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Legislation: Wisconsin - 2010 Archives

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Sign Up to Receive Our Free NHU Wisconsin Advocacy Alerts! via e-mail. Although you can visit this page for our updated NHU Wisconsin Advocacy Alerts! you may wish to receive Advocacy Alerts! on your own e-mail. Click on the link above, sign up and stay on top of important Wisconsin legislation.

Take Action is a new way to stay in touch with your representatives regarding legislation that may impact you. While it is a national tool, DAWN, has developed it to focus on Wisconsin Legislation. Visit www.dawninfo.org to stay on top of important legislation.

The Wisconsin Legislative Notification System provides you the opportunity to follow important legislation through daily or weekly e-mails for specific legislative activities. You can choose items by Proposal, Committee, Author or Subject and can select the activities for which you would like to receive notifications. It's your future! Get involved! Stay involved! Sign up today, visit http://Notify.legis.state.wi.us.

Contact Your Lawmakers

To call or email your legislators, find your Wisconsin State legislators and their contact information: Who Are My Legislators?

Learn How to Effectively Communicate with Your Lawmakers

Partners in Making Your Case is a free, self-paced online course that will give you tips on how to communicate your needs with your lawmakers.

Advocacy Alert! You will notice changes at the polls when you go to vote on Tuesday, February 21st at the Wisconsin spring primary!

From Disability Rights of Wisconsin comes the following notice.

"You will notice changes at the polls when you go to vote on Tuesday, February 21st at the Wisconsin spring primary! You will also notice changes to the absentee ballot process. For the first time, you will be required to show your voter ID when you vote. There are a few exceptions that voters with disability community should pay particular attention to. For more information, contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin or call (800) 928-8778 or (888/758-6049 (TTY), 8:30am-5:00pm weekdays and from 7am-8pm on election days.

If you are unsure where you vote or what is on the ballot, you can look up your polling site, what will be on your ballot, and other important information at the Wisconsin Voter Public Access website."

For more information on voting, visit our NHU Guide on Voting in the State of Wisconsin for Individual Voters with Disabilities.

Advocacy Alert! November 2011 - Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Caucus Public Hearing on Proposed Medicaid Cuts

"In wake of the Walker administration’s Medicaid Waiver plan that would result in nearly 65,000 Wisconsinites – including children and people with disabilities – losing or being denied state health care coverage, Rep. Pasch and Senator Taylor recently announced that members of the Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Caucus will host a public hearing on their proposal on Thursday, December 1 from 6:30pm-9:00pm at the Washington Park Senior Center. ...This hearing is part of a series of events being hosted by Democrats statewide in response to the Department of Health Services' plan to make $554 million in cuts to the state's health care programs for eligible seniors, children, families and people with disabilities." For more information on this announcement, go to the Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Caucus November 18, 2011 Press Release

August 2011 - YOU MUST REQUEST FROM THE WISCONSIN DOT THAT THE CARD BE PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE (FOR FREE) FOR THE PURPOSES OF VOTING!!!!!

If you do not have a photo ID for the purposes of voting, you may obtain a State ID, but to receive this ID for free, YOU MUST REQUEST FROM THE DOT THAT THE CARD BE PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE (FOR FREE) FOR THE PURPOSES OF VOTING!!!!! The DOT will not offer the ID for free unless you request it!!!!!!!

Provisions in Wisconsin Act 23 allows an elector to obtain a free identification card from DOT if the applicant is eligible to obtain an identification card and if the elector is a U.S. citizen who will be at least 18 years of age on the date of the next election, and the elector requests that the card be provided without charge for purposes of voting. At the DOT center the elector must request that the card be provided without charge (free) for purposes of voting. The DOT will not offer the ID for free unless you request it.

YOU MUST REQUEST FROM THE DOT THAT THE CARD BE PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE FOR FREE FOR THE PURPOSES OF VOTING!!!!!

Tell this to everyone you know, someone may need or know someone who needs a State Photo ID for the purposes of voting.

