LARSON REPORT

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

April 8, 2011

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.wisconsin.gov

Mailing Address:

State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707

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.

Composting Workshop
April 9 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn how to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil. Composting is beneficial for your garden and reduces household waste. Cost to register is $15. For more information or to register, please CLICK HERE.

Outpost Natural Foods (MAP)

2826 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53207

(414) 272-5462, ext. 105

The Hundred Dresses
Now through April 16, Showtimes Vary
Would you have the courage to stand up for someone, even if it meant that you might be picked on, too? Follow Maddie Reeves' personal journey as she struggles to defend her new friend, Wanda Petronski, who after moving to town is teased for claiming to have 100 beautiful dresses at home despite wearing the same one to school every day. CLICK HERE for additional information.

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (MAP)
929 N. Water St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-7206

Death of a Salesman

Now through May 8, Showtimes Vary

Attend this unflinching examination of the American dream as shown through the eyes of Willy Loman. This Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece is essential viewing for every generation. For more details, please CLICK HERE.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater (MAP)
108 E. Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 224-9490

Dear Friend,

Our community received some great news this past weekend -- the Hoan Bridge will be repaired! Information for upcoming town hall meetings are also provided as we continue to discuss the 2011-2013 Biennial Budget and its impact on our neighborhoods.

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

Democrats Fight Against Cutting SeniorCare

Senate Democrats voted against legislation on Tuesday that attacks SeniorCare, a vital state health care program that provides life-saving medication to seniors at a price they can afford.

My colleagues and I introduced amendments to improve Special Session Senate Bill 12, all of which were rejected by Senate Republicans. These amendments would have required that funds from SeniorCare be kept in the program and prevented a $28 million raid of the state's health care fund.

Our community wants a budget that has been balanced legally and continues to provide the necessary services for our families and neighbors. Unfortunately, this recently-passed legislation does not accomplish this goal.

To view a copy of this bill, please CLICK HERE.

Integrity in Our Elections Needs to be Maintained

I share the concerns of many of you and find the unfolding events of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to be deeply troubling. A thorough independent investigation must be done to ensure that each vote has been properly counted and the winner of this election has legitimately earned the title State Supreme Court Justice.

Hoan Bridge Victory

After increasing neighborhood pressure, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has finally announced that the Hoan Bridge will be repaired, not torn down. This project is great news for our community as the Hoan Bridge has long been in need of repairs and is crucial for our neighbors and businesses.

The Hoan Bridge is vital to our neighbors as it is the transit artery connecting south side residents to the rest of their community, including downtown Milwaukee and the entire interstate freeway system. Approximately 48,000 vehicles pass over the bridge daily according to DOT statistics.

The Hoan Bridge is also an important structure to the success of the Port of Milwaukee facilitating the importing and exporting of goods. According to DOT, 240 ships and 120,000 trucks come in and out of the port every year. This along with our low-cost airport also linked to the Hoan Bridge, gives us a true competitive advantage over other nearby ports, such as the Port of Chicago.

The decision to preserve the Hoan Bridge rather than demolishing the structure is the best option for our community and one I advocated for as a state senator, county board supervisor, and co-founder of the Coalition to Save the Hoan Bridge. Proposed alternatives to this bridge would have interfered with port traffic, disrupted commuters traveling to and from downtown Milwaukee and the South Shore communities, and harmed businesses reliant on the bridge. It is clear that the Hoan Bridge is necessary for the long-term success of our community and will be a valuable asset for future generations.

The Hoan Bridge construction project is scheduled to begin in 2013 and has an estimated cost of between $275 and $350 million. The project includes replacing the existing bridge deck and bridges on I-794 going east and west between the Lake and Marquette Interchanges. Surface repairs on the Lake Interchange are also included in the construction plan.

Public Hearings on Budget Continue

The Joint Finance Committee announced the dates, times and locations for the official public hearings on the Biennial Budget Adjustment Bill. Information for the remaining hearings are provided below:

Monday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Expo Center Hall A at State Fair Park (West Allis, WI)

Wednesday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Arcadia High School Auditorium (Arcadia, WI)

Department of Health Services Meeting

Thursday, April 14 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is holding a town hall meeting regarding cutting the state’s Medical Assistance programs. With the drastic cuts and changes recently proposed to our health care safety net in the 2011-2013 Biennial Budget, it is crucial that our neighbors make their voices heard on the importance of programs including: SeniorCare, BadgerCare Plus, Family Care, IRIS and other long-term care programs.

If you are unable to attend but would like to voice your opinion on these vital health care programs, please CLICK HERE to submit your testimony electronically.

Zoofari Conference Center
9715 W. Blue Mound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
 

Town Hall on Health Care Budget Provisions

Tuesday, April 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Caucus is holding a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 19 to discuss health care-related provisions in the 2011-2013 Biennial Budget. This will be a non-partisan forum and all Milwaukee-area legislators will be invited to participate in the discussion with our community members. Please do not hesitate to contact my office for additional information.

Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet Street

Milwaukee, WI 53208

 

Community Meeting on Voter I.D. and Same Day Voter Registration

Monday, April 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Attend a community meeting on Monday, April 18 at UW-Milwaukee to discuss voter I.D. legislation and its impact on seniors, students, minorities and transient populations. The effects of ending same-day registration will also be discussed. Guest speakers will include Rep. Richards and myself.

UW-Milwaukee's Wisconsin Room
2200 E. Kenwood Boulevard

Milwaukee, WI 53211

DNR Licenses for 2011 Available

All 2010 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) licenses expired on March 31. To purchase your 2011 DNR License in-person, please visit the Milwaukee County Clerk’s Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, CLICK HERE to visit the County Clerk's Web site.

Milwaukee County Clerk's Office

County Courthouse
901 N. 9th Street, Rm. 105
Milwaukee, WI 53233

(414) 278-4067

The Milwaukee DNR Service Center can assist you as well. The service center is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

DNR Southeast Region Headquarters
2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414)263-8500

If you would prefer to purchase your DNR license online, please CLICK HERE.
 

Suggestions for Summer Activities

Spring is almost over and our neighbors will soon be seeking out summer youth and family activities in our community. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to pass these along to me via phone or email so that I can share these ideas with our neighbors in future newsletters.