Third District Republican Party News
July 2002

 
Archived news from the Third Congressional District Republican Party as well as other news and information of interest to our readers.

News from Third District GOP

Other area Republican news

 
Note: Any items marked with will require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view properly.

Third District Republican News

• July 29: 3rd District Delegates re-elect leaders, endorse Bill Arndt, adopt resolution supporting Mississippi River
   
• July 26: Arndt demands Kind explain Partial Birth Abortion Vote
   
• July 17: Bill Arndt rips Kind for pandering to farmers
   
• July 12: Third Congressional District Republicans will caucus aboard Mississippi Riverboat
   
• July 4: July issue of Rounding Third Newsletter - includes the pre-registration form for Caucus II
   
• July 1: Partisanship on parade reported by 3rd District GOP Leaders
   

Other Area Republican News

July 30

• McCallum's Stanley solution sensible
• President Bush signs Corporate Corruption Bill
• Voight will return rubber chicken to rightful owners
• Governor McCallum supports Corporate Governance Reform and Investor Responsibility
• President Bush celebrates USA Freedom Corps six-month anniversary

July 29

• Gov. McCallum sides with farmers on veto of use value paperwork
• President Bush urges Senate to pass Compassionate Welfare Reform Bill
• GOP Governors praise McCallum's leadership, enthusiastically support his election bid
• Rhoades Calls on Senate leadership for spending cuts
• July 2002 Grassroots Gazette

July 27

• President pleased with Trade Promotion Authority progress
• President Bush's weekly radio address

July 26

• Governor McCallum signs budget repair bill
• Rhoades encourages SeniorCare signup
• Students praise Governor for protecting students in Budget Repair Bill
• Secretary Harsdorf thanks Governor for saving consumer protection
• Senator Panzer's statement on Governor's vetoes of the Budget Adjustment Bill
• Secretary Thompson recognizes the anniversary of ADA
• Governor McCallum stands up for consumers with veto

July 25

• Rhoades appoints committee to speed up Internet technology
• Kind, Barrett flip flops on Partial-Birth Abortion ban vote
• McCallum touts budget repair
• President Bush proposes major reforms to address medical liability crisis

July 24

• Americans optimistic, favor Bush approach
• Zien cuts office budget by 25 percent each session
• Laura Bush to Serve as Honorary Chairman of "Concert for America"
• Biskupic makes campaign finance challenge
• President Bush calls for progress on Homeland Security, Corporate Responsibility and Trade

July 23

• McCallum says "JOBS ARE JOB ONE"

July 22

• Biskupic reports quarter million raised
• President Bush says anti-terrorism technology key to Homeland Security

July 20

• President Bush's weekly radio address

July 18

• Remarks by Mrs. Bush at a toast to Madam Jolanta Kwasniewska
• Suder to hold town hall meeting with Commerce Secretary Greenwood
• Johnsrud reports budget saves dollars, restructures DNR warden's chain of command
• Rhoades says budget bill increases funds for nursing homes in St. Croix and Pierce Counties
• President Bush affirms war effort
• Governor McCallum announces grant to help domestic abuse victims
• Johnsrud announces funding maintained for Scenic Bluffs Health Center

July 16

• Farm Bureau reports farmers pick McCallum in straw poll
• McCallum "Get on the Bus" Tour tops 2,000 Miles; rescues Falk camper
• President Bush releases national strategy for Homeland Security
• Governor McCallum announces Community Development Grant for Fennimore

July 15

• Lt. Governor Farrow to tour Dodgeville business
• President Bush's agenda for long-term growth & prosperity

July 13

• Radio address by President Bush
• Governor McCallum unveils new ads

July 12

• Johnsrud announces statewide trauma system

July 11

• Suder reports 185 Stanley jobs saved
• Rhoades appoints LeTourneau to Legislative Study Committee
• Attorney General candidate Biskupic asks Governor McCallum to veto Truth-in-Sentencing exemptions
• President Bush renews call for prescription drug coverage in Medicare
• HHS Secretary Thompson issues report on medical innovation and seniors

July 10

• Governor McCallum announces community development grant for Westby
• Governor McCallum thanks President Bush for assistance with St. Croix River Crossing

July 9

• Rhoades reports Budget Reform Bill passes Assembly
• President Bush announces tough new Corporate Responsibility Enforcement Initiatives
• Governor McCallum statement on Assembly passage of budget agreement

July 8

• Team McCallum Update
• Rhoades reports new prescription drug program unveiled
• Albers reluctantly supports budget "adjustment" legislation
• Governor McCallum agrees to Suder's plan to save Stanley jobs
• President Bush urges Congress to support Nation's priorities

July 6

• President Bush's radio address

July 5

• Governor McCallum asks President Bush for Federal Disaster Aid

July 4

• Independence Day message from President Bush

July 3

• The media starts paying attention to Don Fish
• Natural Resources Committee report from Chairman Johnsrud
• Senate spends Millions to delay Stanley Prison - Zien Meets with Governor
• Albers evaluates Conference Committee report
• Biskupic glad Truth-in-Sentencing finally a reality
• Emergency Management Director reports on flooding disaster declaration for Counties including Clark and Dunn
• Farm Bureau reports farm opponents and court losers continue attack on use value in budget
• Secretary Thompson leads U.S. delegation to AIDS Conference

July 2

• Governor McCallum praises Budget Reform Agreement
• Statement from Governor McCallum on Campaign Finance Reform
• Zien calls on Governor to veto delay of area prisons
• Governor McCallum announces community development grant for Boscobel
• Albers reports on sign-up for SeniorCare beginning
• President Bush emphasizes need for Faith-Based Welfare Initiative in Milwaukee speech
• Governor McCallum announces grant to protect natural area in Pierce County

July 1

• President Bush focuses on Compassionate Conservatism
• Governor McCallum and Secretary Thompson kick off SeniorCare program

For Immediate Release
July 30, 2002
Contact: executive assistant Shane Sawall 608-266-3712
State Treasurer's Office shane.sawall@ost.state.wi.us

Madison, WI... State Treasurer Jack Voight, as custodian of Wisconsin's unclaimed safe deposit box properties, will return a rubber chicken signed by Green Bay Packer legends Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Jim Taylor, Willie Davis and others to its rightful owners at noon on Thursday, August 1, at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. State Treasurer Jack Voight and staff will be there every day to assist in reuniting the public with their property.

The historic rubber chicken signed by Packer greats of Super Bowl I was included in the contents of a safe deposit box turned over to the State Treasurer's Unclaimed Property Division in early 2000. Signatures also include Herb Adderley, Lionel Aldridge, Bill Anderson, Zeke Bratkowski, Bob Brown, Tommy Crutcher, Marv Fleming, Jim Grabowski, Bob Jeter, Henry Jordan, Elijah Pitts, Dave Robinson, Phil Vandersea, Jim Weatherwax, Roy Schmidt and Kurt Nix.

Since the publication of the State Treasurer's unclaimed property list in April, the rightful owners of the rubber chicken have been located. At noon on Thursday, August 1, in Booth #864 of the new Expo Center, State Fair Park, West Allis, State Treasurer Jack Voight will reunite the "lost" Packers rubber chicken with its rightful owners, sisters Nancy Schmelzer of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and Susan Eck, Upper Michigan.

"This is no ordinary rubber chicken! This is a novel piece of Packers memorabilia. Not only am I delighted to return it to Nancy and Susan, I also want to inform Wisconsin citizens that unclaimed property from thousands of safe deposit boxes will be auctioned at a public auction on September 14," said State Treasurer Voight. The auction will be held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Milwaukee, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday September 14, 2002. To view the auction catalog visit www.ost.state.wi.us anytime after August 10.

The State Treasurer has custody of $125 million of unclaimed property owned by some 225,000 individuals. Since 1995, $26 million of unclaimed property has been returned to Wisconsin citizens. The earnings from Wisconsin's unclaimed property assets have helped to fund Wisconsin public school libraries.
 