For more information on voting in the State of Wisconsin, visit our NHU Guide to Voting in the State of Wisconsin for Individual Voters with Disabilities

August 2011 - The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Fund will challenge Wisconsin's new Voter ID law

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Fund will challenge Wisconsin's new Voter ID law based on the state constitution. As a nonpartisan organization that encourages participation in government, the League is concerned about the many citizens who will be disenfranchised by the new law. The League is working with Attorney Lester Pines of Cullen Weston Pines & Bach to challenge the legislature's authority to enact the law. For more information contact the League of Women Voters of WI Education Fund, a staff or board member would be happy to discuss the lawsuit in person or by phone. For more information, call Andrea Kaminski at (608) 256-0827. See the article by JSOnLine at Wisconsin's photo ID law for voters to face lawsuit To follow the story - visit the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin on facebook

July 2011 - Governor Walker to reevaluate Family Care caps in coming months

The biennial budget that Governor Walker signed into law in June includes a freeze on long-term care programs for adults with disabilities, including Family Care/IRIS. The freeze means that there will be no additional slots in these programs and that Family Care and IRIS will not continue to roll out in the counties that don’t yet have the program. The result of the freeze would be that many people with disabilities in Wisconsin would be placed on waiting lists for needed services. Analysts predict an increased use of institutional care in nursing homes.

In a recent interview posted by JSOnline, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has acknowledged that community and client-directed care are priorities for the state of Wisconsin. The Governor went on to explain that the caps on Family Care, mandated by the recently passed 2011-13 State Budget, are in place while an audit reveals the program's effectiveness at delivering care in the community. The Governor contends that some counties were not meeting the objectives of the program by directing clients towards more costly institutional care rather than home-based care. He supports lifting the caps so long as counties comply with the program's objectives. Check out the video interview and contact the Governor's office to encourage swift action:

Governor Scott Walker
PO Box 7863
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-1212
govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

2011-13 Wisconsin Budget fails people with disabilities, says Survival Coalition

The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations, in its 2011-2013 Biennial Budget Report Card, has found that the most recent state budget disproportionately harms people with disabilities. Despite the legislators call that we "all" must sacrafice for the sake of Wisconsin's fiscal health, it is clear that some are sacraficing, if not suffering, more than others. Despite major cuts to education and health care, the budget calls for new or expanded tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy at a cost of more than $90 million over the biennium and $1.6 billion over the next 10 years. At the same time, programs for our poorest citizens are being cut and taxes on the working poor have been raised. In an effort to increase awareness among policy makers and advocates, the coalition has provided its assessment of the budget issues that directly affect Wisconsin's citizens with disabilities.

Specifically, the coalition has found the following losses for our citizens with disabilities:

A freeze on Family Care, IRIS and other community long-term care programs, ending more than a decade’s worth of bipartisan work to improve long-term care for our state’s elderly and people with disabilities and resulting in the creation of waiting lists in counties that have not had a wait for vulnerable people in years.
An increase, acknowledged by the Legislature, of people forced into expensive nursing homes.
A freeze on new slots for children with disabilities in need of long-term supports, despite the commitment of previous governors and legislatures to reduce the children’s wait list.
Historic cuts to education expected to impact children with disabilities through larger class sizes, more clustering of students and self-contained classes, and an elimination of community-based transition programs.
Flat funding of categorical aids in special education, resulting in overall lower funding to local districts while costs continue to rise.
Deep cuts to local transit services, which many people with disabilities rely on to live, work and participate in their communities.
Major reductions in shared revenue to counties, resulting in systemic impacts on people with disabilities who rely on county funding for mental health services and other programs, for their daily support.

Read the Coalition's 2011-2013 Biennial Budget Report Card in its entirety.

Advocacy Alert! - June 30, 2011 - DAWN has sent the following alert to encourage Governor Scott Walker to do something about Family Care caps by the end of the year

In a videotaped interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday (6/27), Governor Scott Walker indicated he hopes to do something about the Family Care caps by the end of the year. To watch the video, go to http://bcove.me/vnr6z463.

