THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL Tuesday, April 5, 1977 Some Fear, Some Favor Privacy Bill Special to The Journal - Defend- Madison, Wis. ers of a bill that would regu- late the collection, storage and dissemination of personal information by government I agencies debated the meas- I ure's merits Monday with I state genealogists and repre- sentatives of affected agen- cies. The bill (A-400) is not in- tended to close any records that are now public, Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madi- son) assured the Assembly Internal Management Com- mittee; nor does it open any records now considered con- fidential. Clarenbach, the bill's As- sembly sponsor and chairman of the Legislative Council's Committee on Privacy of Per- sonal Records, emphasized that the bill merely limits the types of information that can be put into government data systems and gives the indi- vidual subject of that data a broad right to inspect it. Fiscal Effect Questioned Sen. David Berger (D-Mil- waukee) called the measure "one of the most important pieces of legislation we may be able to consider as a gov- ernmental body this year." Berger questioned esti- mates of the bill's fiscal ef- fects. "To claim that it would cost the state alone $3 million annually is a travesty," he said. Berger told the committee he doubted that similar meas- ures protecting the privacy of personal records would have passed in nine other states if accompanied by such drastic fiscal effects. Cost Defended Jack Krauskopf, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, denied allegations that gov- ernment agencies were trying to load the cost of their complete data process- ing systems onto the back of the Assembly bill. The fiscal note represents continuing capital costs for new equip- ment and labor and a one time cost for the development of new records and forms that would be needed under the proposal, he said. Richard Erney, acting di- rector of the State Historical Society, expressed concern that the bill would limit ac- _cess to public records by re- searchers. Erney suggested that ac- cess restrictions be specifical- ly limited to those records deemed confidential by stat- ute or by court order, and that information over a cer- tain number of years old be unrestricted. He objected to a recom- mendation in the bill that agencies purge their data sys- tems of any personal data determined to be irrelevant and unneccessary. Fears End of Records Peggy Barry, a Madison genealogist, referred to the purging recommendation as "a sunset law on the keeping of records." "What is needed is legisla- tion to evaluate the utility of. records to the state as a whole rather than to the agency generating them," she said. Your Right to Privacy: Can it Survive the Technology of the Seventies? 10000000031 111111111111) 222 2227 222. 43 33 333 33333 14444 4444 44444. 090 55555 66 555555 555 Date: Saturday, April 30, 1977 Time: 9:00 a.m. Location: Hilton Inn 3:45 p.m. Milwaukee, Wisconsin --- Paul Soglin WSJ 4/17/77 David Clarenbach Soglin supporting 'Anti-Anita' bash By Associated Press A group of gay rights activists began an "Anti-Anita Bryant" campaign Sat- urday, with the support of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison). Soglin, Clarenbach and others have endorsed an "Anti-Anita Bryant bash" to be held May 1 at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union, according to the Madison Committee for Gay Rights spokesman David Carter. Money raised by the party will be sent to support the Florida gays trying to stop singer Anita Bryant's attempt to repeal a Miami ordinance prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual preference. Soglin, in a letter to the Dade County, Florida, commissioners, said Madison has had a similar ordinance for two years. "The addition of this protected class has not had the negative impact feared by some citizens," has not led to th destroyed the family as the building block of society. Nor has it led to a great influx of people in desired to be protect dinance." Mrs. Bryant's anti- Our Children Inc., has signatures to force a re controversial ordinan dum is scheduled to be C-T 4/12/77 children by older & Clarenbach wants new tax brackets State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison) has proposed creation of four new brackets on the upper income levels of the state income tax. Clarenbach calls the present tax "most unprogressive" and notes that income above $14,000 is assessed a flat rate of 11.4 per cent. Under his bill, new brackets would be created at the $20,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 income levels. "Middle and low income citizens have to bear the tax burden of our state, while the rich have enjoyed the benefits of this loophole for years," Clarenbach' said. His bill (AB 494) has been referred to the Assembly Revenue Committee for a public hearing. Sex bill 15J. 4/5/77 Rep. John Shabaz (R-New Berlin) almost shot out of his chair last week when he heard of Rep. David Claren- bach's (D-Madison) bill legalizing sex between consenting adults being reported from committee. The bill was referred to the Rules Committee for scheduling, but was not scheduled for this week's agendas. The bill would repeal the laws against adultery, fornication and sod- omy (in most cases). It is strongly backed by gay rights groups. One reason why some opponents may redouble their efforts to defeat the bill is that it would make it very difficult to prosecute operators of massage parlors and escort services for prostitution. Unless some mention is made of sex for pay, everything else that follows would be legal. Milwaukee Sent Price Tag Blasted On State File Curb By DENNIS J. SIEG 4/5/17 Sentinel Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. - Legislators Monday accused state agencies of purposely in- flating cost estimates in an attempt to kill a bill that would require tighter con- trols over personal records kept by the agencies. "I do not feel that is a real fiscal note," Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison) said of the $3.2 million annual cost estimated by the agencies. "There are a thousand ways to kill a bill, and one of them is to attach a $3 million or $4 million fiscal note." Sen. David Berger (D-Milwaukee) called the $3.2 million figure "one of the biggest travesties in drafting a fiscal note I've seen." "It's got to be a farce," he told the Assembly Internal Management Commit- tee. The bill, which is sponsored by Claren- bach and was the product of the