics will run hourly, with the last clinic beginning at 2 p.m. An adult must accompany children under 7 years of age. Clinics will be available at the following locations: South Milwaukee--Oak Creek Parkway Mill Pond (at Creek Parkway & Mill Road) Cudahy--Sheridan Park (4800 Lake Drive) Bay View--Humboldt Park (3000 S. Howell Avenue) CLICK HERE for more information and additional locations. Family Free Day at Zoo Date: Sat., April 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Location: Milwaukee Description: Home to more than 2,275 animals with more than 330 species represented, the Milwaukee County Zoo is one of Milwaukee’s finest attractions. All visitors receive free admission to the Milwaukee County Zoo on this day, although the parking fee remains in effect. CLICK HERE or call (414) 256-5466 for more information on this event or the Milwaukee County Zoo. Milwaukee County Zoo (MAP) 10001 W. Blue Mound Road Milwaukee, WI 53226 Barking for Adoptions Date: April 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Milwaukee Description: Rescue groups in the Milwaukee area are hosting a dog, cat and small animal adopt-a-thon. Participants include the K&R Small Animal Sanctuary, Chihuahua Rescue, Castaway Pet Rescue, Elmbrook Humane Society, Brew City Bully Club, Green Acres Boxer Rescue, and many more. CLICK HERE or call (414) 763-1304 for more information. Bay View Bark 2209 S. 1st Street Milwaukee, WI 53207 Family Night at South Milwaukee Library Date: Tues., April 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Location: South Milwaukee Description: Join the South Milwaukee Public Library in celebrating National Library Week. The night includes an ice cream social and a performance from Magician Rick Allen. CLICK HERE or call (414) 768-8195 for additional information. South Milwaukee Public Library (MAP) 1907 10th Avenue South Milwaukee, WI 53172 Spring Gallery Night and Day Date: Fri., April 20 through Sat., April 21 Location: Milwaukee Description: Presented by the Historic Third Ward Association, Gallery Night and Day is the premier art event in Milwaukee. An evening of gallery hopping and art viewing begins Friday, April 20 and continues during the day on Saturday, April 21. This quarterly event showcases 62 venues throughout the downtown Milwaukee area. Admission to all venues is free during event hours. CLICK HERE for more information, including a list of participating venues. South Milwaukee Downtown Market Date: Sat., April 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: South Milwaukee Description: Join our neighbors on Saturday, April 21, as more than 45 vendors gather at the Caterpillar Heritage Building and Bucyrus History Museum. There will be live music from South Milwaukee's Ron Plevak and local students. All vendor stalls are now full. Market hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CLICK HERE for more information. Milwaukee Ave & 11th Avenue (MAP) South Milwaukee, WI 53172 IndependenceFirst Recycling Day Date: Sat., April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: Milwaukee Description: River Run Computers presents Electronic Recycle Day. This event will deliver a positive impact on our local environment and benefit our neighbors with disabilities. Bring in desktop computers, printers, fax machines, and other devices. Practice responsible recycling by donating your old electronic equipment to help individuals with disabilities to be more independent in our community. CLICK HERE for more information. IndependenceFirst (MAP) 540 S. 1st Street Milwaukee, WI 53204 A Taste of Italy Date: Sunday, April 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: Milwaukee Description: All lovers of Italian food will want to stop by this unique event. Enjoy a tasting of traditional Italian food including appetizers, entrees, and desserts, from arancini to pizelle. Admission and parking are free. CLICK HERE or call (414) 223-2800 for more information. Italian Community Center (MAP) 631 E. Chicago Street Milwaukee, WI 53202		Dear Friend, In honor of Earth Day, we will look closely at the history of Earth Day, recent legislative efforts geared toward our natural resources, and provide information about local environmental events and initiatives. As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or opinions you may have about our community or our state. Sincerely, Chris Larson State Senator, District 7
		Our Conservation Tradition Forgotten
		Earth Day, which falls on Sunday, April 22, is fast approaching. In honor of this holiday we will take a look at our past, present, and future by recounting how our tradition of conservation began, examine our state’s current environmental efforts, and detail how to preserve our natural resources to ensure they can be enjoyed by generations to come. You can also CLICK HERE or on the video link below to view my message for Earth Day 2012. Conservation—The Wisconsin Way The conservation movement in Wisconsin began with the arrival of Mr. Increase Lapham to Milwaukee in 1836. During his travels, Lapham kept meticulous records on Wisconsin’s environment to serve as models for those that would follow him. In 1855, Lapham began to argue for an ecological point of view toward the Wisconsin frontier by lobbying the State Legislature to authorize a natural history survey to prevent more of Wisconsin’s native species from going extinct due to increased settlement and industrialization. Early conservation efforts continued under the leadership of Fighting Bob La Follette who supported the creation of state parks in Wisconsin to protect some of our lands from radical deforestation. La Follette championed that pitting economic development above our environment is a false choice that Wisconsinites should not be forced to make. Wisconsin was even home to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, a former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator dedicated to cleaning up polluted waterways, protecting natural resources, creating green jobs, and bolstering the state's recreation infrastructure. The first Earth Day was observed nationwide on April 22, 1970, and served as a day to increase environmental awareness. As we see with many families, when a commitment to conservation is shared, future generations continue with efforts to protect our natural resources. Gaylord's daughter, Tia Nelson, is a great example of such an intergenerational legacy. Tia now serves Wisconsin as Executive Secretary on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Click here for more information about Gaylord Nelson or the history of Earth Day. Failing Our Forefathers This most recent legislative session served as a wake-up call that preserving our environment takes effort