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
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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
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Thursday, May 29, 2014 |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors - I hope everyone had a fun filled and relaxing Memorial Day Weekend with friends and family. I want to extend a special thank you this week to our men and women in the armed forces who have served and sacrificed in order to protect our freedoms. As we continue into the spring and summer months, there is a lot of activity happening across Wisconsin and in our State Capitol. In this newsletter, I’ve highlighted some of the recent marriage equality developments, worker training legislation, the unfortunate passing of former Governor Patrick Lucey, and a few local events. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other state legislative issues. Sincerely,  Jennifer Shilling State Senate, District 32 |
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| Marriage Equality Update | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recently, Oregon and
Pennsylvania joined the growing list of states that have
recognized the rights of loving families by striking down their
bans on marriage equality. With this news, the list of states
that have acted to protect an individual’s freedom to marry has
grown to eighteen. As a supporter of Wisconsin’s Marriage Equality legislation (Senate Joint Resolution 74), I am encouraged that we continue to see progress toward our goal of ending discrimination and protecting the rights of loving and committed couples. While Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has been intent on defending Wisconsin’s discriminatory ban, this week he conceded that Wisconsin's same-sex marriage ban could soon be overturned. Unfortunately, until we act to overturn this ban, many Wisconsin couples will continue to be denied equal rights under our law. |
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| Sen. Shilling workforce training bill signed into law | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Workforce Advancement Training (WAT)
Grant Bill co-authored by Senator Jennifer Shilling has been
signed into law by Governor Walker as 2013 Wisconsin Act 328.
This legislation will support additional job training and business development by expanding the existing scope of WAT grants available to Technical Colleges and partnering employers. These grants help companies diversify their business through investments in strategic planning, worker training and technical assistance. As we continue to look for ways to boost our state’s economy and accelerate workforce development efforts, the WAT Grant Bill will give our Technical College System more flexibility to respond to changes in the local economy. This legislation will enable both emerging and existing companies to diversify their operations and compete in new markets. This proposal was crafted by local lawmakers with the help of regional economic development professionals and officials from Western Technical College, Workforce Connections, La Crosse County Chamber of Commerce, La Crosse Area Development Corporation and other members of the Seven Rivers Alliance. The WAT grant program has a proven track record of success. In the recent 2012 state fiscal year, WAT grants provided support to hundreds of employers and training for more than 77,000 workers across Wisconsin. The WAT Grant Bill passed the Assembly and Senate with unanimous bi-partisan support earlier this session. |
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| Passing of Gov. Patrick Lucey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Patrick Lucey was born in La Crosse,
grew up in the village of Ferryville, and graduated from Campion
High School in Prairie du Chien. He served with distinction as
the 38th Governor of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977 and later as
the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1977 to 1979. His
best known accomplishments in office include the formation of
the University of Wisconsin System, an overhaul of the state
shared tax formula, the strengthening of ethics laws, mental
health treatment reforms, and progressive land conservation
initiatives. He passed away on May 10th at the age of 96. |
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| Public meetings scheduled on Badger-Coulee transmission line proposal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six open house meetings on the
Badger-Coulee transmission line proposal have recently been
scheduled by the Public Service Commission (PSC). These meetings
will provide individuals with an opportunity to learn more about
the Badger-Coulee proposal, speak directly with project staff,
and ask questions. The public scoping meetings will be held from 3:00pm to 8:30pm at the following times and locations: Wednesday, May 28th Waunakee Village Community Center 333 S. Madison Street Waunakee, WI Monday, June 2 Town of Holland Town Hall W7937 County Road MH Holland, WI Tuesday, June 3 Cashton Community Hall 811 Main Street Cashton, WI Thursday, June 5 Kalahari Resorts 1305 Kalahari Drive Wisconsin Dells, WI Monday, June 9 Comfort Inn and Suites W10170 Holiday Drive Black River Falls, WI Tuesday, June 10 Best Western 1017 East McCoy Boulevard Tomah, WI Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to take part in the review process. In addition to attending the public scoping meetings, the public can submit written comments to the PSC at http://psc.wi.gov/apps40/ERF_public/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=5&case=CE&num=142. The Badger-Coulee proposal is docket number 05-CE-142. |
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| Holmen Farm to School Program | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This month, I had the
opportunity to tour the Holmen School District’s Farm to School
Program. This program educates children about the importance of
healthy eating and offers hands-on learning experiences.
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| E-Cycling news from the WI Dept. of Natural Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronics are one of the fastest
growing parts of the waste stream, with millions of devices
discarded each year in the United States. Computers, TVs, cell
phones and other electronics contain valuable materials that can
be recovered through responsible recycling. Electronics also
contain potentially hazardous materials, such as lead and
mercury, that can pose a risk to human health and the
environment if not properly managed. Wisconsin’s electronics
recycling law keeps many devices out of landfills and
incinerators and creates recycling opportunities for state
residents. Electronics recycling is a growing industry in the
state, creating jobs and preserving valuable resources. Ever wonder what happens to your electronics after you drop them off at a collection point? A new video takes you inside the world of high-tech electronics recycling to show you how that old TV, computer or other unwanted gadget gets broken down into materials that can be made into new products. View the "What happens when I e-cycle?" video. Click here to find an electronics collection site near you. |
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| Consumer Alert: Email Scam Uses WI Dept. of Revenue's Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wisconsin taxpayers are receiving scam
emails regarding fake tax liabilities. The messages claim that
the recipient owes a Wisconsin tax and will face additional
penalties if they do not open the emails attachment. These
emails falsely claim to be from the Wisconsin Department of
Revenue, and opening the attachment could damage your computer
or enable an identity thief to obtain personal information from
you system. Delete the email and do NOT open any attachments. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue does not initiate taxpayer communications through email nor does it request detailed personal information by phone or email. For additional information or to file a complaint, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau or call the Consumer Information toll-free at 1-800-422-7128.
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| June 7 & 8 is Fun Free Weekend at Wisconsin State Parks, Forests and Trails! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For two days in June, Wisconsin residents
and visitors alike can enjoy some of the country's best outdoor
recreation for free! On June 7-8, people can fish for free
anywhere in Wisconsin, hike or bike state trails for free, ride
public ATV trails for free, and, new this year, enjoy free
admission to state parks and forests on both days as well. Click here for more information about the Free Fun Weekend and other DNR upcoming events. |
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| Calendar of Events | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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