February 8, 2008
Volume #30, Issue #3
AFSCME LOBBY DAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 - Join your AFSCME
lobbyists in the State Capitol
March 5 to talk to state decision makers (your legislators) about why they
should support the public sector
and public employees. This week’s snowstorm was a stark reminder that we are
utterly dependent on city
and county road crews to clear the streets and highways so we can get to work,
school, the grocery store,
etc.
This is but one example of the vital services that AFSCME members provide.
At times like this it may seem obvious that local governments must fund road
maintenance efforts,
remember
that it was just two years ago that state legislators voted to repeal
the automatic gas tax
increase, which was
critical to paying for state and local highway maintenance
costs. Come to Madison
March 5 – tell your state
legislators that Wisconsin must provide adequate
funding for vital public services
such as transportation, the
courts, public schools, nursing homes, corrections,
the University System, and
more.
Join your fellow AFSCME sisters and brothers to remind our legislators that We
Make Wisconsin
Happen.
Sign up through your Council, with your Take Back Wisconsin staff, or
through the Council 11
office directly.
Join the sea of Green and make you voice heard!
BUDGET REPAIR BILL ANTICIPATED - Just when we thought we were done
with the budget, state
officials announced recently that a shortfall in state revenue of anywhere from
$300 to $400 million may be
possible due to a slower than anticipated economy. If at anytime during a
biennial budget, projected state
revenues drop by 0.5% or more of the projected revenues, the Governor is
required to introduce a budget
repair bill to fix the discrepancy. The administration is waiting for January
revenue projections to come
through before deciding if legislative action is necessary. If the projected
shortfall remains in the range of
$300-$400 million, a budget repair bill will be introduced soon. AFSCME is
already working with
administration officials to shield vital services from any cuts that might be
necessary.
JOHN DOE REFORM BILL OK’D BY COMMITTEE; ADVANCES TO FULL ASSEMBLY -
A bill that
would limit the ability of inmates and other confined individuals from harassing
workers through the
misuse of
the John Doe law was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee 9-1
last Thursday. The
vote took
place after several AFSCME local union presidents testified in favor
of the bill (Assembly Bill
695), and
spoke of the risk to the safety, security and stability of the
institutions if corrective legislation is
not enacted
soon. Representatives from the State Department of Health and Family
Services and the
Department of
Corrections spoke in favor of the bill. Committee members adopted
one amendment to
clarify that the bill
would also cover offenders at the Sand Ridge Secure
Treatment Center.
AB-695 now goes to the full Assembly, which is slated to vote soon. Also, an
identical bill has been
introduced in the State Senate and is Senate Bill 432.
LEGISLATIVE WEBSITES. . .For those "online", here are some good info spots:
Wisconsin State Legislature: www.legis.state.wi.us/
"Who Are My Legislators": www.legis.state.wi.us./waml/
State of Wisconsin: www.wisconsin.gov/state/home
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/
Wisconsin Legislative Council: www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/
Wisconsin Ethics Board: http://ethics.state.wi.us