LARSON REPORT
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
July 15, 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.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.
Bastille Days
July 15 from
11 a.m. to July 17 at 9 p.m.
Join in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Bastille Days. Attend
North America's largest outdoor French-themed festival, which takes
place in downtown Milwaukee at Cathedral Square Park.
Celebrate the French Independence Day with a variety of entertainment
options, activities for the kids, roaming minstrels, great food and much
more.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Cathedral Square Park (MAP)
825 North Jefferson
Street Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 276-0130
South Shore Frolics
July 15 through July 17
Stop by the 62nd annual South Shore Frolics. This family-oriented Bay
View festival is free and features fireworks, a parade, a car show,
outdoor movies on the beach, live music and more. For additional event
information, please
CLICK HERE.
South Shore Park (MAP)
2900 S. Shore Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Taste of Egypt 2011
July 15 at 10 a.m. through July 17 at 7 p.m.
Prepare your taste buds for an Egyptian festival full of fun activities,
entertainment, Egyptian souvenirs and best of all, authentic Egyptian
foods. Admission to the fourth Taste of Egypt Festival is free. For
additional information, please
CLICK HERE.
St. Mary & St. Antonious Coptic Church (MAP)
1521 W. Drexel Avenue
Oak Creek, WI 53154
(414) 764-5944
Croatian Fest 2011
July 16 at 6 p.m. through July 17 at 9:30 p.m.
Visit this year's Croatian festival this weekend. Enjoy live music from TS Barabe, cultural programming, and traditional foods such as roasted Croatian lamb, pork and chicken. Saturday admission is free from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission for Sunday, which runs from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., is $3. CLICK HERE for more information.
Croatian Park (MAP)
9100 S. 76th Street
Franklin, WI 53132
Festa Italiana
July 21 from 2 p.m. through July 24 and midnight
Attend Milwaukee's longest-running lakefront ethnic festival. This event
boasts Italian cuisine, an opera tent, concerts, traditional dancers,
Sunday mass followed by a procession and fireworks. This year's featured
region is the Veneto. Festa is open from 2 p.m. to midnight on Thursday
and 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday. Admission is $10 in
advance, $13 at the gate.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Henry Maier Festival Park (MAP)
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-3378
Bay View Beach Cleanup
July 23 from
8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Meet at the brown stairway just south of Oklahoma Avenue at Bay View
Park to join neighbors in this month's summer cleanup. The Bay
View Neighborhood Association’s Environmental Committee will supply
garbage bags and gloves. Contact coordinator Rob Miller for additional
information by
CLICKING HERE.
Bay View Park (MAP)
3120 S. Lake Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-4270
Milwaukee Firkin Craft Beer Festival
July 23
Join the East Town Association for a celebration of Milwaukee's
brewing heritage. This Milwaukee beer festival will exclusively showcase
the craft brews and breweries that continue to make Milwaukee famous.
Samples of over 50 Milwaukee craft beers, including many special brews
not regularly offered by the breweries, will be available.
CLICK HERE for a list of participating breweries and more
information.
Dear Friend,
This week's hot topic is redistricting. I have included information and
a survey about Wisconsin's redistricting process. You can also
CLICK HERE to view a brief video I compiled to further discuss this
important topic.
Sincerely,
Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
Redistricting Process Increases Partisanship, Decreases Transparency
The Wisconsin State Legislature is required by Article IV, Section 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution to redraw Senate and Assembly districts every 10 years based upon the results of the federal census to ensure districts provide representational equality for all potential voters.
Wisconsin currently uses a legislative redistricting process, where the maps are drawn up by the majority parties in the Legislature, are voted on by the Senate and Assembly, and are then signed by the governor. If the Legislature cannot agree on a redistricting plan, as is usually the case with split houses, the Supreme Court steps in to finalize the new legislative districts. For the past 50 years, Wisconsin's elected officials have had to work together with bipartisan cooperation or leave the task of redistricting up to the courts. This will be the first time in 60 years that one political party will have complete control over the redistricting process.
With
the proposed district maps recently being made available to the public,
redistricting has now become a key issue in Wisconsin. The new district
maps proposed by Republican legislators will likely have a profound
effect on Wisconsin politics by making districts less competitive,
placing the jobs of Republican incumbents ahead of the interests of
Wisconsin voters. These maps will also increase partisanship across the
state making Wisconsin even more polarized than it is now.
Many concern have been raised by neighbors, advocacy groups, and local, state and federal officials over the process that has been employed by Republican legislators during the current redistricting process. These concerns include conducting the majority of the process in secret, forgoing the work done by local governments, and the rising cost to taxpayers.
Continuing Secrecy and Decreasing Transparency
Republican legislators began working on the new district maps months ago in secret and behind closed doors. The maps did not become available to the public until just last Friday, July 8. Further decreasing transparency, Republicans have opted to fast-track their redistricting plan by scheduling a vote less than two weeks after the release of the new district maps, leaving little time for public input on a decision that will have a significant impact on our state for the next 10 years.