The biennial budget that Governor Walker signed into law this week includes a freeze on long-term care programs for adults with disabilities, including Family Care/IRIS. The freeze means that there will be no additional slots in these programs and that Family Care and IRIS will not continue to roll out in the counties that don’t yet have the program. The result of the freeze would be that many people with disabilities in Wisconsin would be placed on waiting lists for needed services. Analysts predict an increased use of institutional care in nursing homes. Disability advocates are encouraging those interested in lifting the caps to contact the Governor’s office: Governor Scott Walker, PO Box 7863 Madison, WI 53707 or call (608) 266-1212 or send e-mail to govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

Advocacy Alert! - June 24, 2011 - The Wisconsin State Legislature has passed one of the the most restrictive voting laws for people with disabilities in the country

The Wisconsin State Legislature has passed one of the most restictive voting laws for people with disabilities in the United States: the 2011 Wisconsin Act 23.

DAWN organizations have said, "Elections need to be safe and secure but at the same time they need to provide equal access to the voting process for all eligible voters. Disability organizations around the state believe that this legislation goes too far in its regulation of the voting process. Wisconsin should be proud of its tradition of high voter turnout. This legislation is among the most restrictive in the country and creates new barriers to voting for many people with disabilities."

The law itself restricts voting to allow only those with a valid photo ID. People with disabilities are the least likely to have a photo ID so the legislation has provided that citizens can obtain a state photo ID for free, if they are otherwise eligible to obtain one. Other states have passed similar laws, but this Wisconsin law is particularly restrictive to the people in Wisconsin because Wisconsin has closed many of the state DOT service centers on the weekends and certain hours and days of the week where one would obtain their state photo ID. People with disabilities will have limited access to the service centers and often must coordinate with transportation availability. Access to obtain the photo ID remains restricted for those with limited mobility or transportation.
In the 2000 election, people with disabilities were almost twice as likely as other citizens to vote by absentee ballot. Among those who voted, 20% used an absentee ballot, compared to 11% of people without disabilities. No other state requires that for an absentee ballot, the voter will need to include a photocopy of their photo id when they mail in their ballot. Access to a copy machine may be a burden for those with limited mobility. Limited mobility or transportation is the reason many people with disabilities cannot vote at the poll centers in the first place.

The Act also requires voters to sign the poll books. This may be prohibitive to people with physical disabilities who will need to ask at the polls to be 'exempt ' from this requirement.

During a time when the state is facing a budget crisis, legislators have enacted a law that will cost the people of the state $7 million dollars over 2 years (estimated by the nonpartisan Legilative Fiscal Bureau.) The state Legislature Joint Finance Committee has voted to provide over 1.5 million dollars to the Government Accountability Board to implement the new act to make computer upgrades, train poll workers and educate the public, however there are more costs to everyone such as costs for transportation to obtain the necessary photo ID or transportation to and purchase of copies of the necessary ID for each time one submits an absentee ballot.

The American Disability Act (ADA) was signed into law in order to change the standards of construction and access so that all people no matter their ability could have equal access. With its passage, we as a society have become more aware that a great assumption was made with standards of construction and access prior to the ADA. The Wisconsin Act is passed on similar assumptions - that everyone has a photo ID, that all people will be able to obtain one, that all people can leave their homes and go to a DOT service center to obtain one, that all people have timely transportation to a DOT service center, that all people can afford transportation, that all people have access to a photo copier, that all people will have transportation or that all will be able to go to where they can to use a photocopier or that all people can sign their name. Unfortunately it is left to us to educate our legislators who do not appear to be aware of the barriers to people with disabilities in exercising their right to vote or any awareness of how people access our state of Wisconsin DOT offices. Our Wisconsin legislators have made it much more difficult for people to vote!

We would like everyone to exercise their right to vote in the State of Wisconsin! See our Guide on Voting in Wisconsin 2011-2012 for information on when the Act will go into effect, what you will need at elections in 2011 before the 2012 Wisconsin Spring Primary. Find out more about what documents you will need to acquire a state ID, what documents you need to register to vote, and what you will need to vote in 2012.

Write your legislator on how this legislation will affect you and your right to vote. Other states are not requiring a copy of one's photo ID for absentee ballotting.

Action Alert! May 23, 2011 - Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee Votes on Family Care Cap on Tuesday, May 24

Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network (DAWN) has released the following Wisconsin Legislative Action Alert! Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee Votes on Family Care Cap on Tuesday, May 24. The links below - advocate for people with disability, the elderly and their families. They also outline a strategy to fund the Long Term Care programs in Wisconsin and explain what to discuss with your legislator. You will find the information from the proposals through the links listed below.