and commitment from those in charge. Unfortunately, those with the power this session failed to improve or protect our treasured natural resources. The goal as an environmental steward is to leave a place cleaner than when you arrived, and on this aim, the Legislature fell short. Instead, Governor Walker and Republican legislators pushed an agenda that has left our state’s natural resources vulnerable. Many of these changes were instituted under the most recent budget, including: Cutting funding for recycling programs by 40%. According to Recycle More Wisconsin, previously funded recycling programs keep 1.69 million tons of materials out of Wisconsin's landfills, supports 97,000 jobs and contributes $5.4 billion to our state's economy. Eliminating $26 million in Stewardship program funding used to forever safeguard Wisconsin's precious lands and valuable natural resources for today and tomorrow. Reducing funding for the Focus on Energy program that promotes in-state economic development, helps Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, and protects our environment. In the past 10 years, more than 91,000 businesses and more than 1.7 million residents used the program and saved $2.20 for every $1 spent on average. Eliminating the Office of Energy Independence, which provides long-term planning and development of fuels, technologies and business practices in Wisconsin to reduce our state's dependence on foreign energy resources. Eliminating the Renewable Grants and Loan Program and the Green to Gold Program. The former provides incentives for Wisconsin businesses to develop renewable technologies including biofuels, while the latter helps Wisconsin's industries lower their energy costs and encourages job creation and growth. Repealing water quality standards that require communities to reduce the total amount of suspended solids in local water supplies. Without such regulations to protect our water quality, sewerage waste, toxic chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides could make their way into our drinking water and lakes, and significantly harm the health of our families and communities. Holding up wind siting rules forcing alternative energy investors to send jobs elsewhere. This agenda to place polluters over people continued with the passage of Senate Bill 326, legislation that undoes important environmental protections that keep our air clean and our water safe for drinking and recreation. The following concerns can be found in this environmentally harmful legislation that threatens our natural resources and families by: Tying the hands of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by not allowing follow-up requests for information from permit applicants. Encouraging DNR permit applicants to submit incomplete or false information since DNR is restricted in follow-ups. Giving DNR the authority to issue permits without a public hearing. Removing air quality protections, such as requiring industries to model their expected air quality impact to ensure the health of neighbors is not adversely impacted by pollutants they produce. There is an undeniable link between a healthy environment and sustainable economic growth. Therefore, like Fighting Bob La Follette, we should not allow polluters to bully us into making a false choice between conservation and economic growth. Creating a Brighter Future for Our Children Our children deserve better than what they have been offered by this Republican Legislature. For this reason, I authored the Wisconsin Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights with my colleague Representative Chris Taylor. This resolution seeks to reconnect children with nature to both improve their overall health and ensure we have a new generation of stewards to protect Wisconsin’s valued natural environment. It lays the foundation of our commitment to provide our children the opportunity to discover Wisconsin’s diverse wilderness by sharing in our hunting and fishing traditions, hiking on trails, and swimming in our lakes and rivers. With this Bill of Rights, we also codify a generational promise to our children that Wisconsin will have breathable air and clean drinking water. This resolution is vital to the health of our children as there has been a recent shift away from outdoor activities to more solitary and stationary activities, such as watching TV and playing video games. According to a recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Fund, children ages 8-18 spend more than 7.5 hours each day, or 53 hours a week, on smart phones, computers and watching TV. These figures are in stark contrast with the amount of time children spend outdoors considering the average 6-12 year old spends just 30 minutes per week in unstructured outdoor activities such as gardening, camping or hiking. As a result, our children are now suffering from a “Nature Deficit Disorder,” which has begun to take a toll on the health of our children who are facing skyrocketing obesity, diabetes and attention deficit disorder rates. Statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention find that from 1980 to 2008 childhood obesity in children aged 6-11 nearly tripled and childhood obesity in children aged 12-19 more than tripled. This means that approximately one out of every five children today is considered obese, leaving today’s youth at risk of becoming the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. The Wisconsin Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights promotes behaviors and activities that are shown to improve the mental and physical health of our children. Time outdoors is proven to benefit our children’s health as it decreases stress levels and lowers their risk of developing asthma or being overweight. It also increases our children’s chances for success since students who play and learn in outdoor settings perform better on tests, have higher grade point averages and cause fewer classroom disruptions. This resolution is an opportunity for parents, policy makers, educators and health care providers throughout our state to affirm each child’s right to grow up healthy and have access to a clean and safe outdoor environment. As stated by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, “Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health.” It is time that we start making that investment. By Adopting the Wisconsin Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, we will take one step forward in that direction. Unfortunately, this legislative initiative was not adopted this session. However, I look forward to introducing this resolution again when the 2013-2014 Legislative Session begins in January. Click here to view a copy of this resolution .
