VCY Homefront: Wisconsin

Racine Considers Domestic Partner Benefits for City Employees

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:11:00 +0000

Racine Alderman Robert Mozol and Alderwoman Melissa Kaprelian-Becker are requesting an ordinance that would force Racine taxpayers to fund domestic partner benefits for City of Racine employees. This matter will be taken up by the Finance & Personnel Committee at their next meeting, Monday, February 13^th at 5:00pm. This Meeting will be held in Room 301 of the Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Avenue. To express your views you may contact the members of the Finance & Personnel Committee as follows:

Chairman: Q.A. Shakoor, II – (262) 637-5421 / Email: QA.Shakoor@cityofracine.org

Vice Chairman: Terry McCarthy – (262) 770-7390 / Email: Terry.McCarthy@cityofracine.org

Dennis Wiser – (262) 554-6918 / Email: Dennis.Wiser@cityofracine.org

Ronald Hart – (262) 633-7147 / Email: Ronald.Hart@cityofracine.org

O. Keith Fair – (262) 412-2751 / Email: Keith.Fair@cityofracine.org

For contact information for all of the Racine Common Council, you may click here .

To contact the Mayor Dickert of Racine you may call (262) 636-9111. You may also email your comments to him at: mayor@cityofracine.org

Legislation Introduced to Legalize Marijuana for “Medical Necessity” in WI

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:13:00 +0000

Assembly Bill 475 & Senate Bill 371 have been introduced to legalize marijuana use in the state of Wisconsin for “medical necessity”. The legislation will allow certain “qualifying patients” or give a medical defense if he or she “acquires, possesses, cultivates, transports, or uses marijuana to alleviate the symptoms or effects of his or her debilitating medical condition or treatment”. The legislation also “prohibits the arrest or prosecution of or the imposition of any penalty on a physician who provides a written certification to a person in good faith.”

This legislation has been introduced by the following: Senators Erpenbach & Taylor and Representatives Pocan, Berceau, Bewley, E. Coggs, Danou, Grigsby, Kessler, Pasch, Pope-Roberts, Roys, C. Taylor, Toles and Zepnick.

You can read the legislation and share your views:

AB-475 has been sent to the Assembly Committee on Health. You may contact the members of the Assembly Committee here .

SB-371 has been sent to the Senate Committee on Health. You may contact the members of the Senate Committee here .

You may also contact your Wisconsin legislators at 1-800-362-9472.

AB-337 Passes Committee

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:10:00 +0000

Today the Assembly Education Committee passed AB-337 (Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act”) on a vote of 6-4. This means the legislation will now go to the full Assembly. You may share your views with your Assembly Representatives by using the links on the previous post.

Assembly Education Committee to Vote on Repealing Planned Parenthood Type Sex Education

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:16:00 +0000

On Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 11:00am, the Assembly Education Committee will be voting on Assembly Bill 337 – the “Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act”. This legislation peels back the Planned Parenthood Human Growth & Development Mandates passed in the last session and signed into law by Jim Doyle. This new Bill enables school districts to have an abstinence centered curriculum. Specifically, this legislation will: 1) present abstinence as the preferred behavior choice for unmarried pupils; 2) emphasize that abstinence is the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and avoid sexually transmitted infections; 3) provide instruction in parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage; 4) explain pregnancy, prenatal development and childbirth; 5) explain the criminal penalties for underage sexual activity; and 6) explain the sex offender registration requirements. To contact members of the Assembly Education Committee you may click here . If passed it will go to the full Assembly. You may contact your Representative here or call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472. Since the Senate already passed this legislation, if the Assembly passes it in the same form, it will go to Governor Walker for his signature.

2012 Elections

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:13:00 +0000

http://67.36.84.226/crosstalk2/hf120104.mp3

Ashland City Council Considers Ban on Prayer

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:10:00 +0000

The Ashland Current reports in this article that Ashland Mayor Whalen has been urged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation to stop prayer at Council Meetings. This matter came before the Council on November 8^th which has tabled this issue until their December 6^th meeting.

The question is this, “Should the Mayor and City Council of Ashland ban prayer at the City Council Meetings as requested by the Freedom From Religion Foundation?” You can share your views with the Mayor and Council using the contact numbers listed here . (Remember the area code is “715”.)