Some specific points from the proposals to talk about with legislators are:

- There is money available now that can be used to lift the caps on long-term care programs.

- Some of the money is the new tax revenue, as well as other sources. The sources of this funding are summarized in the proposals linked above.

- The funding proposal from aging and disability groups gives options to legislators so they have the tools to lift the caps.

You can contact your legislators with your message even if you have already contacted them about this issue. To call or email your legislators, find your Wisconsin State legislators and their contact information: Who Are My Legislators?

It is critical for Wisconsin citizens concerned about proposed caps to the long-term care system to take action before Tuesday, when the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) will vote on the Family Care Cap. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has presented JCF with several alternatives to choose from. JCF could also develop its own proposal.

The alternative that lifts the Family Care Cap and continues expansion of the Program statewide is #6 in the Family Care Enrollment Cap paper. The cost of Alternative #6 totals approximately $97 million in state funding over the next two years. This cost could be paid for out of the $636 million in additional tax revenues identified by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

The Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Survival Coalition, and many other aging and advocacy groups have endorsed two documents that outline a proposed strategy for lifting the long-term care caps. Keeping the Community Promise: Lifting the Cap on Long-Term Care in Wisconsin is available at http://tinyurl.com/4xhau36 and Lift the Cap on Long-Term Care: A Funding Proposal is available at http://tinyurl.com/3kmxj5y JCF members have received both of these documents.

Action Alert! Before June 10, 2011 Wisconsin State Assembly Bill 40 - Biennial Budget - Long Term Care

Dawn is encouraging Disability Advocates to send notice to their representatives on Assembly Bill 40 on Long Term Care. If you or a family member is concerned about the proposed caps on Family Care/IRIS in the Governor’s biennial budget request, go to the DAWN homepage and click on “Take Action on Assembly Bill 40.” The link will give you background information and help you create e-mail messages that will inform both your State Representative and State Senator about how the caps will affect you.

Send your messages even if you have already contacted your elected officials about the caps. It is quick and easy to do, so don’t delay – send your messages today!

Action Alert! May, 2011 - Gov. Walker’s proposed 2011-13 state budget caps new enrollments for all of Wisconsin’s major long term care programs for children and adults with disabilities and older adults - Disability advocates are circulating a petition to Keep the Promise?

DAWN has released the following information on Gov. Walker’s proposed 2011-13 state budget which caps new enrollments for all of Wisconsin’s major long term care programs for children and adults with disabilities and older adults. People currently getting services will still receive them. Nursing home care is exempt from the cap.

For example, counties with Family Care and IRIS would not be able to add new people to the programs unless a current participant dies or leaves. Students leaving high school would transition to a waiting list. Waiting lists for community programs will grow across the state.

The Legislative Audit Bureau released a report on Family Care that confirms the program has increased access to services that enable people with disabilities and older adults to maintain their independence and remain in their own homes. Disability advocates fear that once the cap is in place, the only option for people with long term support needs in crisis will be institutional care such as nursing homes.

Disability advocates are circulating a petition to legislators asking them to Keep the Community Promise and lift the caps on long term care programs.

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities supports expanding the Family Care, IRIS and Family Care Partnership programs statewide by the end of the next budget and strongly opposes the cap on enrollment. If you have an opinion, now is the time to take action:

E-mail your comments to the Joint Finance Committee at budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov. Please be sure to include your name and address.

Contact your own state representative and state senator with your comments. If you don’t know who they are, go to www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/legislature.cfm to find out.

Consider adding your name to the petition to legislators asking them to Keep the Community Promise and lift the caps. To view the petition and sign it, go to www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepthecommunitypromise/ . The deadline to sign the petition is May 10.

Send your own story about being on the waiting list or enrolled in Family Care, IRIS, or the Children’s Long Term Support waiver to Chris Thomas-Cramer at Christine.ThomasCramer@Wisconsin.gov. Please contact Chris at the same address if you have any questions.

There is still time to make your opinions heard on the state budget!