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
Contact: Tom Thieding
Executive Director, Communications
(608) 828-5709

JULY 29, 2002-MADISON-Governor Scott McCallum vetoed a provision in the state budget that would have required farmers to file paperwork with local assessors to qualify for use value assessment taxation of farmland. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation hailed the veto as move to protect property tax relief and preserve farmland.

The Farm Bureau said the organization was pleased to have the support of the Governor to stand up to the opponents of the use value law. The Governor also vetoed the transfer of the consumer protection functions of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to the Department of Justice.

The final budget included $850,000 to get the Private Employer Health Care Coverage Program operational. The program is designed to administer an insurance pool for small business employers, including farmers, with the theory of providing savings on health insurance.

The budget included a provision to direct the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to work with other agencies to develop a Wisconsin Rural Finance Authority in the next budget. The Rural Finance Authority would help provide access to funds for location, expansion or modernization of agricultural businesses in the state.

The final budget also included a provision to establish penalties for infecting animals with a contagious disease or for threatening to do so, and a provision to require schools to offer milk for sale if schools enter into contracts with a vendor to sell soft drinks.
 

For Immediate Release July 29, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: In an effort to drastically reduce the amount of taxpayer dollars spent each year in Wisconsin government, the state Assembly is reducing its budget for this year by almost $2 million dollars. Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson) is calling on the Senate Leadership to do the same.

"Now is the time to show taxpayers that we are willing to make changes in the way we spend money. The cuts to the Assembly budget is the first step toward more responsible government," Rep. Rhoades said, "The Senate Leadership needs to lead by example and demonstrate that they are committed to government reform. They should make cuts in their budget, too."

The Chief Clerk of the Assembly released a memo last week outlining the new budgetary cuts. The majority of the cost savings will be from not filling employee positions once they've been vacated. Presently, there are fourteen staff members who have terminated their employment with the Assembly and those positions will not be replaced. Additionally, two positions assigned to redistricting have been eliminated and a Chief Clerk vacancy will not be filled until next year. The Assembly will also be reducing it's spending by reducing the amount spend on rent and office supplies.

"I am pleased with the new changes because it shows that the Assembly is serious about improving the state budget. We just passed a budget repair bill that will require all state agencies to cut their budgets by a significant amount. The Wisconsin Legislature should be the first to cut spending," said Rep. Rhoades.

"But, I am disappointed that the Senate leadership has not taken the initiative to do the same thing," Rhoades continued, "If they are really dedicated to budget reform and changing the way they do business, then budget cuts in their own house should be at the top of their list. Taxpayers are looking for responsible government and will take notice if the Legislature tells everyone else to reduce their budget without reducing our own."

The Assembly expenditures will further be reduced by another $1.9 million next year in order to save costs and stay within its budget.

"It's our responsibility as legislators to cut spending in a budget crunch. We need to be held accountable for our spending, just like every other agency that uses taxpayer dollars. It's the right thing to do and I hope the Senate will follow our example," said Rep. Rhoades.
 

For Immediate Release
July 26, 2002
Contact: Bill Arndt, arndtwilliam@hotmail.com
www.billarndt.com

(Menomonie, WI) Wisconsin Third Congressional District candidate Bill Arndt today called for Rep. Ron Kind to explain his vote against the Partial-birth Abortion Act (HR 4965) this week. Kind has supported the ban in past sessions (See House Roll Call Vote #104, 106 Congress, 2nd Session).

"Kind needs to explain to the voters his flip-flop on this issue," demanded Arndt. "Did he really support the ban in his April 2000 vote, or did he vote to support the ban in the past only to get votes, all along knowing President Clinton promised to veto the bill if it came to his desk?"

The partial-birth procedure is performed in the 5th, 6th, and 7th months of pregnancy in cases where both the mother and child are healthy. The baby is pulled out by the feet leaving the baby's head still inside. The doctor then inserts an instrument to either crush the skull or suck out the baby's brain. This procedure would be banned under the proposed legislation.

"Even a great number of pro-abortion supporters agree that this inhumane procedure should be banned," Arndt continued. "Again Ron Kind's political games show he is out of touch with the values of constituents in the Third District."
 

For Immediate Release July 26, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: State Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson) would like to encourage senior citizens to sign up for SeniorCare, the new prescription drug program in Wisconsin. SeniorCare is a program designed to ease the burden of high cost prescription drugs for eligible senior citizens in Wisconsin. Prescription drug coverage will officially begin on September 1, 2002, but sign up for SeniorCare began on July 1st.

"By signing up for SeniorCare now, seniors will be able to start their drug coverage as soon as the program starts this fall," Rep. Rhoades said, "There are several ways to sign up for SeniorCare. Pierce and St. Croix counties have been doing an excellent job of providing assistance for those who are interested in joining the SeniorCare program."

Wisconsin AARP, along with St. Croix and Pierce County's Office on Aging, will be hosting a SeniorCare signup in River Falls on Tuesday, August 6th from 8am to 12pm at the River Falls Public Library. In St. Croix County, interested individuals can pick up SeniorCare applications at the St. Croix County Government Center on 1101 Carmichael Road in Hudson. SeniorCare applications are also available at almost all of the senior centers in both counties.

More information about SeniorCare is available at the Department of Health and Family Services website, www.dhfs.state.wi.us/seniorcare/index.htm, or by calling the SeniorCare hotline number, 1-800-657-2038. Both the hotline number and the website give detailed information about the program and can answer many questions applicants have.

"SeniorCare is an exciting new program for our seniors who need help paying their prescription drug bills." Said Rep. Rhoades, "As the chair of the Aging and Long Term Care Committee, I know how difficult it can be for seniors to make ends meet. Hopefully, SeniorCare will be a huge help to those that need it the most."

"I want to encourage senior citizens to apply for SeniorCare, even if they're not sure they qualify," Rep. Rhoades continued, "This new program can help a lot of people in our area and I look forward to seeing the positive effect it will have for our senior citizens."
 

For immediate release: July 26, 2002

For more information contact:

Jeffrey Pertl, President
o: 608-263-3422
c: 608-513-7140

MADISON— Students of the University of Wisconsin System won a major victory today when the Governor signed the Budget Repair Bill, adopting a key provision which permanently linked increases in state need-based financial aid to UW System tuition increases. The bill requires funding increases for both the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG-UW) and the Lawton Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant (LMURG) to match tuition increases at UW System schools.

"Today Governor McCallum reaffirmed his commitment to higher education," said Jeff Pertl, President of the United Council of UW Students. "Linking financial aid increases to tuition increases, coupled with a cap on tuition increases, ensures that students will continue to be able to afford a higher education in Wisconsin."

The WHEG is the state's largest need-based financial aid program, serving almost 18,000 students, while the LMURG provides assistance to almost 2,000 students of color and economically disadvantaged students.

"Increasing financial aid will open the door to thousands of low-income and first generation college students who would be unable to attend a UW school without the assistance of the state," said Maggie Brown, Legislative Affairs Director for United Council. "This is a huge victory for each and every student of the UW System who will reap the benefits of having a diverse learning environment."

The students of United Council made linking financial aid increases to tuition increases their top priority this past year, running a coordinated statewide campaign to send the provision to the Governor's desk for approval. They spent months meeting with legislators, writing letters and gathering thousands of signatures in support of the provision. The linkage was championed by Representative Spencer Black, who introduced the legislation in the Assembly. Eventually it was included in the Joint Finance Committee's proposal for the Budget Repair Bill.

"Linking financial aid increases to tuition increases has been our number one priority all year long," said Bradley Ladwig, a junior at UW Madison. "As the child of a dairy farmer, I depend on financial aid to go to college. If this victory hadn't happened, I might not have been able to complete my degree at UW Madison."

After the Budget Repair Bill was passed by both houses of the legislature, students made a final push to convince the Governor of the provision's importance. This included phone calls to the Governor's office, letters from key student leaders across the state and a coalition letter which was signed by Regents, Chancellors and Deans.