		Earth Day Events
		There are plenty of events happening around Wisconsin in honor of Earth Day. Continue reading for events in our community. If you live outside of the Milwaukee area, please feel free to contact your local municipality for additional information specific to your neighborhood. Earth Day at the Urban Ecology Center Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center will host a number of family-friendly events, including a weed-out of Riverside and Washington Park, a river clean-up by canoe, a river to lake hike, crafts, stories, tree planting, and even a drum group. Urban Ecology Center (MAP) 1500 E. Park Place Milwaukee, WI 53211 Click here for additional time and event information . Clean-Up Day in Lake Park Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to Noon Be a part of the nation's largest organized annual clean-up, beautification, and community improvement program. Set a positive example for your neighborhood by doing your part to help keep Greater Milwaukee beautiful. This is a great family or group activity. Volunteers should sign-in at the Warming House in Lake Park. Bags will be provided. Lake Park (MAP) 3233 E. Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211 St. Francis Earth Day Celebration Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day with the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi on the convent grounds with a special earth prayer and walking tours of the grape arbor, gardens, orchard, Deer Creek wetlands and the planned urban forest. You can also take home French marigold seeds that were gathered on the grounds. Refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. Call (414) 294-7360 for more information. St. Francis Convent 3221 S. Lake Drive St. Francis, WI 53235 Mill Pond and Watercourse Clean-up Saturday, April 28 from 8 a.m. to Noon Participate in the local clean-up being held by the Friends of Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse, Inc. You will be provided safety vests, bags, water, and vinyl gloves, but bring tall boots if you have them. Meet at Grant Park Beach parking lot (at the far east end of Hawthorne Avenue) in South Milwaukee. The cleanup will target the area from the beach to N. Chicago Avenue. Grant Park (MAP) 100 E. Hawthorne Avenue South Milwaukee, WI 53172 South Shore and Bay View Park Clean-Up Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to Noon Stop by to help get our community clean and ready for summer. Meet at the South Shore Pavilion. From there, crews will head out to the parks, beaches, and neighborhoods of Bay View. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided. Coffee and snacks will also be available. All you have to do is show up and be ready to pick up some trash. Bay View Park (MAP) 3120 S. Lake Drive Milwaukee, WI 53207 South Shore Park (MAP) 2900 S. Shore Drive Milwaukee, WI 53207 Click here for more information . Humboldt Park Clean-Up Saturday, April 28, 9am-Noon Meet at the Humboldt Park Pavilion. Crews will head out and around Humboldt Park. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided. Coffee and snacks will also be available. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan and our local parks. Humboldt Park (MAP) 3000 S. Howell Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 Click here for more information . Cudahy Earth Day/Arbor Day Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to Noon Join neighbors for a city-wide clean-up in the morning. An Arbor Day tree planting ceremony will follow at Noon at Cudahy City Hall to honor former Cudahy Mayor Raymond Glowacki for his service to the community. The Wisconsin DNR will also present the City of Cudahy with its 23rd consecutive "Tree City USA Award" from the National Arbor Day Foundation. Refreshments will be served and tree seedlings will be distributed to volunteers and attendees. To volunteer, please contact Joel Puczylowski by phone at (414) 627-8117 or via email at puczylowski@yahoo.com. Cudahy City Hall (MAP) 5050 S. Lake Drive Cudahy, WI 53110 Click here to view the flier for the event . Targeting Sheridan Park Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to Noon In conjunction with the City of Cudahy's Earth Day/Arbor Day Clean-Up, the Sheridan Park Friends will work with Cudahy High School to pick up trash throughout Sheridan Park, as well as pull weeds and clean around Sheridan Shelter. Everyone is welcome to join. Volunteers will be meeting at the Sheridan Pavilion Area 1. Trash bags will be provided, but you may also want to bring gloves. Sheridan Park (MAP) 4800 S. Lake Drive Cudahy, WI 53110
		Governor Secretly Signs War on Women