Action Alert! May, 2011 - Wisconsin Assembly Bill 110 gives vouchers to parents of children with special needs. Contact the Committee Chair to voice your opinion

DAWN has released the following information on Assembly Bill 110 which would give vouchers to parents of children with special needs that they could use to attend a private school. The bill is modeled after legislation passed in Florida and Ohio. The outcomes in Florida and Ohio are schools that are highly segregated and which do not accept students with the most significant needs. The vouchers also drain funding from the local public schools since funding is reduced for every voucher issued.

Parents that accept the vouchers lose all of their rights. For instance, Individualized Education Plans, guarantees of progress, outcomes, and least restrictive environment would no longer be requirements for special needs children.

The history of AB 110 is located at legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/AB110hst.html and the text is at legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/AB-110.pdf.

AB 110 is having a hearing before the Assembly Committee on Education on Tuesday, May 3rd, at 10:00 am in Room 417 North of the State Capitol. If you are unable to attend the hearing in person, you can voice your opinions to the Committee Chair, Representative Steve Kestell, at Rep.Kestell@legis.state.wi.us or (608) 266-8530.

Action Alert! April 27, 2011 - The Wisconsin State Assembly Committee on Election and Campaign Reform will hold a public hearing on Assembly Bill 7, also known as the Photo ID Bill or you can send written statement via e-mail

We are sending an important Wisconsin announcement to our members, about the Wisconsin Voting Photo ID Assembly Bill 7. If you do not live in the State of Wisconsin, please disregard this e-mail and we apologize for the inconvenience. If you live in the State of Wisconsin these hearings are a good opportunity to comment on the budget and submit your comments.

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011 the Wisconsin State Assembly Committee on Election and Campaign Reform will hold a public hearing on Assembly Bill 7, also known as the Photo ID Bill. This bill would require a voter to show photo identification before being able to vote. People with disabilities will be affected by this bill.

DAWN has released the following alert.

Elections need to be safe and secure but at the same time they need to provide equal access to the voting process for all eligible voters. Disability organizations around the state believe that this bill goes too far in its regulation of the voting process. Wisconsin should be proud of its tradition of high voter turnout. If this bill is passed, it would be among the most restrictive in the country and would create new barriers to voting for many people with disabilities.

Some Facts:

- People with disabilities currently vote at a rate that is 10 to 15 percent below the rate of the general population.
- Wisconsin has made recent significant progress in encouraging people with disabilities to vote.
- Compared to the general population, it is much for difficult for people with disabilities to acquire photo identification, as they face additional barriers including access to transportation and other hidden costs.
- This bill would eliminate the option for an individual to have their residence corroborated. Many individuals with disabilities rely on this option in order to vote.
- For more information on these and other points, see the "position paper" link below.

When: The public hearing will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: The North Hearing Room (2nd Floor North) of the State Capitol in Madison.

What: Public testimony will be limited to two (2) minutes per speaker. You can also submit written comments to the Committee at Rep.Tauchen@legis.wisconsin.gov, or sent via U.S. mail to: Rep. Gary Tauchen, Room 13 West, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53702. All written testimony must include name (first and last), along with mailing address to be included into the official record.

For the complete meeting notice, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3kfzlk9

For a position paper on this topic from a coalition of disability organizations, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3l5lecu

April 20, 2011 - Wisconsin - Press conference on Governor's proposed education budget will be held at the state Capitol.

On Wednesday, April 20, 10:30am, a press conference with individuals representing parents, teachers, school boards, and administrators will be held in the Senate Parlor Room of the State Capitol to discuss the impact of the Governor's proposed education budget. A parent with a child with a disability will be speaking at the event. Other parents and kids are encouraged to attend to show their support for education.

Action Alert! April 11, 2011 - New Horizons Un-Limited sent 2011-13 Wisconsin State Budget position paper and supports the Survival Coalition paper on the The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee's Biennial Budget

New Horizons Un-Limited sent a 2011-13 Wisconsion State Budget Position Paper in support of the Survival Coalition and other organizations for people with disabilities position on the Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee Biennial Budget. To view the paper click on the link above. You can still write to your legislator or write letters to the editor of your local newspaper or other media.