"This is a testimony to the power of student activism," said Tess Arenas, UW System Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

In addition to linking financial aid to tuition increases, the Governor also protected students by leaving the 8% tuition cap and eliminating the stipulation that students taking over 165 credits would be charged full cost.

The United Council of UW Students is one of the nation's largest, oldest, and most effective statewide student associations representing approximately 145,000 students on 24 UW campuses.
 

7/26/02
Contact: Lisa Hull, 224-5016
Or Glen Loyd, 224-5007

Sec. Jim Harsdorf of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) today thanked Gov. Scott McCallum for vetoing a budget provision that would have transferred consumer protection functions from DATCP to the Department of Justice.

DATCP is Wisconsin's primary consumer protection agency, and has been for most of the state's history. The pioneering agency wrote the state's tough rules for apartment rental, car repair, and home improvement.

"Transferring consumer protection would not have generated significant budget savings," says Harsdorf. "For example, DATCP's entire statewide consumer protection budget of $2.3 million is far smaller than the police budget of Sun Prairie. The devastating budget provision would have slashed $1.5 million, eliminating over half our investigators and undermining the clean business climate that has helped boost Wisconsin's economy."

Harsdorf also says that efficiency would not have increased. Last year, DATCP handled approximately 100,000 complaints and returned almost $9 million to consumers-over three times its total budget.

In its consumer protection mission, DATCP regulates food safety, unfair business practices, deceptive advertising, pesticides, weights and measures, bio-security and disease threats. "These programs are as important to farmers, and to Wisconsin's $40 billion agricultural industry, as they are to consumers," says Harsdorf. "Splintering consumer protection would destroy the common ground that now exists.

"In vetoing this provision, Governor. McCallum has clearly demonstrated his commitment to Wisconsin's farmers, businesses and consumers.

"Wisconsin is nationally recognized for its fair and progressive approach to complex consumer protection issues. That tradition could be threatened if consumer protection issues are unfairly exploited for political purposes, or for publicity value."
 

Contact: Senator Mary Panzer
Phone: (608) 266-7513
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2002

The Governor announced today that he made 72 vetoes to the budget adjustment bill passed by the Legislature. In general, I think the Governor made prudent use of his veto power. He cut spending in a number of areas and removed many unnecessary policy items.

Unfortunately, we'll still be facing about a $1.3 billion hole in the first year of the next budget, so there is still a lot of heavy lifting to do and difficult decisions to make. We are going to be facing an immense task to maintain our priorities and at the same time reform the long-term fiscal condition of the state.

In addition, I was happy to see that the Governor made the necessary changes in the budget to begin housing prisoners at the Stanley Prison in September. I would, however, have preferred that the Stanley Prison be fully operational on September 1st.
 

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2002
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

As we celebrate the 12th anniversary of the "Americans With Disabilities Act," we can take pride in the distance we have traveled toward equal opportunity for Americans with disabilities and their families. The ADA -- long with other advances in law, health care, education and technology -- is making it possible for more and more people to take their place as active participants in community life. But there is still so much to be done.

With his New Freedom Initiative, President Bush has placed a special priority on removing the barriers that face people with disabilities. Long-term commitment to this goal is essential, because the barriers that stand in the way of equal access are deep-rooted. They can be found throughout our health care, transportation, housing and education systems and elsewhere.

At HHS, we have a special responsibility to help remove barriers to community integration. Too often, people with disabilities have been forced to live in institutions, many times because the services that would enable them to live in their communities are not available. We need to help provide for those services, and at the same time we need to support the many informal caregivers, the family and friends of people with disabilities, who dedicate themselves to providing the informal help with routine daily life in the community.

Our home and community-based waivers have enabled many states to expand support outside of institutional settings. And in the past two years, some $120 million in System Change Grants have been helping states design and put in place innovative and lasting community-based approaches. Likewise, we've developed new opportunities for Medicaid programs to provide people with disabilities direct funding and control over the health services that best meet their needs. This puts decisions about health services into the hands of the people who receive those services.

Under the Ticket to Work program, we are expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to retain their health insurance when they get employment. And last year, we launched the National Family Caregiver Support Program, to help families care for a loved one at home or in the community. This year the program was funded at $141.5 million.

There are literally scores of other avenues for further action, which we outlined in our report to the President on next steps for the New Freedom Initiative. With the President, HHS stands committed to pursuing the changes, the innovations, the research and the resources that will help millions of Americans play their full part in our society.
 

For Immediate Release July 25, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: State Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson), Chair of the Assembly Legislative Council Committee, is pleased to announce that a new committee has been appointed to study public and private broadband. This issue is especially important to the folks living in the 30th Assembly district, where the population has increased dramatically, but not the technology.

"For the past four years, I have been saying that our communities cannot compete in economic development unless we are able to off the technology infrastructure, including broadband," said Rep. Rhoades, "It's taken me four years, but we now have a Legislative Council study committee working on this issue to determine how to broadband internet access."

Due to the expansion of the St. Paul/Minneapolis metro region, St. Croix and Pierce counties are two of the fastest growing areas in Wisconsin. But the technology in the area has not kept up with the rapid growth leaving many businesses without the resources to compete for economic opportunities. The Legislative Council Study on Public and Private Broadband will look at the availability of broadband services and the various barriers keeping broadband out of areas in Wisconsin.

Broadband is the non-specific term for high-speed digital Internet access including Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL lines) and the brand new satellite Internet connection. DSL technology is an always-on Internet connection that uses available ordinary copper phone line for both your phone service and a high-speed Internet connection. You can surf the Web and talk on the phone at the same time over your existing phone line, without having to install a new one. DSL takes the existing voice cables that connect customer premises to the CO and turns them into a high-speed digital link to the Internet.

"The 30th Assembly district has seen increases in population and development, but not technology. In order for our area to continue to attract new businesses and keep jobs, we must keep technology up to speed with development," said Rep. Rhoades, "Bringing Broadband to our area is increasingly important as more and more businesses depend of fast Internet access to accomplish everyday tasks."

Representative Rhoades is also very pleased to have Kelly Dunn, from Hudson, representing the St. Croix County Economic Development Corporation on the Legislative Council Committee. Kelly has been an active community member in Hudson for many years and his local experience will be an excellent addition to the committee.

Sen. Richard Grobschmidt (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Phil Montgomery (R- Ashwaubenon) will be co-chairing the Public and Private Broadband study.
 

Wisconsin Right to Life
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2002

Last evening, the U. S. House of Representatives voted by a bi-partisan margin of 274 to 151 to ban the gruesome late-term partial-birth abortion procedure.

The partial-birth abortion procedure is performed in the late stages of pregnancy. It involves dilating the cervix after which the abortionist grabs the baby by its feet and pulls the baby out of the uterus into the vaginal cavity. The baby's head remains inside the uterus as the rest of the baby's body dangles outside the woman's body. The abortionist perforates the baby's skull and then either crushes the baby's skull or vacuums out the baby's brain. The dead baby is then removed from the woman's body.

Yesterday's vote was the fourth time the House has voted on and passed a ban on partial-birth abortion. Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate, Democrat Tom Barrett, has been a sitting member of congress for all of those votes.

The House first passed a ban on the procedure in 1995 with Barrett voting against the ban. Subsequent House votes followed in 1996 and 1997 with Barrett voting to ban the procedure. Last evening, Barrett once again reversed his position and voted against the ban.

"We are not surprised that Tom Barrett has once again flip-flopped on this issue," said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director for Wisconsin Right to Life. "After all, he is running for governor and the Democratic candidates running in this race are tripping over themselves trying to prove to the radical pro-abortion lobby who is the most pro-abortion. Tom Barrett and Ron Kind, who also flip-flopped on this issue by voting against the ban this time around, have demonstrated a heartlessness toward innocent human life that is truly disturbing."