Important Public Hearings This Week

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Two important Public Hearings are being held this week on two separate bills:

Assembly Bill 337 – “Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act” peels back the Planned Parenthood Human Growth & Development Mandates passed in the last session. This bill enables school districts to have an abstinence centered curriculum. Specifically, this legislation will: 1) present abstinence as the preferred behavior choice for unmarried pupils; 2) emphasize that abstinence is the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and avoid sexually transmitted infections; 3) provide instruction in parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage; 4) explain pregnancy, prenatal development and childbirth; 5) explain the criminal penalties for underage sexual activity; and 6) explain the sex offender registration requirements.

The Assembly Committee on Education has called for a Public Hearing on AB-337 Wednesday, November 16^th at 10:00am in Room 417 North in the State Capitol. To contact members of this committee you may click here . You may also contact your own legislators here or call 1-800-362-9472.

Assembly Bill 154 prohibits coverage of abortions through health plans sold through exchanges. The Assembly Committee on Insurance has scheduled a Public Hearing on AB-154 on Thursday, November 17^th at 10:00am in Room 417 North in the State Capitol. To contact members of the Insurance Committee you may click here . You may also contact your own legislators here or call 1-800-362-9472.

WI Governor Comes Under Fire For Recognizing Christmas

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:16:00 +0000

The Racine Journal Times reported in this article that Governor “Walker said the evergreen decorated with ornaments and adorned with a star in the center of Wisconsin’s Capitol Rotunda is a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree as it’s been called for the past 25 years.”

The article also pointed out that the Freedom From Religion Foundation has opposed using the term “Christmas tree” saying “it offends nonreligious people and amounts to a government endorsement of Christianity.” Annie Laurie Gaylor, the president of the group, “called Walker’s decision rude and insensitive to non-Christians.”

The Governor’s spokesman Cullen Werwie said, “It’s a Christmas tree. In all honesty, I don’t know what more to say about it.”

To commend Governor Walker you may call his office at (608) 266-1212.

Sen Kohl Votes to Repeal DOMA

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:14:00 +0000

On November 10^th Senator Herb Kohl cast a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of S.598 to Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Passage by the Committee of S.598 to repeal of DOMA now propels the matter to the entire Senate.

To share your views with Senator Kohl you may reach his offices as follows:

Washington DC (202) 224-5653

Appleton (920) 738-1640

Eau Claire (715) 832-8424

La Crosse (608) 796-0045

Madison (608) 264-5338

Milwaukee (414) 297-4451

Anywhere statewide: 1-800-247-5645

To share your views with Senator Ron Johnson you may reach his offices as follows:

Washington DC (202) 224-5323

Oshkosh (920) 230-7250

Milwaukee (414) 276-7282

Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Vote to Repeal DOMA

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:42:00 +0000

The Senate Judiciary Committee decided during their November 3^rd business meeting to hold over their vote on S.598, a bill to repeal DOMA (See below) until their next meeting. The Committee has re-scheduled their vote for this Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10am Eastern Time. Senator Kohl sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. To share your views with Senator Kohl, you may use the numbers in the previous post.

Sen. Kohl to vote on repeal of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:31:00 +0000

S.598 is the so-called, “Respect for Marriage Act”. The legislation is misnamed because if passed it would repeal DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act. Sen. Kohl is presently a co-sponsor of this legislation. The committee he sits on, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be voting this Thursday morning, November 3^rd to repeal DOMA.

To share your views with Senator Kohl you may reach his offices as follows:

Washington DC (202) 224-5653

Appleton (920) 738-1640

Eau Claire (715) 832-8424

La Crosse (608) 796-0045

Madison (608) 264-5338

Milwaukee (414) 297-4451

Anywhere statewide: 1-800-247-5645

If passed in the Judiciary Committee it will go before the full Senate. To share your views with Senator Ron Johnson you may reach his offices as follows:

Washington DC (202) 224-5323

Oshkosh (920) 230-7250

Milwaukee (414) 276-7282

Planned Parenthood’s Comprehensive Sex Ed Challenged

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:35:00 +0000

Many parents across the state were outraged at the so called “Health Youth Act” which banned any school district from providing an abstinence only curriculum in human growth and development. Legislation to rollback Planned Parenthood’s plans for the classroom was introduced as SB-237 . This Bill will be voted on in the Senate Education Committee, Thursday, October 27^th at 9:00am in Room 400 Southeast in the State Capitol. You may contact the Committee members with your views by clicking here .

Companion legislation has now been introduced in the Assembly as AB-337 . It has been referred to the Assembly Education Committee. You may contact these committee members with your views by clicking here .

