State to expand Wisconsin Resource Center

State to expand Wisconsin Resource Center Will treat inmates from Taycheedah Correctional facility By Kevin Murphy For the Northwestern November 19, 2007 MADISON – A state panel last week approved $512,000 to design a 45-bed facility at the Wisconsin Resource Center in Oshkosh to treat Taycheedah Correctional inmates with mental illnesses. The freestanding facility will provide short-term housing, assessment and treatment for acutely mentally ill women who can't be effectively cared for in the prison system. Taycheedah's facilities don't meet federal standards and there is no facility for females that is equivalent to the WRC for male inmates. The Department of Corrections ranks the project as a high priority as the U.S. Department of Justice has said it will initiate a lawsuit if the state doesn't provide mental health treatment facilities for female inmates that meet constitutional standards, according to information DOC supplied to the State Building Commission. The DOC recommends that the facility be built at the WRC, as the department doesn't have the expertise to run a treatment center for acutely mentally ill females inmates. The project is budgeted at $11 million and is expected to employ 128 people full time with an annual payroll of approximately $7 million. Plans are scheduled to be done by June with construction to start spring 2009 and finished by November 2010.

WSEU COUNCIL 24

WISCONSIN STATE EMPLOYEES UNION 8033 Excelsior Drive, Suite C, Madison, WI 53717 608/836-0024 Martin Beil, Executive Director Bob McLinn, President January 25, 2008 BARGAINING…This was a transition week for us.  We have resolved many of the non-economic issues and will be moving into economics and market bargaining starting on Tuesday of next week.  There are just a very small number of non-economic issues unresolved, and teams feel strongly that it is in our best interest to engage the state on the economic side and try to encumber as much of the available money as possible.  It is important to stay in touch with your team members as to the status of the contract, now more than ever. You may contact your teams as indicated below. Bargaining Teams’ E-Mail Contact List: Administrative Support  - asuteam@wseu-24.org <mailto:asuteam@wseu-24.org>; Blue Collar - bcteam@wseu-24.org <mailto:bcteam@wseu-24.org>; Professional Social Serv. - pssteam@wseu-24.org <mailto:pssteam@wseu-24.org>; Security & Public Safety - spsteam@wseu-24.org <mailto:spsteam@wseu-24.org>; Technical Team - techteam@wseu-24.org <mailto:techteam@wseu-24.org>; or call the toll-free bargaining hotline at 800-836-4024 (leave message). JOHN DOE LEGISLATION…Leaders in the state Assembly have scheduled AB 695 (John Doe changes) for public hearing on 1/31 at 10 a.m. in Room 225 Northwest of the Capitol.  We would like as many correctional leaders as possible to come to this hearing, and we are in the process of coordinating testimony.  This is an incredibly important piece of legislation as it goes directly to workers’ rights and protections in DOC, DHFS, and other like environments.  If you cannot make the hearing, we encourage you to contact your state Assembly and Senate representatives and urge them to support AB 695 to fix the loopholes in the current legislation that provide inmates with a legal tool to extract punishment and harass correctional and institutional workers who are doing their jobs.  We need you to make these contacts! ADVANCE NOTICE - LOBBY DAY…We have begun working with Council 11 to schedule a Lobby Day for all of Wisconsin AFSCME on 3/5/08.  We strongly encourage local unions to begin making plans to attend.  There will be several pieces of legislation that will be on the front burner, such as:  John Doe; prison riots; possible protective status for non-security staff; and other worker protection bills that we can engage legislators on face to face.  Stay tuned for more info. MENTAL HEALTH ACTION DAY…2/20 has been designated as Mental Health Action Day by the Lt. Governor.    Anyone specifically interested in being a leader for this day is urged to visit the Mental Health section at the  Lt. Governor’s website:  ltgov.wisconsin.gov.  We would ask that you also let us know at the Council if you plan to participate, so that we can coordinate with the Lt. Gov.’s office. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING…Friday, 2/22/08, Council 24. COMMITTEE MEETINGS… LTE Abuse, 2/7; Outsourcing, 2/8/08; Council 24. AFSCME LEGISLATIVE UPDATE January 24, 2008 Hearing on John Doe Legislation Next Week Assembly Bill 695, legislation that would prohibit inmates from filing frivolous lawsuits against persons working in secure institutions, is scheduled to receive a public hearing on January 31st.  The hearing, of the Assembly Judiciary and Ethics Committee, will begin at 10:00 am, in room 225 Northwest of the State Capitol.  AFSCME encourages members to attend and testify about the damaging effects these lawsuits have had on their fellow AFSCME members. Bills Allowing Milwaukee County to Refinanced Pensions Move Forward Assembly Bill 666 and Senate Bill 366 were both passed out of committees Wednesday on strong bipartisan votes.  The companion bills would allow Milwaukee County to issue bonds to refinance the outstanding pension obligation facing the county.  Both bills are now available for action by the full Senate and Assembly, and would provide a valuable tool that could possibly save the county up to $90 million over 30 years if adopted. Contracting Out Bill Passes Committee A bill that would allow municipalities to contract with private parties to enforce state required weights and measures provisions passed out of the Assembly Urban and Local Affairs Committee on Wednesday.  The 5 to 4 party line vote, with Republican members in favor and Democrats opposed, means the bill is ready for action by the full Assembly.  Currently municipalities that do not have municipal departments of weights and measures may only contract with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, meaning the enforcement will be done with state employees. MARK YOUR CALENDARS- AFSCME LOBBY DAY is Wednesday, March 5 Lobby Day is a great opportunity to talk to your state-elected officials about public services and the contributions that public workers make every day to provide the essential services that are the backbone of this state. Whether you work in a school system, county courthouse, the University of Wisconsin, a highway department, a nursing home or hospital, you have a story to tell that lawmakers need to hear.  Protect your job. Come to lobby day.