Tammy Baldwin, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, was a leader on the floor for the pro-abortion lobby and offered a "substitute" measure that would have allowed the performance of partial-birth abortions to continue. Wisconsin's Jerry Kleczka voted for the Baldwin measure and was joined by Kind and Barrett. Her proposal was soundly defeated.

"Jerry Kleczka and David Obey were the wimps of the Wisconsin House delegation," said Armacost. "They tried to kill the partial-birth abortion ban by voting for the Baldwin measure but knew they couldn't face the voters in their districts if they voted against final passage of the 'real' ban. Although they voted for final passage of the ban, their constituents need to know the full story."

Members of the Wisconsin delegation who rejected the phony Baldwin "ban" and who voted only for the "real" ban were F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Mark Green, Paul Ryan and Tom Petri. Armacost said, "Congressman Sensenbrenner was magnificent on the House floor during the debate and Congressmen Green and Ryan provided tremendous leadership behind the scenes. Tom Petri's unwavering support was also a great contribution. We praise all of these members of the Wisconsin delegation."

For further information:

Susan Armacost, Legislative Director
414.778.5780 or toll free 877.855.5007
sarmacost@wrtl.org
 

July 24, 2002
For Immediate Release

MADISON – For the fifth straight session, Sen. Dave Zien (R-Wheaton) will return money from his Senate office account to state taxpayers, with nearly 20 percent going back this session.

Since 1993, when Zien was first elected to serve the 23rd Senate District, he has returned an average of 25 percent each session to the state coffers - over $80,000 in the last nine years.

Zien says he looks at the most cost-effective way to use his account to serve the 162,000 people he represents.

"Being a legislator means making responsible budget choices," said Zien. "Now more than ever we must act in a fiscally responsible manner and must use taxpayer dollars wisely."

Each two-year session, state senators receive a set amount to cover all office expenses, including stamps, envelopes, paper, in-district travel reimbursement, telephone charges, copying costs, etc. All of these costs must come out of their respective office accounts. Each senator is the ward of his account and can choose how to use it.

Zien says he incorporates a number of cost-savings measures in his office budget, including limiting the number of newsletters that he does. Instead, he uses the money to make himself and government more accessible to people, including meeting with people in their barns, their business and their homes.

"Our budget doesn't go toward wallpapering the district with mail or keeping the Postal Service busy, we bring government to people," said Zien. "If someone has a problem or just wants to give me some direction, I want to be there myself – not a piece of paper, not a telephone call – the guy they hired."

"When I first was elected to the state senate, I vowed that I would bring government to the people, which means getting out to the places they live, work and play," said Zien. "My biggest priority is always to be accessible and available to the people who elected me. It is important for me to meet eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul with the people who elected me to serve."

Zien explained that his effectiveness and ability to represent real people is directly tied to the priority he places on working throughout his district. Instead of sitting in Madison and talking to a bureaucrat about a roadblock they are creating in his district, Zien goes to the site and speaks from firsthand knowledge, "We get down to the real facts pretty quick when they find out I've seen the problem firsthand and don't need to trust their explanation."

Keeping in touch personally with every citizen who has an opinion to express also keeps Zien grounded in the needs of his west-central Wisconsin district. "Some Senators sit in Madison and spend a lot of money telling the people who elected them what they should think. Our office budget priority is getting out practically every day to get our marching orders from my 162,000 bosses."

Savings are also maintained by personally delivering Blue Books or offering them for pick up in his district office. Most legislators mail their allotment of 600 of these 1,000-page official books of state history and government.

Zien, who championed the "freeze it and fix it" plan, which sought to freeze spending levels at all levels of state government to solve the budget deficit, said he would like to encourage other legislators and government agencies to join him in not only freezing state spending, but reducing it.

"If we all worked together to make spending cuts, we could get the budget back on track, curb spending and make sound spending decisions," said Zien. "I know cutting spending an average of 25 percent like I have is ambitions, but as wards of the taxpayers' money, I think it is important for everyone in government to try to make cuts anywhere they can."
 

For Immediate Release July 24, 2002
For more information contact: Vince Biskupic
(920) 739-2494

APPLETON... Vince Biskupic, (R-Appleton) candidate for Attorney General has asked his opponent to join him in limiting the amount of Political Action Committee (PAC) funding they each accept and publicly requesting that no independent expenditures be made that affect their race for Attorney General.

"My opponent has made remarks about my campaign donors that I feel were rather disingenuous considering her own campaign raised forty percent of her funds from PACs and I want to clear the air," said Biskupic. "I'm making a public commitment to restrict the amount of campaign funds I will accept from PACs, I'm going on record in opposition to any and all independent expenditures in this race, and I'm asking her to join me in making those commitments."

Biskupic sent a letter to Peg Lautenschlager's (D-Fond du Lac) campaign today asking that she join him in limiting PAC contributions to no more than one-third of the money raised for their campaigns. He also asked her to join him in publicly requesting that no group make independent expenditures affecting the outcome of the race for Attorney General.

"In the 2000 election cycle there were a number of races around the state where members of both parties essentially lost control of their race to independent groups who bought ads or sent out mailings," said Biskupic. "I don't want that to happen to this race, and I hope my opponent will go on record with me in opposing these practices."

Biskupic's campaign reported having $187, 834 on hand as of June 30th with over ninety percent of the funds raised coming from individual donors. Biskupic, currently the District Attorney for Outagamie County, has no primary opponent on the Republican ticket for Attorney General, and has been the presumptive Republican nominee since he announced his candidacy in February.

"My campaign has focused on taking the politics out of the Attorney General's office, and returning the focus of the office to strong law enforcement and community safety," said Biskupic. "My latest finance report shows that message has resonated with a broad spectrum of donors from teachers and police officers to laborers, senior citizens, and business people. Individual voters should choose our next Attorney General with their votes and their contributions, without being overwhelmed by special interest groups."
 

For Immediate Release July 22, 2002
For more information contact: Vince Biskupic
(920) 739-2494

APPLETON... Vince Biskupic, (R-Appleton) candidate for Attorney General, announced today that his campaign has raised over a quarter of a million dollars and had over $187,000 on hand at the end of June.

"For the last six months, I've been traveling the state meeting citizens and raising the dollars necessary to run a successful campaign," said Biskupic. "We've raised over four times what we had at the end of the last reporting period, and our momentum continues to build."

Biskupic, currently the District Attorney for Outagamie County, has no primary opponent on the Republican ticket for Attorney General, and has been the presumptive Republican nominee since he announced his candidacy in February.

"I'm proud to say over ninety percent of our donations have come from individual donors," said Biskupic. "We're working hard and will be well positioned as the campaign heats up this fall."

Biskupic has served as Outagamie County District Attorney for the past eight years and has been a prosecutor since 1989. His campaign has stressed the need to put law enforcement above politics and refocus the resources of the Attorney General's office on fighting crime.
 

For Immediate Release July 18, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson) is proud to announce that as soon as the Governor signs the recent budget repair bill, St. Croix and Pierce counties will receive significant increases in funding for nursing home facilities. The budget repair bill mandates that the Department of Health and Family Services change the reimbursement rate to these nursing homes, by taking into account the specific labor needs of facilities in the St. Paul/Minneapolis metropolitan region.

It has long been recognized that the Minneapolis Metro area has a tremendous influence on St. Croix and Pierce Counties. The value of homes and salaries for various positions are determined by the need to compete with the Minnesota Metro. For years, this competition has had a negative influence on Wisconsin nursing homes and hospitals.

Local medical facilities receive reimbursement for part of their labor expenses from the Medical Assistance program, which is based on the "cost of labor" in Wisconsin. However, in communities bordering Minnesota, the facilities must pay the Minnesota rate or lose all their workers to the Cities.

"Nursing homes in St. Croix and Pierce counties face unique challenges because of the enormous growth of the Twin Cities," Rep. Rhoades said, "It is essential that our nursing homes have the funding to meet these needs and be able to hire and retain qualified caregivers."