Expanding Liquor Retail Sales Hours Advances

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:33:00 +0000

On Tuesday, October 25^th the Wisconsin Assembly passed on a voice vote, AB-63 (see below) which enables retailers to begin selling beer and intoxicating liquor at 6:00am (unless a community passes more stringent measures). AB-63 now advances to the Wisconsin Senate which is slated to take up this Bill and vote on it during the afternoon of Thursday, October 27^th. Those who wish to contact their Senators regarding this may do so by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472.

Green Bay City Council Rejects Domestic Partner Benefits

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Last night the Green Bay City Council voted 7-4 to block a move by Alderman Ned Dorff to grant new special benefits to the domestic partners of city employees.

Voting in favor of granting these new special benefits were: Aldermen Amy Kocha, Dan Haefs, Ned Dorff & Brian Danzinger

Voting against the expansion of benefits were: Aldermen Tom DeWane, Andy Nicholson, Tony Theisen, Chris Wery, Guy Zima, Steve Deneys & Pat buckley.

Senate Committee Advances Expanded Liquor Sales Bill

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:13:00 +0000

On a 4-1 vote today, the Senate Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations Committee advanced SB-44, legislation which increases the number of hours that retailers can sell beer and intoxicating liquor. An amendment was also passed enabling municipalities to impose more restrictive hours than those provided in the Bill. SB-44 will now advance to the full Senate. It’s companion legislation, AB-63 also passed recently in Committee and is also advanced to the full Assembly. To share your views with legislators you may use the Legislative Hotline at 1-800- 362-9472. For direct numbers or to find out who your legislators are, you may click here .

WI Senate Committee Upcoming Vote to Expand Liquor Sales

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:59:00 +0000

The Senate Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations Committee will be voting on Tuesday, October 4^th at 10:00am on SB-44 . This legislation increases by two hours every day the number of hours that retailers can sell beer and intoxicating liquor. This will allow such sales beginning at 6:00am. If passed, the measure will move on to the full Senate. Your views on SB-44 can be expressed to the following Senators who make up this Committee:

Sen. Zipperer (Chair) 1-800-863-8883

Sen. Kedzie (Vice-Chair) 1-800-578-1457

Sen. Galloway 1-877-496-0472

Sen. Risser (608) 266-1627

Sen. Erpenbach 1-888-549-0027

The Assembly version of this Bill, AB-63 passed out of Committee 5-2 on September 13^th. You may also contact your own Senator regarding SB-44 or your Assemblyman regarding AB-63 using the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472.

Green Bay Council Considers Domestic Partner Benefits

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:52:00 +0000

Green Bay Alderman Ned Dorff requested that the Green Bay City Council approve the same insurance benefits to registered domestic partners as are given to legally married couples.

According to the Green Bay Press Gazette , Dorff told the members of the Personnel Committee that the city is wrong to provide such benefits to married men and women, but not to gay couples calling the current policy, “discriminatory”.

According to the September 27, 2011 minutes from the Personnel Committee Ald. Dorff indicated that the way the benefits are set up now “doesn’t necessarily attract the best employees.” Beyond health benefits, Ald. Dorff also believes that granting additional benefits are also in order including, “bereavement, sick leave, or anything that married couples currently enjoy.”

Also pushing for this new special benefit was Alderwoman Amy Kocha who said it was “the moral thing to do.”

The Personnel Committee voted 3-0 against granting these new benefits. The measure now moves to the full City Council which next meets on Tuesday, October 4^th. To share your views you may contact the Green Bay City Council members here .

WI Assembly Committee Considers Expanding Liquor Sales

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Wisconsin has a drinking problem. One can hardly look at a newspaper without reading of arrests for OWI or innocent people being killed by drunkards. Marriages are being torn apart and families are being shattered by alcohol. Divorce, separation, spousal abuse and child abuse all are impacted by alcohol consumption. While all these things are true, the Wisconsin State Assembly is considering the passage of AB-63 which allows for the expansion of hours that retailers are able to sell beer and liquor. Present law allows such retail sales beginning at 8am, and this new proposal moves it up by 2 hours to 6am? Is it really necessary to increase the hours for beer and alcohol to be sold by 6am?

AB-63 will be voted on Tuesday, September 13th at 10:30am in Room 328 Northwest of the State Capitol by the committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs. If they pass it, it will move on to the full State Assembly. You may contact the members of this Committee with your views as follows:
Rep. Van Roy (Chair) 1-888-534-0090
Rep. Kuglitsch (Vice-Chair) 1-888-534-0084
Rep. Ballweg 1-888-534-0041
Rep. August 1-888-529-0032
Rep. Kooyenga 1-888-534-0014
Rep. Danou 1-888-534-0091
Rep. Zamarripa 1-888-534-0008
Rep. Bewley 1-888-534-0074

You may also share your views with your own Representative (and Senator) using the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472.