Action Alert! Before April 15, 2011 - The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee will recieve written comments on the Biennial Budget Bill

We will be including more information on What is in the Bill?, How Will the Bill Impact You in regard to Special Education, Transportation, Medicaid, Long Term Care, Local Access to Benefits, Corrections,and Mental Health?, What Positions are Disability Advocacy Groups Taking?, What Can I Do to Advocate Disability Issues in the 2011-13 Wisconsin Budget? on the New Horizons Un-Limited website.

Action Alert! April 7-13, 2011 - The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee has scheduled four public hearings on the Biennial Budget Bill.

Thursday, April 7 (10am-6pm), UW-Stevens Point (Quandt Fieldhouse, 2050 Fourth Street) Stevens Point
Friday, April 8 (10am-5pm), UW-Superior campus, Wessman Arena, 2701 Catlin Avenue, Superior
Monday, April 11 (10am-6pm), State Fair Park, Expo Center Hall A, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave(Enter Gate 4 for Parking)West Allis
Wednesday, April 13 (10am-6pm), Pickard Civic Auditorium, 1275 Tullar Road, Neenah

The Democratic members of the Joint Finance Committee will hold additional hearings. Take note that the Republicans, who make up the majority of the Finance Committee, may or may not be present at these hearings:

Saturday, April 9, (10:30 am-4:30 pm) UW-Oshkosh, Reeve Memorial Union, Oshkosh
Saturday, April 9, (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) Chippewa Valley Technical College, Business Education Center, Eau Claire
Friday, April 15, (1:00 pm – 7:00 pm) UW-Baraboo Gymnasium, Baraboo
Monday, April 18, (1:00 pm – 7:00 pm) Northcentral Technical College, Heath Sciences Building, Wausau
Saturday, April 16, (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) Brown County Central Library, Green Bay
Saturday, April 16, (10:00 am – 1:00 pm) Nicolet Technical College, Learning Resources Building Auditorium, Rhinelander
Wednesday, April 20, (1:00 pm – 6:00 pm) Blackhawk Technical College, North Commons, Janesville
Monday, April 25, (1:00 pm – 7:00 pm) UW-La Crosse, Cartwright Center, La Crosse
Monday, April 25, (1:00 pm – 7:00 pm) Appleton Public Library, Appleton
Monday, May 9, (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) Gateway Technical College Auditorium, Kenosha

For more information on the Joint Finance Committee's public hearing schedule go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/jfc/schedule.htm

The Wisconsin Legislature Joint Finance Committee hearings provide an opportunity to testify before legislators (who will make spending decisions) on items like Medicaid, Special Education, Public Transit, Mental Health, Long Term Care, Corrections, and Local Access to Benefits. The committee will take testimony at these hearings, however they draw a large crowd and one does not get very much time to speak. There are other ways to provide your input. If you decide to testify, remember you will only have 3 minutes and so it is best to be prepared. For more information on Tips for Testifying:

Wisconsin Council on Children and families offers 5 Steps for a Successful Meeting with a Legislator and Helpful Hints for Different Kinds of Advocacy.

The Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee will stop taking testimony at the end time listed, be prepared to provide your input in other ways. Bring a 16 copies of your comments for each committee member to the hearing and submit them to the Committee.

Submit your comments as soon as possible or by April 15. To send written comments via e-mail, send to: budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov

To send written comments via US mail, send to: Joe Malkasian, Room 305 East, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53703.

Contact Governor Walker and your Wisconsin State Legislators: To call or email your legislators, find your Wisconsin State legislators and their contact information: Who Are My Legislators?

Action Alert! April, 2011 - What Else Can I Do to Advocate for the Disabled on the Wisconsin State Budget?

Advocates are recommending the following to continue to address and give suggestions for the Wisconsin State Budget.

Write your story.
Review disability advocacy groups position papers and incorporate ideas that are part of your personal story.
Attend the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee's public hearing in your area. Submit your comments in written format to the Committee.
Write your legislators, visit your legislators.
Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper.
Contribute to blogs from the newspaper, tv, radio and other media to get your suggestions known.
Join advocacy groups and learn more about what more you can do.

