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Healthcare: Surprise! It’s a Bill! PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31   
Wednesday, 22 January 2020 11:09

affordablecareSurprise medical billing incidents occur often, and cause major problems for many of us who live within ordinary means. Sen. Smith hopes to establish a meaningful solution.

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Hintz Introduces Youth Vaping Prevention Legislation PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Wisconsin Assembly, Aaron Collins   
Wednesday, 22 January 2020 11:01

drugs-youngAssembly Bill aims to address youth vaping public health crisis


MADISON – Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh), introduced legislation this week aimed at preventing youth vaping. The bill (LRB 5217) would provide $2 million in funding for a statewide public health campaign aimed at the prevention of tobacco and electronic cigarette use. Some of the funds will be directed towards local organizations that provide youth vape prevention and cessation services. This legislation is part of a number of initiatives targeting youth vape use in Wisconsin. Rep. Hintz released the following statement on this legislation:

gordon_hintz“The rise in youth vaping is a public health crisis threatening the health of our children. State government has a role to play in slowing this epidemic among our youth. The funding in this bill will help get the word out across the state about the dangers of vaping, and provide resources for regional organizations to help prevent youth e-cigarette use.”

The epidemic of youth vaping has impacted every corner of Wisconsin. In July 2019, a teenager from Winnebago County was one of 8 children hospitalized due to symptoms caused by e-cigarettes. A 2018 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 30% of Winnebago County high school students had used an electronic cigarette in the last month. Statewide, from 2014 to 2018, there was a 154% increase in e-cigarette use.

“When we see a new addiction introduced in our communities, we must act. Especially when that addiction is being targeted at children with flavors like ‘bubble gum’ and ‘candy pop.’ We as a state government need to step in to educate and help stop the youth of Wisconsin from falling into this addiction. I’m hopeful this will be a bipartisan effort to keep our children healthy and safe. I’m grateful for local groups in Oshkosh like re:TH!NK who are active in helping children live healthy lives and to prevent them from taking part in unhealthy activities like tobacco use and vaping.”

 
Senator Mark Miller to Step Down PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Wisconsin Senate, Bridget Esser   
Tuesday, 21 January 2020 16:20

mark-millerWill leave office after 22 years, thanks family and staff.


MADISON – Sen. Mark Miller announced Tuesday that he will not run for re-election in November. Sen. Miller served in the state legislature 22 years, beginning in 1999 in the Wisconsin Assembly and in the Wisconsin State Senate since 2005.

“I will miss this place,” said Miller. “I will miss being a voice for clean water, for better education for children and adults, for expanded health care, for improved economic security, and for responsible governance, but I feel it is time for someone new to do this job.”

Miller served in a number of leadership positions including both minority and majority leader, Finance Co-chair, and Chair of the Democratic Caucus. He was Minority Leader in 2011 when Senate Democrats debarked to Illinois to slow down anti-union legislation now known as 2011 Act 10.

“I am very fortunate to have been served by incredibly talented staff in my office for 22 years,” said Miller. “I have also enjoyed the loving support of my immediate and extended family. Good staff and family support made it possible for me to serve as well as I have.”

Miller’s most proud of his effort to enhance responsible governance in legislative bodies. He is a trained facilitator in the Next Generation project that aims to guide legislatures in developing practices to enhance a legislative culture of trust and responsibility. “Being an elected official is an awesome responsibility,” said Miller. “As elected officials and as voters we need to do our utmost to make democracy work.”

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 16:38
 
Bill Introduced to Address Vaping Usage PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Wisconsin Senate, Kate Constalie   
Tuesday, 21 January 2020 15:32

vaping-youthSen. Shilling Co-Authors LRB-5169 that seeks to reduce the sale of vapor products to youth.


MADISON, WI – In an effort to address the vaping epidemic among Wisconsin middle and high school students, Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) are introducing LRB-5169 that would require a license to sell e-cigarette and vapor products. As part of the Vaping Awareness Prevention Enforcement (VAPE) package, LRB-5169 addresses the retail sale of vapor products by strengthening consumer protections and providing resources to monitor and investigate instances of illegal retail sale of vapor products to youth, advertisements targeting youth, and other harmful activities.

jennifer-shilling“Vaping has become a widespread problem with Wisconsin’s youth that is causing dangerous, and sometimes lethal, injuries,” said Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “In conversations with local health officials, school leaders, and concerned parents, it is clear that comprehensive action needs to be taken. By strengthening license requirements for retailers and increasing consumer protections we can help keep Wisconsin students safe and healthy.”

According the Department of Health Services, from 2014 to 2018 there was a 154% increase in e-cigarette use by Wisconsin high school students and a 272% increase for middle school students. Currently one in five Wisconsin high school students are current e-cigarette users. E-cigarettes contain the addictive drug nicotine along with heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead which are known to affect health and development. As of January 2020, the Center for Disease Control have reported 2,602 lung injury cases that require hospitalization and 59 deaths linked to vaping.

 
Evers Takes Action to Address Youth Vaping PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by GOV Press Wisconsin   
Sunday, 19 January 2020 14:57

vaping-youthGovernor is directing state agencies to strengthen enforcement efforts while calling on the legislature to pass a series of bills to prevent the sale of vaping products to kids.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 15:27
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LWV-WI Responds to Court Actions on Voter Purge in Wisconsin PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by League of Women Voters WI, Erin Grunze   
Saturday, 18 January 2020 11:15

voterid_handLeague summary report on state court litigation over the voter purge in the last thirty days.