The Department of Health and Family Services determines funding for nursing homes based on predetermined "labor regions" which define the reimbursement rates for various expenses. Different parts of the state have different labor needs and funding can differ greatly between the regions. St. Croix and Pierce counties have long been defined as a "Minnesota labor region" but the funding was never based on "Minnesota numbers". The budget repair bill directs the Department of Health and Family Services to reimburse St. Croix, Pierce and Douglas Counties based on the Minnesota rate as determined by the Medical Assistance Program.

"For years, we have lost talented and qualified medical personnel to the Twin Cities because they were able to earn more money there. Being so close to Minneapolis/St. Paul means it is very easy for nurses to simply cross the bridge. We need to be competitive with that market and keep as many of our nursing home workers as possible. By adjusting the labor region for St. Croix and Pierce counties, we've made it easier for our nursing homes to keep their skilled staff and be able to recruit potential employees."

"We have worked long and hard building the partnerships needed to get this item approved and I am incredibly pleased with the results," Rep. Rhoades said, "We need to do everything we can to keep the nursing homes operating in our area."
 

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2002
Contact: Bill Arndt, arndtwilliam@hotmail.com

(Menomonie, WI) - Third Congressional District candidate Bill Arndt was highly critical of Rep. Ron Kind for his July 12 press release titled "Kind Questions USDA: Agency Won't Meet July 13th Dairy Payment Deadline to Nation's Farmers." The press release intentionally tries to give voters the impression that he is the champion of the 2002 Farm Bill when he actually voted against the bill in congress.

"Is this a memory lapse?" asked Arndt. "Or is this simply another 'new democrat' tactic to grandstand on something he didn't support in the first place?"

On May 2, Kind voted "No" on the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 which ended up passing 280 to 141 despite his opposition. In his 5-2-02 press release Kind is quoted as saying, "Today's passage of the Farm bill preserves bad policy and the status quo." In that release Kind further states, "In addition, increasing subsidy payments will also make it more difficult when the U.S. enters into negotiations with our international trading partners under WTO rules."

While Arndt was critical of Kind's unashamed credit grabbing ploy, he is supportive of getting farmers the assistance they deserve.

"I have been traveling all over the district and everywhere I go I find farmers that are hurting financially," Arndt continued. "Area farmers deserve to be represented in Congress by someone who will fight for them and not someone who talks out of both sides of his mouth only to grab headlines. I will be a congressman that actually fights for the farmers and families of Western Wisconsin!"
 

Contact: Tom Thieding
Executive Director, Communications
(608) 828-5709

JULY 16, 2002-MADISON-State farmers say they favor Republican Scott McCallum in the gubernatorial race, according to results from a straw poll conducted by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at Farm Progress Days, July 9-11.

In separate head-to-head match-ups with the four Democratic challengers and Libertarian Ed Thompson, Governor McCallum received more than half of the vote, with the remaining votes being split between Thompson and the Democratic challenger. In each of the four head-to-head match-ups, Ed Thompson finished second. The Farm Bureau said there was little variance in the results showing McCallum winning each head-to-head match-up.

McCallum garnered 53 percent of the straw poll vote, Ed Thompson received 24 percent and Tom Barrett received 23 percent in that match up.

McCallum received 55 percent of the straw poll vote, Ed Thompson received 26 percent and Kathleen Falk collected 19 percent in that three-way match-up.

McCallum collected 57 percent of the vote, Ed Thompson received 23 percent, and James Doyle received 20 percent in that option.

In the other option, McCallum received 58 of the straw poll vote, Ed Thompson received 27 percent and Gary George received 15 percent.

The Farm Bureau conducted the straw poll with 546 farmers. The Farm Bureau said while a straw poll has a wider variance of accuracy than other voting polls, the straw poll is still a good gauge of what farmers are thinking heading into the summer campaign season.

The Farm Bureau said the results show a consistent pattern that farmers tend to be more conservative, but also are independent in their voting choices. The Farm Bureau reported that while farmers were taking the straw poll they expressed a great amount of frustration and disillusionment with the political environment in Madison.
 

For Immediate Release - July 16, 2002
Contact: Debbie Monterrey-Millett, Governor's Office, 608/266-9806
Tony Hozeny, Communications Director, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON- Gov. Scott McCallum today announced that the City of Fennimore, Grant County, will receive a public facilities grant totaling $165,000 to upgrade its infrastructure system to aid in community and economic development.

"The grant will help this community replace water and sanitary sewer main, allowing the City of Fennimore to provide for the continued adequacy and safety of its public facilities," Gov. McCallum said. "The total costs for this project are $440,000."

The Department of Commerce (COMMERCE) has administered the federally funded CDBG-PF Program since 1982. These grants play an important role in helping communities finance a wide range of projects, including water and sewer system improvements, senior centers, community centers, fire stations, and handicapped-accessibility improvements. Grants are awarded to projects that will primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents. For further information on the CDBG-PF Program contact James Frymark, COMMERCE, at 608/266-2742.
 

Media Release

For Immediate Release July 11, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson), co-chair of the Joint Legislative Council Committee, has appointed Jim LeTourneau, President of Foley United located in River Falls, as a member of a legislative study committee to develop a new state budget system.

"There's a new urgency in finding a new way to build the state budget," Rep. Rhoades said, "When you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always got. We need to make dramatic changes and Jim will be an important part of that process."

Study committees are established by the Joint Legislative Council to examine major issues and problems identified by the Legislature. The study committees are made up of Legislators and citizens who are interested in or knowledgeable about the study topic. Jim LeTourneau's committee is charged with "Improving Wisconsin's Fiscal Management". They will examine Wisconsin's financial management and policy practices and offer "real world solutions and tools" to create a better system.

"Jim will be an excellent addition to this study committee," said Rep. Rhoades, "Jim's extensive background in the "real world" will provide a great perspective to the committee. We are fortunate to have such a strong Western Wisconsin representation."

The study committee on Improving Wisconsin's Fiscal Management will also include Donald Kettl, who has served as chair to many task forces developing suggestions for change within state government. Most recently, Donald Kettl was commissioned by former Governor Tommy Thompson to evaluate and improve state and local government relationships. The Kettl Commission recommended major policy changes including a reduction in duplication and overlapping government services, encouraging cooperation between government agencies to increase the economy, and engage citizen involvement in evaluating government performance.

"This Legislative Council committee is a tremendous step in the right direction, " said Rep. Rhoades, "Improving Wisconsin's fiscal management is a top priority for everyone right now and we have assembled a great team to find solutions. I look forward to seeing the positive results of their work."
 

Immediate Release
July 11, 2002
For more information contact: Vince Biskupic
(920) 739-2494

APPLETON... Attorney General candidate and current District Attorney of Outagamie County Vince Biskupic (R-Appleton) today sent a letter to Governor McCallum requesting a partial veto of provisions included in the budget repair bill that would weaken new Truth-in-Sentencing guidelines.

"Today I've asked Governor McCallum to use his veto pen to fulfill the promise of Truth-in-Sentencing by removing language from the budget repair bill that would allow some felons to be released after serving only a portion of their sentence," said Vince Biskupic (R-Appleton). "Truth-in-Sentencing should not have loopholes in it."

Biskupic has been highly critical of attempts by Democrats in the State Senate to weaken guidelines for Wisconsin's Truth-in-Sentencing law by allowing persons convicted of felonies including child enticement, sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child pornography, burglary, causing mental harm to a child, and many other serious offenses to be released after serving only 25 percent of their sentence. The compromise position taken by the Budget Conference Committee increased this threshold to 75 to 85 percent.

"The bill currently before the Governor is a vast improvement over what was included in the budget by the State Senate, but still exempts some serious offences from the 100 percent standard contained in the original Truth-in-Sentencing legislation," said Biskupic. "By vetoing this language, the Governor can maintain the full promise of Truth-in-Sentencing."

Biskupic, who recently served as President of the Wisconsin District Attorney's Association, said he was glad this would bring an end to the lingering unresolved work of penalties commission.