Republicans also made an unprecedented power grab during this redistricting process by hiring lawyers with taxpayer dollars to look out for their best interest, while dismissing all legal council for Democrats.
Overrule Local Governments
Rushing through the current redistricting proposal created by Republican legislators and their lawyers will have a detrimental impact on our local governments. Republicans are so focused on passing the redistricting legislation before the recall elections have concluded that they are acting before all local governments have even submitted their final local ward redistricting maps.
The City of Milwaukee, for example, will be forced to change 55 of its 315 wards and 9 of its 15 aldermanic district boundaries as a result of the preemptive actions by Republicans on redistricting. These changes come after Milwaukee has already held four public hearings, participated in three public listening sessions, held two full-day public workshops for citizens to produce their own maps, and conducted countless informal briefings to individuals and activist groups. Milwaukee has also already spent over $40,000 for dedicated labor hours and administrative expenses related to the redistricting process. There is no reason why the state should be moving at such a careless speed that will negate months of work by local officials, circumvent the open and transparent public hearing process and waste additional taxpayer funds.
To view the map that illustrates the changes Milwaukee will be mandated to make, please CLICK HERE.
Substantial Cost to Taxpayers
The partisan nature of redistricting often comes with a daunting price tag. Republicans have not released how much of our taxpayer dollars have been spent on the current redistricting process thus far. However, legal fees for redistricting in Wisconsin in 2000 went into the millions.
The Future of Redistricting in
Wisconsin
One common and constant concern with
the redistricting process is the potential for gerrymandering, or
manipulating the redrawing of districts to achieve political gain and
help ensure the reelection of incumbents. The majority of states still
use a Legislative Redistricting Model, where the maps are drawn up by
the majority parties in the Legislature. However, many states are
shifting to using bipartisan or nonpartisan commissions to draw up their
maps in an effort to decrease partisanship as well as legal fees
involved with the process. So far 21 states use some form of a
Commission Redistricting Model. Below you will find a list of
redistricting models currently used throughout the country.
-
Legislative: Maps are drawn by the majority parties in the Legislature. Once finalized, they are placed in a bill which must be passed by both houses and signed by the governor. This model is used in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and 27 other states.
-
Back-up Commission: Maps are drawn by the majority parties in the Legislature. If the Legislature does not finish by the statutory deadline, a bipartisan commission completes the process. This model is used in Connecticut, Texas, and three other states.
-
Advisory Commission: Maps are drawn by the advisory commission. These can be accepted or rejected by the Legislature. The Legislature must enact their own plan or the commission’s, before the statutory deadline. This model is used in Maine and Vermont.
-
Bipartisan Commission: Maps are drawn by a redistricting commission comprised of bipartisan members. The plan must be approved by either the commission or the State Supreme Court. This model is used in Ohio, Washington, and 10 other states.
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Nonpartisan Commission: Maps are drawn by a redistricting commission comprised of nonpartisan members. If the Legislature rejects all three plans proposed by the commission, the State Supreme Court makes the final decision. This model is used in Iowa.
Participate in My Redistricting Survey
In order for me to better represent you, please participate in my redistricting survey to share your opinions on the current redistricting process and provide feedback on the direction you would like to see our state going with redistricting in the future. To take the redistricting survey, please CLICK HERE.
For more information about redistricting or to view the proposed maps for the state, please CLICK HERE.
Update on Unemployment Extension
After receiving pressure from people across Wisconsin and Democratic legislators including myself, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has scheduled a special session for Tuesday, July 19 to take up legislation to extend unemployment benefits for Wisconsinites. This legislation passed almost unanimously this past Monday in the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs and the Assembly Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
With a simple legislative change, Wisconsin would be able to capture nearly $90 million from the federal government to extend unemployment benefits in the state. These funds would not need to be repaid.
There is no question that extending unemployment benefits is paramount
for our communities. We must continue providing our neighbors who have
been unable to find work during these tough economic times with the
support that they need. Accepting these funds will allow our
neighbors to keep paying their bills and supporting their families while
they continue their job search. It will also ensure that another $90 million is injected into our
state, providing our local economies with a much-needed shot of
adrenaline.
CLICK HERE to view a copy of the letter that was sent by the Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Caucus to Majority Leader Fitzgerald requesting that he schedule a session day to take up this important legislation.
Democrats Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Preserve Transparency
Late last week, Assembly Democrats circulated a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the Wisconsin State Legislature to comply with current open meetings law. The amendment, authored by Representative Jon Richards and supported by myself and other Democratic colleagues, will preserve Wisconsin’s tradition of open government that has been increasingly threatened.
Last month the Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to rule on whether
Republican legislators violated the state’s open meetings law when they
rushed into a conference committee without providing proper notice to
pass a divisive bill eliminating collective bargaining rights for public
workers. The court concluded that the constitutional separation of
powers bars them from applying notice and public access requirements of
the open meetings law to legislative bodies.
