Friday, February 26, 2010
Business leaders support early learning efforts
A column from three business leaders expressed strong support for investment in early education. In a column titled "Three state business leaders: Early education crucial to economic future," the authors gave a big thumbs up to YoungStar, Gov. Doyle’s proposed quality rating and improvement system. The column appeared in the Capital Times on February 25.
Monday, February 22, 2010
This Week in the State Legislature
This week in the capitol begins the second week of a three-week legislative session. Here are some bills to watch for—
Senate Bill 484, often referred to as BadgerCare Plus Basic, is scheduled in the State Senate on Tuesday, February 23. BadgerCare Plus Basic is health insurance for the 21,000 people on the Badger Care Plus Core plan waiting list due to the enrollment cap the Department of Health Services implemented in the fall of 2009. BadgerCare Plus Basic is intended to be funded entirely by premiums paid by enrollees. Here is a link to the bill.
Assembly Bill 35, relating to the use of a racebased name, nickname, logo, or mascot by the school district and the ability of a school district resident to file a complaint with the State Superintendent. This bill is also known as the Native American school mascot bill. It is estimated that about 40 Wisconsin schools still have race-based mascots or logos. Here is a link to the bill.
You watch both houses in session at www.wiseye.com.
Senate Bill 484, often referred to as BadgerCare Plus Basic, is scheduled in the State Senate on Tuesday, February 23. BadgerCare Plus Basic is health insurance for the 21,000 people on the Badger Care Plus Core plan waiting list due to the enrollment cap the Department of Health Services implemented in the fall of 2009. BadgerCare Plus Basic is intended to be funded entirely by premiums paid by enrollees. Here is a link to the bill.
Assembly Bill 35, relating to the use of a racebased name, nickname, logo, or mascot by the school district and the ability of a school district resident to file a complaint with the State Superintendent. This bill is also known as the Native American school mascot bill. It is estimated that about 40 Wisconsin schools still have race-based mascots or logos. Here is a link to the bill.
You watch both houses in session at www.wiseye.com.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Brady Campaign to Stop Gun Violence gives Wisconsin a failing grade
A new report by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence focusing on state efforts to curb gun trafficking gives Wisconsin 10 out of 100 possible points for the state’s efforts.
According to the report, the state’s weak gun regulations help feed the illegal gun market. Wisconsin has the eleventh highest percentage of crime guns recovered that were originally purchased within the state. The Brady Campaign’s Wisconsin 2009 scorecard focuses on six broad areas:
• Curb Firearm Trafficking (35 possible points) States can fully regulate the gun dealers within their borders, limit bulk purchases of handguns, provide police certain technology to identify crime guns, and require lost or stolen guns to be reported to the police. Wisconsin scored two points.
• Strengthening Background Checks (27 possible points) Requiring background checks on all gun sales, requiring a permit in order to purchase firearms and laws regulating ammunition. Short of requiring background checks for all gun sales, states can also close the gun show loophole, at least requiring background checks for all gun show sales. Wisconsin scored zero points in this category.
• Protecting Child Safety (20 possible points) States can require that only childproof handguns be sold within their borders, require child safety locks to be sold with each handgun, hold adults accountable for keeping guns away from kids and teens, and require handgun purchasers to be at least 21 years of age. Wisconsin scored just two points in this category.
• Banning Military-style Assault Weapons (10 possible points) banning high-capacity ammunition magazines. Wisconsin scored a zero.
• Guns In Public Places (8 possible points) restricting the ability to carry guns in public places to trained law enforcement and security and allowing localities to “Preserve Local Control” over municipal gun laws. This includes keeping guns out of workplaces and college campuses, not forcing law enforcement to issue concealed handgun permits on demand and not preventing municipalities from passing their own gun laws. Wisconsin scored six points in this category
According to the report, the state’s weak gun regulations help feed the illegal gun market. Wisconsin has the eleventh highest percentage of crime guns recovered that were originally purchased within the state. The Brady Campaign’s Wisconsin 2009 scorecard focuses on six broad areas:
• Curb Firearm Trafficking (35 possible points) States can fully regulate the gun dealers within their borders, limit bulk purchases of handguns, provide police certain technology to identify crime guns, and require lost or stolen guns to be reported to the police. Wisconsin scored two points.
• Strengthening Background Checks (27 possible points) Requiring background checks on all gun sales, requiring a permit in order to purchase firearms and laws regulating ammunition. Short of requiring background checks for all gun sales, states can also close the gun show loophole, at least requiring background checks for all gun show sales. Wisconsin scored zero points in this category.