Biskupic has served as Outagamie County District Attorney for the past eight years and has been a prosecutor since 1989. His campaign has stressed the need to put law enforcement above politics and refocus the resources of the Attorney General's office on fighting crime. Biskupic has prosecuted thousands of felonies, including over thirty homicides.

"While I understand the Governor has to consider budgetary constraints in making this decision, I believe maintaining our commitment to make felons serve their entire sentence is worth the cost," said Biskupic.

Date: July 11, 2002
For Release: Immediately
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today released a new report highlighting the importance of medical innovation and new technology, especially new drugs, in helping seniors live longer and healthier lives. The report highlights advances in disease treatment and prevention as key factors improving health for older Americans.

"To ensure our continued progress in the fight to treat and prevent chronic and other diseases, our society must encourage continued research and innovation. Public and private investments in research are investments in our future," Secretary Thompson said, noting that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget for fiscal year 2002 is $23.5 billion.

The report, "Securing the Benefits of Medical Innovation for Seniors," examines the role that the U.S. plays in developing new medical technology, including drugs, and also looks at access to new innovative medicines in the U.S. and abroad.

The report cites several examples of restrictions on access to new drugs in various countries compared to the U.S. For example, while patients in the U.S. have access to new osteoporosis medicines that inhibit bone reabsorption, other countries restrict access to these drugs to relatively narrow categories of patients. In New Zealand, only specialists can initiate therapy with these medicines, and then only after the patient has already suffered one previous significant bone fracture and has a substantially low bone mass density. Similarly, other countries limit the use of statins, a new category of drugs that can help people with high cholesterol -- a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

"In providing seniors access to prescription drug coverage in Medicare, we must let patients, not the government, choose the drug coverage that is best for them," Secretary Thompson said. "We must not erect barriers that block the development and the availability of the most impressive array of medical breakthroughs in history -- the new drugs that improve and save the lives of America's seniors."

The report will be available today at http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/medicalinnovation/
 

For Immediate Release - July 10, 2002
Contact: Debbie Monterrey-Millett, Governor's Office, 608/266-9806
Tony Hozeny, Communications Director, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON- Gov. Scott McCallum today announced that the City of Westby, Vernon County, will receive a public facilities grant totaling $200,000 to upgrade its infrastructure system to aid in community and economic development.

"The grant will help this community replace two lift stations, allowing the City of Westby to provide for the continued adequacy and safety of its public facilities," Gov. McCallum said. "The total costs for this project are $691,000."

The Department of Commerce (COMMERCE) has administered the federally funded CDBG-PF Program since 1982. These grants play an important role in helping communities finance a wide range of projects, including water and sewer system improvements, senior centers, community centers, fire stations, and handicapped-accessibility improvements. Grants are awarded to projects that will primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents. For further information on the CDBG-PF Program contact James Frymark, COMMERCE, at 608/266-2742.
 

Media Release

For Immediate Release July 9, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: On Monday, July 8th, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a budget repair bill to reform the way the state spends its money and closes the $1.17 billion dollar gap. According to Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson), the repair bill patches the deficit while protecting K-12 education and prescription drug help for seniors. Most importantly, the budget ends the deficit without raising taxes.

"This budget isn't perfect, but it shows our commitment to education, to senior citizens, and to the hard working taxpayers of Wisconsin," Rep. Rhoades said, "Obviously, I would have preferred that we had even more cuts in spending, but tough decisions had to be made. I am proud to say we passed a budget that reforms the budget process"

Rhoades added that the budget contains three major components to try to prevent any future deficits: spending cuts, economic development, and budget reforms. Some of the most important specific reform measures are:

• Zero-Based Budgeting: Make agencies justify all of their expenditures in the budget
• State Employee Cap: Only allow agencies to fill 80% of their vacancies
• State Spending Cap: Limit state spending increases to personal income growth
• Rainy Day Fund: Half of any future surpluses must go into the "rainy day fund"
• Ban Deficit Spending: Statutorily prohibit structural deficits by 2005
  

"These reforms will go a long way in preventing another deficit in Wisconsin," Rhoades said, "The people of Wisconsin deserve to have a fiscally responsible government. We couldn't have predicted the economic downturn of last year, but we can take steps to make sure we're ready next time around."

Along with the extensive budget reforms, the budget bill also includes many provisions to protect Wisconsin taxpayers and those who need help the most. Rhoades said the budget includes many budget reforms such as:

• Does not raise taxes
• Maintains 2/3rds funding for K-12 education and the SAGE program
• Protects funds for the SeniorCare prescription drug program
• Contains the first major campaign finance reform plan in over 20 years
• Finally implements Truth-In-Sentencing
• Cuts $190 million in state spending

The budget bill was approved on a vote of 50-47. The bill now heads to Governor Scott McCallum's desk for final approval.
 

Media Release

For Immediate Release July 8, 2002
Contact: Rep. Kitty Rhoades 1-888-529-0030
1-608-266-1526

Madison: State Representative Kitty Rhoades (Hudson) is pleased to announce that a new program called SeniorCare has officially begun offering a new prescription drug program for senior citizens in Wisconsin. SeniorCare will ease the burden of high cost prescription drugs for eligible residents age 65 years and older.

"Our Seniors deserve affordable prescription drug care," Rep. Rhoades said, "SeniorCare is one of the most comprehensive state prescription drug coverage plans in the country. We should all be proud that our state is leading the way by creating and developing this program."

"As the chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care, I know first hand the difficulties our seniors face when it comes to paying for prescription drugs," Rep. Rhoades continued, "That is why SeniorCare is an excellent step in the right direction. We are addressing the needs of seniors, and that's important."

SeniorCare coverage will officially begin on September 1, 2002, with applications being accepted on July 1st.

Over 260,000 Wisconsin seniors will be eligible for this program, based on the maximum income of $21,264 per year for singles and $28,656 per year for couples. The program also requires the applicant to be a permanent resident of Wisconsin, 65 years or older, and not currently receiving Medicaid benefits. Participants in SeniorCare will also be required to pay a $500 deductible, which can be waived if an individual's income is below $14,176 per year or if a couple's income is below $19,104 per year.

To find out more about SeniorCare, please call the Department of Health and Family Services hotline number, 1-800-657-2038 or visit their website at www.dhfs.state.wi.us/seniorcare/index.htm. Both the hotline number and the website give detailed information about the program and can answer any questions applicants may have.
 

For more information, contact: State Representative Sheryl Albers
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-8531
July 8, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Madison) - Representative Sheryl K. Albers (R-Reedsburg) reluctantly cast an "aye" vote in favor of budget adjustment legislation before the Wisconsin State Assembly tonight. The bill, drafted in response to revenue shortfalls created by the sluggish economy, restructures the 2001-03 budget passed just last summer. It fell out of balance only a few weeks after Governor McCallum signed the budget into law.

"I supported this bill because it's a no-tax-increase budget," Albers said. "We filled a $1.2 billion hole without swiping more money from your wallets. I also made a commitment to my constituents and colleagues to support a plan that protects the New Lisbon Prison from unreasonable delays in opening - and this plan does just that." Albers is referring to the successful efforts of Assembly Republicans to stave off a Senate Democratic proposal to delay the opening until July of 2004 - a full 13 months after the scheduled June 1, 2003, opening. The Republican plan ultimately only delayed the opening for 7 months.

"It's a less-than-perfect world and a less-than-perfect plan," Albers noted, "yet I think it's better to put this budget behind us than to leave our local governments hanging by a thread as the wonder how much money they're going to have on hand to spend." Albers also stressed the fiscal importance of passing the repair bill. "Every day, every time the sun rises and falls, we're $7 million further in the hole - $200 million deeper every month. The only irresponsible decision is voting to protract and prolong this process even further," Albers said.

Many of the cost-saving measures Albers proposed during budget adjustment deliberations became lost in the process as legislators lost sight of the ultimate objective of the adjustment bill. Albers noted that, if she remains on the Joint Committee on Finance, she will be ready for next spring's budget, when introduced by Governor McCallum.