		All signs point to us living in a 21st Century world. Our school children can watch space expeditions to Mars from their classrooms, we can control our cars with simple voice commands, and worldwide communication is instant. Yet if you look at the most recent legislative session you might be tricked into believing that we are still living in the 1800s. To kick off the holiday weekend, Governor Walker secretly signed several bills to further instigate his war on Wisconsin’s women. Despite signing the bills behind closed doors without allowing for public viewing on Thursday, April 5, he did not announce that he had signed these bills until Friday, April 6. One such bill was Senate Bill 202. By signing Senate Bill 202 into law, Governor Walker again confirmed his opposition to creating high-paying jobs and a fair work environment for all Wisconsinites. With a stroke of his pen, the governor rolled back equal protection laws for Wisconsin’s women and limited their ability to seek justice for discrimination. According to the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, women earn 77 cents for every dollar men make nationally. In Wisconsin, however, women earn even less as they take home only 75 cents for every dollar their male counterparts receive. Governor Walker began his attack on Wisconsin’s women, placing extreme ideology ahead of job creation and economic prosperity, by eliminating funding in his budget for comprehensive women’s health centers that provide life-saving services, such as pap smears and mammograms. This secretive offensive on women continued last week, where in addition to signing Senate Bill 202, Governor Walker also signed: Senate Bill 237--repeals the Healthy Youth Act, which ensured comprehensive sex education for our youth Senate Bill 92--bans private insurance companies from offering coverage for certain female medical procedures and obstructs access to contraception Senate Bill 306--oversteps the boundaries of the relationship between a woman and her physician The governor’s misplaced priorities threaten the rights of our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. We owe it to them to stand up for what is right and halt these Dark Age practices so that we can get our state moving forward again.
		Ask Chris
		I often have neighbors contact me looking for my perspective on various local and state issues. I very much appreciate our neighbors' questions and want to dedicate a portion of my newsletter to common questions that I hear to maintain an open dialogue. Please continue reading for this week's question. Q: Why has protection of our fresh water supply become such a political issue? A: As the availability of drinking and groundwater continue to shrink, the debate around water politics, also known as hydropolitics, has continued to intensify. According to the United Nation, only 2.5% of the Earth's total water volume is fresh water. Currently, the world's seven billion people are using 54% of all the accessible freshwater contained in rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. Not only have individuals and families increased their own water consumption over the years, but as businesses and industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, have expanded communities that have a more limited supply of drinking and groundwater have started to feel the pinch. This trend can be seen on a global, national, statewide, and even regional scale. For example, in Wisconsin, there has been increasing concern about interest in pulling water out of the Great Lakes Basin. Additionally, in efforts to utilize these valuable resources cheaply, communities and businesses have not always acted to prevent water pollution in order to safeguard neighbors from exposure to dangerous chemicals or particulates. This is an issue that is only going to continue to increase dramatically as we develop and industrialize further. This growing issue illustrates just how important the need for conservation is to our community. As we continue to work together in the future on legislative initiatives that seem to encourage growth and prosperity in our community, it is also important that we remember to protect one of our greatest resources--our water supply. Click here to visit the UN Water Web site for more facts and figures about water and its role in politics .
		Did You Know...
		Today, Wisconsinites and visitors alike can enjoy fishing and water sports in our state's 7,446 streams and rivers. But did you know that end-to-end these body's of water would stretch 26,767 miles? That is more than enough to circle the entire globe at the equator.