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 January 2020 11:31
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AFSCME Rejects Milwaukee Public Museum Contract Offer PDF Print E-mail
News
Friday, 17 January 2020 17:00

milw-public-museumUnion says management offers show disdain for employees and the community that MPM serves.

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Democrat Hintz Introduces Bills to Increase Access to Vaccines PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Wisconsin Assembly, Aaron Collins   
Friday, 17 January 2020 16:27

access-vaccineThree Bills in Assembly would increase access to vaccines and immunization rates in Wisconsin.


MADISON – This week, Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) introduced a legislative package aimed at increasing access to vaccines in Wisconsin. The three bills give Wisconsin citizens and health care providers more avenues to receive and administer immunizations. Representative Hintz released the following statement on these important public health initiatives:

gordon_hintz“If we increase access to vaccines we will increase immunization rates in Wisconsin, and that is a win for the health and well-being of our state. These bills are the result of extensive conversations with experts in the field of public health. They all agreed that, in addition to removing the personal conviction waiver, the best thing we can do as a state is to create more access points for vaccines,” Rep. Hintz stated. “We need to do all we can to increase vaccination rates in order to avoid a completely unnecessary outbreak in Wisconsin.”

LRB 4137/1 would make Wisconsin a universal vaccine purchasing state. Currently, 15 states have some form of universal purchasing program.

LRB 4136/1 allows dentists to administer vaccines, as long as they satisfy certain criteria. The bill would add dentists to the list of individuals allowed to administer vaccines, making them abide by the same training requirements and other criteria as pharmacists.

LRB 4135/1 allows a minor aged 16 years or older to make their own vaccination choices. There is evidence that, when given complete information and control over their preventative medical care, teenagers will decide to receive some or all vaccinations that had previously been withheld by their parents.

Last Updated on Friday, 17 January 2020 16:38
 
Mayor Genrich Issues Playoff Challenge to San Francisco PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Green Bay Mayor's Office Press   
Friday, 17 January 2020 12:01

lambeauMayor Genrich and Mayor Breed have selected “youth development” as the community concern behind the Win-Win Playoff Challenge.


GREEN BAY, WI - As the Green Bay Packers head to the National Football Conference Championship game against the Forty-Niners, Green Bay Mayor Genrich has issued another Win-Win Playoff Challenge to Mayor London Breed of San Francisco, California.

Mayor Genrich and Mayor Breed have selected “youth development” as the community concern behind the Win-Win Playoff Challenge. After the January 19, 2020 NFC Championship game, Mayor Genrich, City of Green Bay and Community Foundation employees will volunteer at the Green Bay Boys and Girls Club. Similarly, Mayor Breed, along with City of San Francisco and San Francisco Foundation employees, will volunteer for youth development. In the spirit of friendly competition, both cities’ mayors and volunteers will wear the winning team’s colors.

eric-genrich“We want to win this challenge again, and we hope to follow it up by issuing a final Win-Win challenge to the community we’ll face in the Super Bowl,” said Mayor Genrich. “Let’s keep this green and gold movement expanding across the country, as well as this unique expression of volunteerism.”

“Every day, we see good people making a difference in our community”, said Buehler. “The Win-Win Playoff Challenge allows us to highlight local needs and efforts, and to encourage everyone to get involved.”

In late December, Mayor Genrich and Dennis Buehler, President of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, created the Win-Win Playoff Challenge, a fresh take on traditional “beer, brat and cheese” challenges. Their aim was to leverage the National Football League’s influence to bring attention to community concerns, and garner much-needed volunteer time and talent, making playoff season a “win-win” for everyone.

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 January 2020 15:00
 
Water Pollution Notification Act Receives Public Hearing PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Wisconsin Senate, Kate Constalie   
Friday, 17 January 2020 10:15

clean-drinking-water-faucetShilling/Billings legislation would require DNR to alert county governments when a state pollution violation that may impact drinking water is detected.


MADISON – The Assembly Committee on Environment held a public hearing on a number of pieces of legislation regarding water quality, including Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Representative Jill Billings’ (D-La Crosse) proposed Water Pollution Notification Act (AB 700). This bipartisan legislation aims to provide notice to the public of possible contamination that may impact drinking water. If passed, this legislation would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to alert county governments within seven business days if a state pollution violation is detected.

jennifer-shilling“Wisconsin families deserve to know when the water coming from their own wells may be unsafe to drink,” said Sen. Shilling (D-La Crosse). “I’m glad to see this proposal is moving through the legislative process and that we’re one step closer to strengthening clean water protections for our communities. By working with residents, businesses and community leaders, we can ensure fair access to Wisconsin’s groundwater, reduce sources of groundwater pollution and protect the quality of clean drinking water for future generations.”

Sen. Shilling and Rep. Billings drafted this legislation after a case in La Crosse County, where both the county and residents were unaware of a potential risk for over 10 years. A 2016 state audit alerted the La Crosse County Health Department to a potential public health hazard when the report found that a facility in the area had exceeded legal nitrogen levels since 2005. After becoming aware of this incident, county officials requested data from the DNR through open records requests. Once confirming the information, the county proceeded to provide outreach to county residents, encouraging them to test their private well systems for any contamination. Of the residents who had their water tested, nearly a third exceeded the maximum contaminant level for nitrates.

Additional information regarding this legislation can be found here.

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 January 2020 10:32
 
Neglect of Homeless Wisconsinites Continues PDF Print E-mail
News
Written by Joint Finance Committee Democrats   
Friday, 17 January 2020 09:38

homeless-winterOn the coldest day of 2020, Republicans in Madison have once again left funding to combat homelessness off the Joint Finance agenda.

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