Important Public Hearing This Week

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:06:00 +0000

The Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Ethics will be holding a Public Hearing this Thursday, August 18^th at 11:00am in room 417 North in the State Capitol. Members of the public are invited to speak out on:

Assembly Joint Resolution 26 – relating to deleting from the constitution the offices of secretary of state and treasurer (first consideration); and

Assembly Bill 153 – which fines legislators $500 per day for absence without leave from a legislative session.

In addition to these two items, this Committee will also vote on Assembly Bill 69 relating to the privilege of self-defense.

You may contact member of the committee here . To share your views with your Assemblyman you may call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele to Sign Domestic Partner Benefits Bill

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:45:00 +0000

With looming deficits and moral decay increasing, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele’s office announced this morning that he will be signing the Domestic Partner Benefits Resolution this afternoon at 3:00pm. To share your views you may call the County Executive’s Office at (414) 278-4211.

Milwaukee County Board Forces Taxpayers to Fund New Benefits

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:13:00 +0000

Despite a looming $55 million shortfall for 2012, on Thursday, July 28^th the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on a 13-5 vote approved a measure championed by Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele to force County taxpayers to fund domestic partner benefits for Milwaukee County Employees.

Supervisors voting in favor of this new benefit include: Eyon Biddle, Gerry Broderick, Lynne De Bruin, Marina Dimitrijevic, Jason Haas, Nikiya Harris, Lee Holloway, Willie Johnson, Patricia Jursik, Theo Lipscomb, Peggy Romo West, Johnny Thomas & John Weishan.

Supervisors voting against the new benefit include: Mark Borkowski, Paul Cesarz, Joseph Rice, Joe Sanfelippo, and Jim “Luigi” Schmitt.

The new benefits take effect January 1, 2012.

It’s Official: Milwaukee County Board Considers Domestic Partner Benefits.

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:43:00 +0000

At the behest of Milwaukee County Executive, Chris Abele, today a contingent of Milwaukee County Supervisors introduced a Resolution to offer a new benefit to Milwaukee County Employees – Domestic Partner Benefits. Despite the fact that statewide public employees are seeing their benefit structure readjusted and reduced, Milwaukee County is proposing this new additional benefit.

This benefit would be offered to unmarried same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partners.

In an article that appeared earlier this month in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee County could face a $51 million budget shortfall next year. To deal with this the County Executive said he would not rule out wage cuts or layoffs. While those pushing the benefit state they project approximately 1% of County employees to take this benefit (low estimate compared to two years ago when the estimate was 3% at $4 million), still the initial year’s cost is anticipated to be approximately three- quarters of a million dollars.

Board Chairman Lee Holloway has referred this matter to the Finance & Audit Committee (which next meets July 21^st) and the Personnel Committee (which next meets July 22^nd). If passed by the Committee it will move to the full County Board. You may contact all members of the Finance Committee here . And you may contact all members of the Personnel Committee here . You may also contact all Supervisors here . Or you may call them at (414) 278-4222.

WI Legislators Introduce Penalty Enhances For Crimes Based on “Gender”

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:57:00 +0000

To further assist the LGBT Agenda, Senators Coggs, Risser, and Taylor have introduced Senate Bill 145 . Co-sponsors of the legislation include Representatives Berceau, Sinicki, Spanbauer and Pocan. Senate Bill 145 will add “an enhanced penalty” for certain crimes if the person committing the crime intentionally selects the victim based on his or her belief or perception of the victim’s “gender”. It also “creates a civil cause of action for a person who suffers physical, emotional, or economic harm as a result of a gender-based act.” This bill has been placed in the Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations . To share your views you may contact the Committee Members and also contact your own Senator and Representative at 1-800-362-9472. To find out who your legislators are and their contact numbers, you may click here .

United Way in Wisconsin Under Fire For Referring Raped Teens to Planned Parenthood

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:31:00 +0000

“The United Way in Wisconsin is coming under fire from pro-life advocates for launching a new campaign to raise awareness about statutory rape that refers teens and young women to the Planned Parenthood abortion business.” See this LifeNews.com article .

Baseball: America’s Sport Celebrates Homosexuality

podcast@vcyamerica.org (VCY America) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Thinking of heading to a game across the border? The Chicago Cubs have created a video celebrate you whether you’re “gay or straight”. See the story .