		Free Legal Services on Law Day Saturday, May 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
		In recognition of Law Day, the Milwaukee Bar Association will be offering free informational and referral services. Feel free to stop by one of four locations to receive information on how to navigate the legal process, ask experienced attorneys about your legal matters, and be referred to a legal representative with expertise in the area of law with which you need assistance. Click here to view the flier for this event . Service will be provided from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at the following library locations: Bay View Library 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 Central Library 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53233 Center Street Library 2727 W. Fond du Lac Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53210 Atkinson Library 1960 W. Atkinson Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53209
		Connecting With Our Community Through Food
		Our recent economic struggles have reminded us about the American virtue of self-reliance. Fresh, locally-grown produce is not only good for our health, but it also helps drive our local economy and is better for our environment. Below are just a few opportunities available in our community for obtaining fresh produce from local growers. Community Garden Plots The Milwaukee County Cooperative Extension has started turning unused, urban land into community garden plots for everyone to enjoy. Not only can you improve your green-thumb and feel reassured in knowing where your food is coming from, but gardening is also a great way to meet your fellow neighbors and get some exercise. Milwaukee County Cooperative Extension rents garden plots in many parts of the county, including Milwaukee, Oak Creek, and Wauwatosa. The Cooperative Extension also provides technical assistance to neighborhood groups that run their own community gardens. Most plots are annual rentals available for the summer season from about May 25 to the 3rd Sunday in October. These plots are tilled and staked by the staff of the Cooperative Extension's Urban Agriculture Program. For the more avid gardener, some year-round garden plots are also available in some locations These plots are rented from January through December. However with these plots, gardeners are responsible for their own tilling and maintenance. Plot sizes range from 400 to 900 square feet. To help defray the costs of tilling, staking, providing water, and administration, gardeners pay nominal rental fees. Rental fees range from $24 for 400 square feet plots to $46 for 900 square feet plots. Plots for new gardeners are now available for rent. Contact the Cooperative Extension to reserve your plot for the season. The Garden Rental phone is (414) 256-4606. Their offices are open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also feel free to email at garden.rentals@ces.uwex.edu. Click here for more information about Milwaukee County's community garden plots . If you live outside of Milwaukee County, feel free to contact your local municipality for additional information about garden plots in your community. Community Support Agriculture Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is like having your own personal farmer. In a CSA, you become a member of a local farm by purchasing a “share” in that farm. In return, you receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce throughout the growing season, typically late May to November. The benefits for farmers and consumers participating in CSAs are numerous and substantial, including: Allows farmers to focus on producing high quality foods, usually through organic or biodynamic farming methods, by decreasing their market risks through whole-season funding by CSA participants. Creates a stronger consumer-producer relationship by operating with a greater degree of involvement from consumers and stakeholders than usual. Sets a common-pricing system where farmers and CSA participants discuss and democratically agree to pricing rather than directly paying based on pounds of produce receive weekly. Helps neighbors support their local growers and in-turn their local economy rather than companies that may operate outside of the state or even the country. Click here for more information from the Urban Ecology Center, including a listing of local CSAs . Click here for a list of participating CSA farmers from across Wisconsin .
		Annual Bay View Tragedy
		Join me at the 126th Anniversary of the Bay View Tragedy on Sunday, May 6, at the Bay View Rolling Mills state historical marker site. The event commemorates the tragedy of May 5, 1886, when the State Militia shot into a crowd of some 1,500 workers marching in an 8-hour-day rally, killing seven in front of the old Bay View Rolling Mills, then Milwaukee’s largest manufacturing plant. The Bay View Tragedy played a significant role in Wisconsin's labor movement and the struggle of Wisconsin's workers to fight for their rights and improve their employment conditions. The program will include a speech, a folksinger performance, and a re-enactment of the May 5, 1886 event. Click here for more information . Bay View Rolling Mills State Historical Marker Site (MAP) Northeast Corner of South Superior and East Russell Milwaukee, WI 53207
		Opening Day for Brewers
		Our Milwaukee Brewers celebrated Opening Day this past Friday at Miller Park. The Brewers had a record-breaking 2011 Season. Not only did they win their first Division Championship since 1982, but they also set records for most wins at home and crowd attendance. We can only hope that their success will continue to the 2012 Season. Click here for more information about our Milwaukee Brewers and their season schedule .
		IDs for Voting Temporarily on Hold
		The Dane County Circuit Court issued an injunction against 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, a newly implemented law requiring voters to show a valid ID for voting purposes. As a result, this law will temporarily be suspended and voters will not be required to show and ID when voting for the time being, including in the upcoming April elections. This ruling, however, is subject to change based on pending challenges to Judge Flanagan’s ruling in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. It was stated in the ruling that 2011 Wisconsin Act 23 carried a severe risk of disenfranchising voters and was suspended based on the vital public interest at stake in allowing full participation in elections. A determination on the constitutionality of the bill has yet to be made. As this ruling is not final, I will be careful to keep you updated on any changes regarding implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 23.
		Neighborhood Survey Available
		I created a survey asking about various issues that are important to our community and our state. The input of neighbors is greatly appreciated. Click here to download and print a copy of this survey, which you can return to my office via mail, email, or fax upon completion . Click here to save a stamp and take the survey online . I look forward to hearing your views on these important issues!
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