~ Legislative Agenda Narrows as End of Winter Voting Session Nears ~

Capitol Connection By State Senator Joe Leibham February 6, 2008                                                                                                                                                ~ Legislative Agenda Narrows as End of Winter Voting Session Nears ~ As the Wisconsin State Legislature approaches the end of its winter 2008 legislative voting session, I want to highlight a number of proposals that will most likely be scheduled for debate and votes in the Senate.  The majority party, the Democrats at this time, decides which issues get scheduled for votes based on what they believe are the top priorities facing our state. Following are some of the key proposals that I believe will be focused on over the next couple of months: Budget Repair Bill – After just six months, a recent report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau indicates that the two-year state budget just recently signed by Governor Jim Doyle may face a new revenue deficit of over $400 million.  By law, the Governor is required to introduce a budget repair bill to address a discrepancy of this size.  The timing of this is triggered by specific budget benchmarks. Economic Development – The legislature may consider a series of measures aimed at preventing our state economy from slowing.  Among the proposals are research and development tax credits, incentives to reinvest capital gains, tax credits for modernizing our dairy and meat processing industries and eliminating regulatory barriers at state government agencies. Healthy Wisconsin – A proposal is being re-drafted that will be largely similar to Healthy Wisconsin, a plan put forward by Democrats in the State Senate seeking to implement a government-run, payroll tax funded health care program throughout Wisconsin.  The estimated $15 billion cost would be paid for by a series of new payroll taxes on employers and employees. Senate Bill (SB) 380 – Ethanol mandate – SB 380 would require that, starting in 2009, ten percent of auto fuel sold in Wisconsin must be from a “renewable” source like ethanol.  This percentage requirement would increase to 15 percent by 2015, 20 percent by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025.  Further, the bill would require that at least five percent of all diesel fuel sold in Wisconsin is “biodiesel.” SB 150 – Statewide smoking ban – This bill seeks to ban smoking in all places of employment, restaurants, taverns, passenger vehicles, college dormitories and a number of other indoor and outdoor locations. Assembly Bill (AB) 672 – Ten-year-old to hunting – AB 672 allows individuals as young as ten years to hunt with an experienced mentor.  Under the bill, only one weapon would be allowed between the child and the mentor, and the child would be required to be within one arm’s length of the mentor when operating the weapon. AB 697 – Allowing virtual schools in Wisconsin – AB 697 is a response to a recent circuit court decision that would have effectively closed the doors on Wisconsin’s virtual public schools.  A compromise version of this legislation would reinforce parental involvement in their children’s education and ensures proper funding and quality for virtual schools. Great Lakes Compact – The Great Lakes Compact is an agreement between eight states and two Canadian provinces that seeks to prevent the diversion of mass quantities of Great Lakes water to other parts of the country.  In order for the Compact to take effect, the legislature and Governor need to pass legislation that would ratify it. Ban on the Use of Plastic Bags – Legislation has been proposed that would ban stores from providing plastic bags to consumers. While I question the importance of some of these items, it is likely that each of these proposals will receive attention in the Senate and I will be working to educate myself of each of them and in the end, casting votes that I believe are in the best interest of the residents of the 9th District and the state of Wisconsin as a whole.  Your input on any of the proposals would be appreciated and helpful.  As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you.  Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling 888-295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.wisconsin.gov.  You can also log on to the 9th Senate District on-line office at www.leibhamsenate.com. It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate!

John Doe Update

The latest on John Doe Reform is the following: On Tuesday (February 26th) , the state Assembly passed AB695 by a strong bi-partisan vote of 84-13.  AB695 was the bill authored by Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, which we supported as it would cover our concerns related to John Doe Reform. The state Senate has refused to take up either AB695 or its counterpart in the senate (SB432).  Instead the Senate devised their own version of John Doe Reform----a bill authored by Sen. Lena Taylor (SB537).  This bill is a piece of garbage and does not cover our concerns related to John Doe Reform.  Unfortunately, the Senate rushed a public hearing on this bill and voted it out of committee within two days of its introduction.  The Senate Majority Leader has scheduled it for a full vote on Tuesday, March 4th. Through our members' influence, we have been able to pull some senators in our direction.  They have renounced any previous stated support for Sen. Taylor's bill and have vowed to demand action on AB695/SB432.  We must give these senators our unequivocal support!!!  Over the next few days, we need our members to make contact with all of the state senators and ask them to not vote for SB537 and instead support pulling AB695/SB432 from committee for a full senate vote. This could very well be our last chance at true John Doe Reform this legislative session.  Please email a short line to the senators stating your position.         Todd Wetzel         President-AFSCME Local 178 Example Dear Senators: I am contacting you asking that you do not support SB537 (John Doe Reform) when it comes to a vote in front of the Senate on March 4th.  SB537 is weak, near-meaningless reform that shows disregard for all the current hardships being experienced by correctional professionals statewide. We instead ask you to support pulling AB695/SB432 from committee for a full senate vote.  The stronger language in these companion bills provides for meaningful John Doe reform. Thank you for your time and consideration. Joe Blow 555 Main St. Waupun, WI 53963 (920)555-5555 Senator's Email Addresses (simply copy and paste to email) Sen.breske@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.carpenter@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.coggs@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.cowles@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.darling@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.decker@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.ellis@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.fitzgerald@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.Grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.hansen@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.harsdorf@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.jauch@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.kanavas@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.kapanke@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.kedzie@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.Kreitlow@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.lasee@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.lassa@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.lazich@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.Lehman@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.leibham@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.miller@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.olsen@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.plale@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.risser@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.robson@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.roessler@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.schultz@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.Vinehout@legis.wisconsin.gov Sen.wirch@legis.wisconsin.gov