"The state's economy cannot overpower the deficit, even if dramatic improvement were to occur in the coming months. To avoid massive tax increases, the legislature must make government more efficient - and some of the reforms in this budget will help us meet the challenge," Albers said, referring to changes including zero-based budgeting for government agencies, and further development of the rainy day fund.

Albers also noted that the final legislation included her provision to save the Challenge Academy from closing. The National Guard program for 17-18 year-old high school dropouts currently serves as the only statewide program designed to assist young men and women in obtaining their HSED. When the Department of Military Affairs was tasked to make cuts in state-funded programs, the Academy became the agency's only choice due to the agency's large reliance on federal funds for most operations.

"The new funding mechanism, supported by WEAC and a bipartisan group of legislators, treats these young men and women just like every other student in our public schools. This new funding mechanism better ensures the program will remain in existence for years to come," said Albers.

Although pleased with some of the measures designed to address future budget issues, Albers joined Senator Dale W. Schultz (R-Richland Center) in decrying the dramatic rise in the "structural deficit." This deficit represents the amount of money the Legislature appropriates for the next budget in excess of anticipated revenues for that period. The adjustment bill voted on today by the Assembly requires $2.867 billion in additional funding or cuts in order to meet the constitutional requirement that the state maintain a balanced budget. "This is a 64% increase over the structural deficit projected in the original 2001-03 budget passed last summer," Albers said. "Next time we'll need to pull together to bring that number down."
 

For more information, contact: State Representative Sheryl Albers
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-8531
July 3, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Capitol - Rep. Sheryl Albers (R - Reedsburg) is currently reviewing 300+ items in the budget repair bill put forward yesterday evening by the conference committee. The committee wrapped up over two months of work yesterday by reaching agreement on the remaining sixty items that were unresolved.

"I am pleased that Assembly Republicans were able to fight the Democrats and prevent them from pushing back the opening date of the prison in New Lisbon," Albers said. "Opening this facility sooner will bring hundreds of quality jobs to Juneau County, and we need every last one." As the bill comes before the Senate today, the New Lisbon Correctional Institution is scheduled to open in January of 2004. Senate Democrats wanted to push the opening back to July of 2004.

Albers also praised leaders for creating a new funding mechanism for the Youth Challenge program at Fort McCoy. The program, formerly known as "Badger Challenge," is a 22-week residential program for youth aged 16 to 18 who are high school dropouts or habitual truants who will not graduate from high school. The goal of the program is to aid these youth in learning life skills, increasing their employment potential and preparing them for the high school equivalency degree exam. Since its inception, the program has averaged 104 enrollees per class, with 64 per class attaining a high school equivalency diploma.

Albers expressed concern, however, over the problems that the budget adjustment bill creates in coming years. "The plan put forward by the Senate Democrats created a structural deficit of $2.8 billion for the next budget," Albers said. "I thought it would be impossible to dig the hole deeper, but the numbers today say that the new plan leaves a hole $39 million larger than the one we balked at months ago." Estimates released today by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimate that the state will need to generate $2.867 billion in additional revenue in the 2003-05 budget to cover planned expenditures.

Albers and her staff will continue to review the provisions contained in the package in anticipation of floor action later this week or early next week. She encourages all constituents who want to share their thoughts about the package to contact her office toll-free at 1-877-947-0050.
 

For Immediate Release July 3, 2002
For more information contact: Vince Biskupic
(920) 739-2494

APPLETON... Five years after the legislature passed the initial bill requiring Truth-In-Sentencing, the Legislative Conference Committee yesterday forwarded a modified version of an Assembly proposal clarifying new sentencing guidelines.

"I'm glad new guidelines are finally moving forward," said Vince Biskupic (R-Appleton).

"The provision included by the Budget Conference Committee is an improvement over our current system and comes as a tremendous relief after the State Senate's attempt to gut Truth-In-Sentencing."

Biskupic, a career prosecutor and current Outagamie County District Attorney, was highly critical of guidelines included in the Senate Democratic version of the budget in April of this year.

"The Senate Democratic leadership had taken the truth out of Truth-In-Sentencing," said Biskupic. "Their proposal would have allowed some convicts to be released after serving only a quarter of their sentence

The proposal now included in the budget keeps the most serious offenders imprisoned for 100% of their sentence and would only allow lower level offenders to petition for sentence adjustment after serving 85% of their original sentence.

"The whole point of Truth-In-Sentencing was to insure victims would not be forced to relive the horror of the crime at parole hearings, and that the public would know that perpetrators would actually serve the sentences handed down at trial."

Biskupic, who recently served as President of the Wisconsin District Attorney's Association, said he was glad this would bring an end to the lingering unresolved work of penalties commission.

Biskupic has served as Outagamie County District Attorney for the past eight years and has been a prosecutor since 1989. His campaign has stressed the need to put law enforcement above politics and refocus the resources of the Attorney General's office on fighting crime.
 

DATE: July 3, 2002

TO: Governor Scott McCallum
Wisconsin Congressional Delegation
State Legislators

FROM: Ed Gleason
Administrator

SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT ON CENTRAL WISCONSIN FLOODING- Report #3

Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration –– Governor Scott McCallum will formally request to President George W. Bush a federal disaster declaration for eight counties that sustained damage from recent storms. The request for assistance on behalf of Adams, Clark, Dunn, Marinette, Marathon, Portage, Waushara and Wood Counties will be submitted on Friday, July 5 upon completion of preliminary damage assessment analysis.

Wisconsin Emergency Management, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted damage assessments earlier this week. The assessment teams confirmed nearly $5 million in damage to the public sector. The county per capita losses for these storms ranges from $34.06 in Adams County to $2.87 in Dunn County. Per capita losses in some communities are even more compelling, such as the City of Marinette (Marinette County) sustaining a $695.20 per capita loss, the Town of Leola (Adams County) a $430.18 per capita loss and the Township of Eau Pleine (Marathon County) a $392.44 per capita loss.

Last week, Gov. McCallum declared a State of Emergency for Adams, Clark, Marathon, Marinette, Portage, Waushara and Wood Counties as a result of a series of damaging rains and severe storms that impacted the area June 21-25, 2002. Although Dunn County was not in the original declaration by the Governor, damage assessment teams also surveyed this county for damages based on a request from local officials. Gov. McCallum is asking that the federal government aid these communities to recover from the torrential rains.

Individual Damage Assistance - FEMA did not review storm and flood damage to homes and businesses. Residents that sustained flood damage are encouraged to contact their county emergency management director.

Crop Damage - Farmers that suffered crop losses as a result of the flooding and severe storms should contact their local USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) office to report the type of damage and the amount of damage sustained. Assistance available to agricultural producers would be emergency loans. The FSA has reports of damage to cranberries, potatoes, sweet corn, peas, snapbeans, corn, soybeans, oats, barley, ginseng and alfalfa. The FSA has requested that the agency Administrator make emergency physical loss loans available to qualified producers to assist them in clearing debris and/or replanting crops. In some cases, however, it is too late to replant. It will not be until harvest then that producers will be able to determine their yields and calculate their losses. FEMA does not provide disaster assistance for agricultural losses. For further information on the emergency loan program and the counties that are approved, contact Frank Goff or Janine Ashworth at the State FSA office at 608-276-8732.

For further information, contact Wisconsin Emergency Management at 608-242-3239.

Contact: Tom Thieding
Executive Director, Communications
(608) 828-5709

Farm opponents and court losers continue attack on use value in budget.

JULY 3, 2002-MADISON--Budget negotiators reached a final agreement on the budget yesterday to plug the budget deficit for this year. But the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation said that farm opponents continued their attack on the use value assessment of farmland law in the final budget, despite a state Supreme Court ruling last week that upheld the constitutionality of the law.