• Protecting Child Safety (20 possible points) States can require that only childproof handguns be sold within their borders, require child safety locks to be sold with each handgun, hold adults accountable for keeping guns away from kids and teens, and require handgun purchasers to be at least 21 years of age. Wisconsin scored just two points in this category.
• Banning Military-style Assault Weapons (10 possible points) banning high-capacity ammunition magazines. Wisconsin scored a zero.
• Guns In Public Places (8 possible points) restricting the ability to carry guns in public places to trained law enforcement and security and allowing localities to “Preserve Local Control” over municipal gun laws. This includes keeping guns out of workplaces and college campuses, not forcing law enforcement to issue concealed handgun permits on demand and not preventing municipalities from passing their own gun laws. Wisconsin scored six points in this category
Monday, February 15, 2010
Regulate Payday Lenders FOR REAL
Legislature is back in session – The state legislature will be back in session for three weeks. The session runs from February 16 – March 4. We need action from you right away to pass strong regulation of Payday Lenders!
On Tuesday, February 16, the state Assembly will be debating Assembly Bill 447. This bill is considered a compromise to regulate the payday loan industry in Wisconsin. We know that the only way to regulate the payday lenders is with a rate cap on how much interest lenders can charge. The only bill that includes a rate cap is Rep. Gordon Hintz’ bill, Assembly Bill 392.
Rep. Hintz (D-Oshkosh) has worked extremely hard on trying to stop predatory lenders from putting people into debt. Do not be fooled by any other bills that claim they will regulate the industry. Please contact your legislators and tell them to OPPOSE AB 447 and SUPPORT AB 392. Please call the Legislative Hotline, 1-800-362-9472. If you do not know who your legislator is, the Hotline will let you know and connect you to his/her office. Or you can use this link to email your state Representative and Senator. The link can also determine who your legislators are.
We need many contacts opposing AB 447 and supporting AB 392. Pass this message on to your friends and family. Thanks for your hard work.
Here is a link to other committee hearings in the capitol this week.
For other Wisconsin Legislature information, including following the state Assembly and Senate when they are in session, go here.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks.
On Tuesday, February 16, the state Assembly will be debating Assembly Bill 447. This bill is considered a compromise to regulate the payday loan industry in Wisconsin. We know that the only way to regulate the payday lenders is with a rate cap on how much interest lenders can charge. The only bill that includes a rate cap is Rep. Gordon Hintz’ bill, Assembly Bill 392.
Rep. Hintz (D-Oshkosh) has worked extremely hard on trying to stop predatory lenders from putting people into debt. Do not be fooled by any other bills that claim they will regulate the industry. Please contact your legislators and tell them to OPPOSE AB 447 and SUPPORT AB 392. Please call the Legislative Hotline, 1-800-362-9472. If you do not know who your legislator is, the Hotline will let you know and connect you to his/her office. Or you can use this link to email your state Representative and Senator. The link can also determine who your legislators are.
We need many contacts opposing AB 447 and supporting AB 392. Pass this message on to your friends and family. Thanks for your hard work.
Here is a link to other committee hearings in the capitol this week.
For other Wisconsin Legislature information, including following the state Assembly and Senate when they are in session, go here.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
New Issue Brief on Health Disparities
WCCF’s latest WisKids Count Issue Brief, "Building on our Strength: Achieving Equity in Health Outcomes for Children and Families in Wisconsin," takes on the issue of health disparities in Wisconsin based on race and ethnicity. Largely rooted in social and community factors, Wisconsin’s gap is one of the most egregious in the country. "Building on our Strength" notes disturbing figures in several health-related areas, including these:
--The 2008 infant mortality rate for Black infants (13.8 per 1,000 live births) was more than twice as high as the rate for White infants.
--The rate of Black children born at low birth-weight was more than twice the rate for non-Hispanic White children in 2007.
--African American and Hispanic teenagers are three times as likely to give birth compared to the state average for all teens.
The brief points to several underlying causes for these health outcome disparities. One of the most important factors at play is poverty, which affects children’s health in a variety of ways. In 2007, children of color in Wisconsin were nearly five times as likely as White children to be living in poverty. Latino children were twice as likely as White children to be poor.
While the state has made great strides toward covering all children and families with health insurance, more needs to be done to eliminate the social determinants of poor health such as inadequate housing, neighborhood violence, limited access to affordable fresh produce and, lack of quality health care including dental and mental health. To that end, we make several recommendations, including:
--Fill gaps in BadgerCare Plus that affect families who are above 150 percent of poverty but unable to afford the insurance offered by their employer.