2011-13 Wisconsin Budget threatens drastic cuts to public transit

The 2011 Biennial State Budget proposed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker could have a devastating impact on the public transportation services relied upon by Wisconsin residents with disabilities. As it stands now, the state budget (AB 40 and SB27) not only reduces state transit aid by 10%, but will also move the $107 million segregated transportation fund to the general fund. This move will make this money available for any number of other services, which are also facing severe cuts, including education, Badger Care, and Medicaid. If this money is reallocated to these programs, very little will remain for transit; leading to drastically reduced service hours and routes for the bus lines and paratransit.

This vital link to your place of employment, your doctor, your grocery store, your church, your community, could become much harder to come by. That is why you must contact your state legislators and ask them to preserve the transportation fund and to preserve your freedom to access your community and contribute to the state’s economy.

What can you do?

Check out the Survival Coalition’s Budget Talking Points. See page 7 for Transportation

Attend a Joint Finance Committee Public Hearing: See Action Alert above:

If you plan to attend one of the hearings, be certain to check out the 5 Steps for A Successful Meeting with a Legislator, provided by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.

Also, be certain to bring copies of your testimony in writing, at least 16, one for each of the committee members. Try to keep your testimony under three minutes and be certain to combine your personal story with accurate statistics.

Write the Committee by April 15, 2011

Via e-mail: budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov

Via mail: Joe Malkasian, Room 305 East, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53703

2011-13 Wisconsin Budget could be devestating to special education students

With a more than $800 million cut in general school aid, the 2011 Biennial State Budget proposed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker could lead to less supports for, and greater segregation of, special education students. Local school districts will be forced to make drastic cuts, leading to larger class sizes and less hands-on assistance for students who require special accommodations for learning. The budget will also reduce local revenue caps by 5.5%, making it extremely difficult for local districts to raise money locally. Despite these drastic cuts to public education, the Governor is proposing a $40 million increase for school choice, charter schools and open enrollment, and extending these options to families with much higher incomes. Special education students are often not afforded the luxury of taking advantage of such options and therefore will not benefit from this funding increase.

If you have a child that is receiving special education services, it is imperative that you contact your legislators and let them know how these cuts will impact your child's ability to succeed in school and life itself. The services your child receives now will lay the groundwork for the rest of their lives. We must fight for our children's rights to receive a decent public education that will allow them to excel now and into the future!

What can you do?

Check out the Survival Coalition’s Budget Talking Points. See page 3 for Special Education

Attend a Joint Finance Committee Public Hearing:

Thursday, April 7 (10 am – 6 pm). UW-Stevens Point (Lee Dreyfus University Center, Melvin Laird Room), Stevens Point

Friday, April 8 (10 am – 5 pm). Northwood School Richard’s Auditorium, Highway 53, Minong

Monday, April 11 (10 am – 6 pm). State Fair Park, Expo Center Hall A, West Allis

Wednesday, April 13. (10 am – 6 pm). Arcadia High School Auditorium, Arcadia

If you plan to attend one of the hearings, be certain to check out the 5 Steps for A Successful Meeting with a Legislator, provided by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.

Write the Committee by April 15, 2011

Via e-mail: budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov

Via mail: Joe Malkasian, Room 305 East, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53703

Action Alert! April 5, 2011 - The following article is sent from DAWN encouraging people with disabilities to get out and vote next Tuesday, April 5th in important elections across the state of Wisconsin.

We are posting an important Wisconsin Legislative Action Alert to our members, about next week's Wisconsin Elections from DAWN.

"On April 5, 2011, voters statewide will be choosing a Wisconsin State Supreme Court judge. Voters also will be choosing local officials, such as circuit court judges and town, village, city, county, and school board officials. It is very important that the disability community takes part in this election.

The two candidates for Wisconsin State Supreme Court judge are David Prosser and JoAnne Kloppenburg. David Prosser’s campaign website is http://www.justiceprosser.com/ and JoAnne Kloppenburg’s campaign website is http://www.kloppenburgforjustice.com/

While bills to require a photo ID at the polls are currently being considered by the Legislature, the law has not yet changed. "Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. People already registered to vote just need to give poll workers a name and address. Photo identification is not required. People can still register the day of the election at the polling place. A document, such as a utility bill, Wisconsin photo I.D., or rental lease, is needed to prove where the voter lives."