The Farm Bureau said it was unfortunate that Senate Democrats and big city mayors continued their attack on farmers by including a provision that would require every farmer and farmland owner in the state to file a form with their local assessor to qualify for use value taxation. The provision would require farmers to file a form with their assessor by March of next year, and if they failed to file they must go to their Board of Review to get qualification. The Farm Bureau said this would result in assessors having to wade through more than 100,000 forms annually.

The Farm Bureau called this provision a "ridiculous bureaucratic" attack on farmers, and will call upon Governor Scott McCallum to veto that provision. The Farm Bureau said homeowners are not required to file forms to qualify for property tax assessment, and said this provision was nothing more than a blatant attack on farmers who successfully defeated a lawsuit last week in Supreme Court that was funded by Senate Democrats to overturn the law.

In the tentative final agreement, budget writers preserved the funding for the ethanol incentive program, and provided start-up money for the Private Employer Health Care Program. The budget also weakened the Agricultural Chemical Management Fund, which may result in clean sweep programs being cut, fewer on-site inspections, and prorated payments, and they would transfer Consumer Protection from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Justice.

Summary of the ag-related items included in the budget.

Items supported by ag included in the budget

• Require schools that have an exclusive contract with a soft drink company to provide milk vending machines.
• Provide $850,000 start-up money for the Private Employer Health Care Program.
• Create penalties for threatening to infect or recklessly infecting livestock with a contagious disease.
• Keep the Land and Water Bureau in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
• Direct the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to work with other agencies to develop a Wisconsin Rural Finance Authority in the next budget.
• Retain ethanol incentive funding ($3 million).

Items opposed by ag included in the budget

• Use Value - require all farmland owners to file forms by March, 2003, with assessor to qualify for use value, and create a new penalty for taking ag land out of production
• Transfers DATCP's consumer protection to DOJ.
• Retain Stewardship bonding at $60 million.
• Makes Agriculture Chemical Management fund unstable.
   

Date: July 3, 2002
For Release: Immediately
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced Wednesday that he will lead the U.S. delegation to the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain, July 7-12. The trip comes on the heels of Secretary Thompson's signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese ministry of health to expand HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities in China.

"The International AIDS Conference provides an invaluable and unique opportunity to engage the global community on the best strategies to combat HIV/AIDS," Secretary Thompson said. "As the world leader in fighting HIV/AIDS, the United States is honored to be working side by side with other nations. We must build on the conference theme of translating scientific knowledge into action and work with our international partners to help reduce AIDS-related death and disease and the spread of new HIV infections."

While in Barcelona, Secretary Thompson will address up to 1,500 attendees during a senior lecture series about U.S. efforts to support HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities, highlighting recent visits to Africa and the Caribbean. He will be joined by Executive-Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Dr. Richard Feachem and World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland.

Secretary Thompson's visit builds upon the Bush administration's strong support of protecting the social fabric of families affected by HIV/AIDS.

"There are an estimated 40 million people in the world living with HIV/AIDS," Secretary Thompson said. "By 2010, an estimated 44 million children will have lost one or both parents to AIDS. That's almost too painful to contemplate. But we must think about it and act boldly to help."
 

For Immediate Release - July 2, 2002
Contact: Debbie Monterrey-Millett, Governor's Office, 608/266-9806
Tony Hozeny, Communications Director, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON-- Gov. Scott McCallum today announced that the City of Boscobel, Grant County, will receive a public facilities grant totaling $234,600 to upgrade its infrastructure system to aid in community and economic development.

"The grant will help this community replace water and sanitary sewer main, allowing the City of Boscobel to provide for the continued adequacy and safety of its public facilities," Gov. McCallum said. "The total costs for this project are $2.4 million."

The Department of Commerce (COMMERCE) has administered the federally funded CDBG-PF Program since 1982. These grants play an important role in helping communities finance a wide range of projects, including water and sewer system improvements, senior centers, community centers, fire stations, and handicapped-accessibility improvements. Grants are awarded to projects that will primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents. For further information on the CDBG-PF Program contact James Frymark, COMMERCE, at 608/266-2742.
 

For more information, contact: State Representative Sheryl Albers
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-8531
July 2, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Capitol - Rep. Sheryl Albers (R - Reedsburg) would like to remind her constituents that registration began for SeniorCare, Wisconsin's new prescription drug assistance plan for residents 65 years of age or older.

"Prescriptions take a big chunk out of the wallets of Wisconsin's seniors, especially those on fixed incomes," Albers said. "I'm happy to support a plan that will help so many seniors reign in some of their medical costs." The Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) expects that 160,000 residents may take advantage of the new plan, designed by legislators and signed into law by Governor Scott McCallum as part of last year's 2001-03 budget bill. Any Wisconsin resident who meets the following criteria is eligible:

• 65 years of age or older
• Not a recipient of Medicaid
• Pays a $20 annual enrollment fee per person
• Makes no more than $21,264 (individual) or $28,656 (couple)
• A spenddown provision in the plan allows those whose income exceeds the maximum limits to qualify as well if their out-of-pocket spending on prescriptions brings them under the maximum limit.

Constituents can obtain applications from their county office on aging, by calling the toll-free SeniorCare hotline at 1-800-657-2038, or by visiting the SeniorCare website at www.dhfs.state.wi.us (Click on the "SeniorCare" link). If you don't own a computer, visit the local library and the librarian can assist you in locating the website.

"Your application will be scanned electronically, so it's important that you use an original application, or one that has been printed from the SeniorCare website," Albers said.

Albers noted that the goal is to make certain that anyone who wishes to apply can obtain a form quickly and easily. She encourages constituents to spread the word about the program: "The health and well-being of our parents and grandparents is a responsibility that falls on each and every one of us."
 

For Immediate Release - July 1, 2002
Contact: Debbie Monterrey-Millett, Governor's Office (608) 266-9806
Peggy Handrich, Department of Health and Family Services (608) 266-8922

(Milwaukee)--Gov. Scott McCallum and Secretary Tommy Thompson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today joined senior citizens at the United Community Center to launch the SeniorCare program, which provides prescription drug coverage for low-income seniors age 65 and older who are not enrolled in Medicaid. Seniors can apply for the program as of today, with prescription drug benefits starting Sept. 1.

In addition, Secretary Thompson today officially signed the federal waiver that allows the state to receive federal Medicaid funds for SeniorCare. Wisconsin becomes only the second state in the nation to receive such approval. Total program costs for 2002-03 are estimated to be $100 million and, with this waiver, the federal government will cover almost 50 percent of SeniorCare costs. During the next five years, the state will receive more than $527 million in federal funds to support the program.

"I would like to thank Secretary Thompson and President Bush for acting so quickly on our waiver. I am proud of Wisconsin's SeniorCare program, which fills a critical gap in primary health care coverage for seniors," Gov. McCallum said. "Our greatest generation - our parents and grandparents - deserves this assistance. Because many seniors are on fixed incomes, it is often difficult for them to afford the prescription drugs they need to maintain good health."

"I congratulate Gov. McCallum in helping to provide access to prescription drug coverage to those citizens most in need," Secretary Thompson said. "Whether it is welfare reform, school vouchers, or covering the uninsured, Wisconsin has been a leader in creating innovative programs designed to help its citizens, and it continues to be a leader with the SeniorCare program."

SeniorCare will cover most medically necessary prescription drugs, including insulin. More than 1,100 pharmacies throughout Wisconsin will participate in SeniorCare.

More than 325,000 of Wisconsin's seniors may qualify for SeniorCare. Annual income is used to determine a person's level of benefits and out-of-pocket expense requirements. For example, individuals with annual incomes below $14,177 and couples with annual incomes below $19,105 will pay only $5 for a generic prescription drug and $15 for a brand name prescription drug. There will be a $20 annual enrollment fee per person.

The application form and instructions are now available at local aging offices, senior centers or aging resource centers, and at www.dhfs.state.wi.us/seniorcare/index.htm. Completed applications should be mailed to the SeniorCare program at the address indicated on the form. Questions regarding SeniorCare can be directed to the SeniorCare customer service hotline at 1-800-657-2038.