Enacted in 1976, Wisconsin’s open
meetings gives teeth to the people's request for open government. The
law requires governmental bodies to provide the public with at least
24-hours notice before conducting an official meeting. The law also
states that all individuals wishing to attend should have reasonable
access to the meeting. This provides Wisconsin citizens the opportunity
to actively participate in our government. However, the high court’s
June ruling displays a loophole that exists in the open meetings law
that holds the Legislature above the law, allowing the Legislature to
create its own set of rules.
The proposed constitutional amendment
will close that loophole and hold the Wisconsin State Legislature to the
same standards of openness and transparency as all other government
agencies.
It will require the Legislature to follow the current open meetings law
and hold members of the legislature that violate the law accountable for
their actions. Amendments to
Wisconsin's State Constitution require passage in two consecutive
legislative sessions and ratification through a popular referendum.
I will continue to support this constitutional amendment as it makes it way through the legislative process to ensure that the integrity of our open meetings law is upheld and our commitment to transparency, accountability and open government are cemented in our state's most sacred document.
CLICK HERE to view a copy of the constitutional amendment.
Survey Results Now Available
Thank you to everyone that participated in the Spring 2011 Survey to provide me with valuable feedback on what is important to our community and state. I asked for your thoughts on budget priorities and about the direction Wisconsin is headed in. Overall, more than 5,000 people responded with their perspective on the 14 questions that I asked.
As you review the results, please keep in mind that the survey was not scientific. I invited anyone that contacted me in support or in opposition to recent legislative actions in Wisconsin to participate and also made the survey available on my Web site.
It is my hope that we can continue working together on these important issues to improve our communities and make Wisconsin a better place to live and work for our family, friends and neighbors.
CLICK HERE to view the complete survey results.
Changes to Voting Laws in Wisconsin
Primary, general and special elections are fast-approaching. Given the recent changes to Wisconsin's voting laws, I have included a handout to provide you with updated information on voting procedures for this summer's elections. Please contact me if you have any questions.
CLICK HERE to view the changes to Wisconsin's voting laws.
Run for the Parks
July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Join me in lacing up your shoes for the second annual
"Run for the Parks." Proceeds
of this 5k fun run and 2k walk will be used to assist The Park People in
their work to support our neighborhood parks and improve the Humboldt
Park band shell. Runners and walkers will also receive a T-shirt, goodie
bag from sponsors and refreshments after the race in a VIP area while
enjoying the "Chill on the Hill" concert series. For more information or
to register for the event, please
CLICK HERE.
Humboldt Park (MAP)
3000 S. Howell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
South Milwaukee Heritage Days
Attend South Milwaukee's annual week-long community festival that features fun events for the entire family. Neighbors can enjoy great food, outdoor activities, concerts and even a parade. See the list of events for the week listed below. More information about these events are available by CLICKING HERE.
Sunday, July 17
Grant Park Family Fun Day
Monday, July 18
DARE Golf Outing
Tuesday, June 19th
South Milwaukee Municipal Band Concert and Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, July 20
South Milwaukee Firefighter's Spaghetti Dinner
Thursday, July 21
Evening on the Avenue
Friday, July 22
Lionsfest, Car Show and Cruise Ride, and Fish Fry
Saturday, July 23
South Milwaukee Lion Club Roaring Challenge 5K Run/ 2-Mile Walk, Heritage Days Parade,
and Lionsfest and Rib Dinner
Sunday, July 24
Lionsfest Family Pirate Day and Chicken Dinner
Summer Activities in Our Community
Our community offers a wide variety of summer activities for families, children and adults alike. Below are just a few activities that you can take part in this summer.
Mitchell Gallery of Flight
Aviation and historical enthusiasts will enjoy this local air
museum. The museum features a wide range of exhibits including: the
story of General Billy Mitchell, replicas of past and present aircrafts,
the first commercial airliner, the sistership to the tragically
legendary Hindinberg, and the present day giant of the sky--the 747.
Other exhibits include commercial air memorabilia, early aviation
engines and airport beacons. Exhibits change throughout the year and
tours are available. The museum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
CLICK HERE for more information.
General Mitchell International Airport (MAP)
5300 S. Howell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 747-5300
North Point Lighthouse
Visit this local landmark to
learn more about Wisconsin's maritime history and the importance of the
lighthouse to our community. Take part in a tour of the lighthouse and
adjoining quarters, and view educational exhibits. The tour even
includes a climb to the top of the 74-foot tower for spectacular views
of the lakefront, park and city. Tours are available on Saturdays and
Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. year round. Admission is free for children
under five, costs $3 for children under 12, and $5 for age 12 and up.
For additional information, please
CLICK HERE.
North Point Lighthouse (MAP)
2650 N. Wahl Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 332-6754