"Disability Rights Wisconsin has a toll-free voter assistance hotline if you have questions or encounter trouble voting at the polls. The toll-free number is 1-800-928-8778 (voice) or 1-888-758-6049 (TTY). The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities has a publication about voting rights available for download from http://www.wi-bpdd.org/publications/pub_by_category.cfm?catid=26"

Action Alert! - April 1, 2011 - Independence First announces Information Briefing at their offices on the Budget Repair Bill - Milwaukee - Free - RSVP if you can

Review the Budget Briefing Flyer from IndependenceFirst for more information. IndependenceFirst at 540 S. 1st Street, Milwaukee, will host a State Budget Briefing sponsored by Make It Work! Milwaukee that will focus on disability and aging services, Friday, April 1, 2011. Bring your lunch, RSVP to Melinda@arcmilwaukee.org. Environmental/Chemical Sensitivity Policy: We request that guests not use perfumes, scented soaps, etc. Independence First is a smoke-free environment.

Action Alert! March 31, 2011 - DAWN announces Information Briefings on the Budget Repair Bill - Oshkosh and La Crosse - Free and Open to the Public

The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families will hold Brown Bag State Budget Information Briefings with time for questions and answers in Oshkosh on March 31 and in La Crosse on April 4. Disability issues overlap with children and families issues. These are great opportunities to learn more about the state budget and have your questions answered.

The briefings will be held:

Oshkosh
Thursday, March 31
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church
137 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI 54901

La Crosse
Monday, April 4
11:45 am
La Crosse County Health and Human Services
Basement Auditorium
300 4th St N, La Crosse

These events are free! Just bring your lunch and questions about the state budget.

Action Alert! February 28, 2011 - Governor's Budget Repair Bill will give power to the Governor's newly appointed director of the Department of Health Services for the Wisconsin Medicaid program without legislative oversight or public input - an important change that will impact 1.1 million Medicaid recipients across the state.

The bill will allow the Governor and Joint Finance Committee to receive input from, Dennis Smith, Walker's recently appointed director of Department of Health Services for the Wisconsin Medicaid program. He and the Governor will be able to delegate authority about elegibility, reduced services, and co-pays and premiums and to make changes to the Medicaid program without legislative oversight or public input. These changes would have an enormous impact on adults and children with disabilities and others who depend on these services every day. Disability Advocates believe that for any changes to the Medicaid program our legislatures must do the hard work of investigating through bipartisan committee, reviewing public input and trying to do the best they can through the democratic process to serve the people of our state.

If you also have concerns about the Medicaid program, contact your state representative and state senator as soon as possible.

To find out who are your state representative and senator, go to Legislators Wisconsin

Action Alert! February 21, 2011 - Governor's Budget Repair Bill will give power to the Governor and Joint Finance to change Wisconsin Medicaid without legislative oversight or public input - important change that will impact 1.1 million Medicaid recipients across the state.

The following has been sent from an action alert by the DAWN (Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network):

The State Senate and State Assembly will vote on the Governor's Budget Repair Bill to fix the budget deficit in the current fiscal year this week. The bill contains an important change that will impact Medicaid and the 1.1 million Medicaid recipients across the state. The bill as amended will allow the Governor and Joint Finance Committee to make changes to the Medicaid program without legislative oversight or public input.

The changes in the Governor's Budget Repair Bill could be to recipients of Medicaid including eligibility for children, parents and uninsured adults, reduced services and benefits in programs that serve elderly and persons with disabilities, including BadgerCare, SeniorCare, Family Care, children's waivers and other vital programs or changes in co-pays and premiums without legislative oversight or any public input. For example, the Governor and Joint Finance Committee could decide to increase cost sharing by program participants and allow providers to deny services to people who couldn’t pay the cost share. These changes would have an enormous impact on adults and children with disabilities and others who depend on these services every day.

If you also have concerns about the Medicaid program, contact your state representative and state senator as soon as possible. They may be voting on the budget repair bill as early as Tuesday of this week.

Disability advocates believe that any changes to the Medicaid program must be made with public input and the involvement of the entire legislature. They believe that these Medicaid provisions should be taken out of the budget repair bill.

To find out who are your state representative and senator, go to Legislators Wisconsin

For more on the topic of Legislation:

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