--Maintain strong BadgerCare Plus outreach and continue to improve enrollment and renewal processes.
--Promote health care reform at the federal level that would eliminate the 5-year Medicaid waiting period for legal immigrants and genuinely make coverage more affordable for everybody.
--Provide additional resources for loans to assist landlords and homeowners with lead abatement efforts.
Building on our Strength is available online at http://wccf.org/pdf/health_outcomes_wiskids_Jan-2010.pdf. A wide range of other data on child well-being in Wisconsin is available in WCCF’s 2009-10 WisKids Count Data Book, “Jobs Count.”
--The 2008 infant mortality rate for Black infants (13.8 per 1,000 live births) was more than twice as high as the rate for White infants.
--The rate of Black children born at low birth-weight was more than twice the rate for non-Hispanic White children in 2007.
--African American and Hispanic teenagers are three times as likely to give birth compared to the state average for all teens.
The brief points to several underlying causes for these health outcome disparities. One of the most important factors at play is poverty, which affects children’s health in a variety of ways. In 2007, children of color in Wisconsin were nearly five times as likely as White children to be living in poverty. Latino children were twice as likely as White children to be poor.
While the state has made great strides toward covering all children and families with health insurance, more needs to be done to eliminate the social determinants of poor health such as inadequate housing, neighborhood violence, limited access to affordable fresh produce and, lack of quality health care including dental and mental health. To that end, we make several recommendations, including:
--Fill gaps in BadgerCare Plus that affect families who are above 150 percent of poverty but unable to afford the insurance offered by their employer.
--Maintain strong BadgerCare Plus outreach and continue to improve enrollment and renewal processes.
--Promote health care reform at the federal level that would eliminate the 5-year Medicaid waiting period for legal immigrants and genuinely make coverage more affordable for everybody.
--Provide additional resources for loans to assist landlords and homeowners with lead abatement efforts.
Building on our Strength is available online at http://wccf.org/pdf/health_outcomes_wiskids_Jan-2010.pdf. A wide range of other data on child well-being in Wisconsin is available in WCCF’s 2009-10 WisKids Count Data Book, “Jobs Count.”
President Obama's Budget Proposal related to Juvenile Justice
Based on information provided by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice “Yesterday, President Obama released his Budget Proposal for FY 2011, including proposed funding levels for programs administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) at the U.S. Department of Justice….
In contrast to the FY 2010 budget proposal, the President’s FY 2011 budget proposes several new programs, and eliminates, reconfigures or combines several existing programs….One of the most significant changes of note: unlike last year, the President’s proposes to eliminate all of the set-asides/earmarks on the JJDPA Title V program, proposing that a full $62 million be made available to the states for Title V purposes! ……” and “…the President’s proposal eliminates the line item for all “demonstration programs,” which typically houses all of the congressional earmarks on justice programs, including juvenile justice programs. For FY 2010, this line item totaled $91 million…There remain some problematic areas that will require additional education and advocacy going forward. Specifically, the FY 2011 budget proposal:
reduces the Title II allocation from $75 million to $72 million;
dramatically cuts the JABG allocation from $55 million to $40 million; and
still does not articulate funding for OJJDP that is distinct and/or differentiated from OJP..”
You can also find information on the overall budget as it relates to children's programs, including youth development, prevention, and juvenile justice program funding from the Child Welfare League of America.
Watch for more information in the next Youth Initiatives Newsletter.
In contrast to the FY 2010 budget proposal, the President’s FY 2011 budget proposes several new programs, and eliminates, reconfigures or combines several existing programs….One of the most significant changes of note: unlike last year, the President’s proposes to eliminate all of the set-asides/earmarks on the JJDPA Title V program, proposing that a full $62 million be made available to the states for Title V purposes! ……” and “…the President’s proposal eliminates the line item for all “demonstration programs,” which typically houses all of the congressional earmarks on justice programs, including juvenile justice programs. For FY 2010, this line item totaled $91 million…There remain some problematic areas that will require additional education and advocacy going forward. Specifically, the FY 2011 budget proposal:
reduces the Title II allocation from $75 million to $72 million;
dramatically cuts the JABG allocation from $55 million to $40 million; and
still does not articulate funding for OJJDP that is distinct and/or differentiated from OJP..”
You can also find information on the overall budget as it relates to children's programs, including youth development, prevention, and juvenile justice program funding from the Child Welfare League of America.
Watch for more information in the next Youth Initiatives Newsletter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