Legisla- tive Council's Special Committee on Pri- vacy of Personal Records, would estab- lish procedures and guidelines for the handling of personal records by state agencies and local governments. Among other things, it would: Provide a procedure for persons to correct erroneous information in such records. Prohibit an agency from collecting personal information that is not neces- sary for the agency's program. Require agencies to file biennial re- ports that would list all the data systems they maintain. Order an agency to purge records MILWAUKEE SENTINEL STATE NEWS Page 5, Part 1 Tuesday, Apr. 5, 1977 that are no longer relevant or necessary to the agency's function. Make it easier for individuals to gain access to government records about themselves. Clarenbach told the committee that the law would neither make private any records that are now public nor open any records that are now closed. The state, he said, currently "has no policy on per- sonal records." Mrs. Peggy Barry, of Madison, a direc- tor of the State Genealogical Society, opposed the bill, calling it "overbroad" and "susceptible to misinterpretation." The provision to purge records would destroy material that someday could be vital to historical research, she said. Richard Enery, acting director of the State Historical Society, also spoke against the bill. He said the bill should apply only to records that are currently confidential. Local officials, he said, would tend to keep some records closed under the bill "because that's the safest thing to do." Kenneth Uyehara of the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union said the bill was necessary to prevent a "dictatorship of data banks." He also questioned cost esti- mates by state agencies, saying that a similar federal act passed in 1974 only cost $36 million for the entire US gov- ernment. --- Chicago, 1968 153-4111111 Unforgettable photos Hate staggered through the year 1968 like a blinded giant and horror mounted on horror and each time one thought this was the ultimate it wasn't. The year began with a touch of youthful hope in the snows of New Hampshire when that mystic Pied Piper, Eugene McCarthy, led his Children's Crusade of young sup- porters to an astonishing 42 percent of the Democratic vote in the state's presidential primary. Nineteen days later, Lyndon John- son, the man they said never would let go of power, let go. The President spoke on television to the nation and announced a bombing halt in North Vietnam. Then, almost as an af- terthought, he said, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President." Politicians scurried. Robert Ken- nedy, brother of the slain President, had declared. "I run," ," he said, "because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course..." The young and others opposed to the war and to Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon now had a choice of two leaders to follow. Maybe, they reasoned, they could work within The System after all. Apr. 4, the Lorraine Motel, Memphis. The man of peace, whose crusade for non-violence had won him a Nobel prize, walked to a bal- cony in the chilling evening, and a rifle shot blasted away his throat. The Rev. Martin Luther King fell mortally wounded. Washington burned. Baltimore burned. Chicago burned. Black rage fumed in scores of cities. Eighteen died. June 6, Los Angeles. "It's on to Chicago," Robert Kennedy said, seconds before he fell mortally wounded.... Aug. 26, Chicago. Mayor Richard Daley has put the city's 12,000 policemen on 12-hour shifts. Tension and anxiety pile up like thun- derheads over Lake Michigan. In- side the hall, it looks like a bitter fight between Humphrey and McCarthy, with Humphrey sure to win. But the fighting soon is el- sewhere, out in the streets downtown where the kids, who had seen so much blood, felt so much frustration over the distant war and their own campus battles, come face to face with Daley's police. Later, it would be called a police riot, but they don't know the term now. They only know the bitter smoke of tear gas, the thud of night sticks, the seeping blood from their numbed bodies. A shocked nation sees it all, courtesy of television. Photographed by Robert Scott, Associated Press. C-T 5/01/77 Sex bill is stalled in Assembly The bill which would liberalize state laws restricting sexual activities be- tween adults has run into trouble in the Assembly. Representatives voted 98-0 to recon- sider an earlier vote which had ap- proved the measure. The action came after Minority Leader John C. Shabaz (R-New Berlin) said he believed the bill would lift the prohibition against prostitution. Assembly Bill 323, which had been expected to pass, was placed on the table while supporters tried to draft ar amendment to solve the language problem. State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison), one of the authors of the bill, said today that he feels there should be no problem in clearing up the language to which Shabaz objects. Clarenbach was busy drafting an amendment to the bill this morning and it was hoped that it could be fin- ished in time for the Assembly to re- consider the bill later today. Under the measure, consenting adults would be allowed to have sexual relations and engage in oral and anal intercourse providing that the acts are done in private and do not involve a minor. Fornication and "sexual perver- sion" now are felonies for which fines and prison terms can be imposed. Prostitution, which includes both sex- ual relations and perversion, also is prohibited by a separate law. --- g WISCONSIN Newspaper Association 33 North Dickinson Madison, Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division Stoughton Courier APR 7 1977 31- Claren Propose Changes In Income Tax Brackets A Wisconsin lawmaker has proposed creation of four new brackets on the upper income levels of the state income tax form. State Representative David Clarenbach charged that, "The income tax in Wisconsin, once designed to tax based on ability to pay, has now deteriorated into a most unprogressive tax." The income level above $14,000 is now assessed a flat rate of 11.4 percent. Under Assembly Bill 494, new brackets are created at the $20,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 income levels. "Middle- and low-income citizens have to bear the tax burden of our state, while the rich have enjoyed the benefits of this loophole for years," Clarenbach said. ""The progressive principle that the higher your income the greater percentage you ought to pay in taxes, is sound and generally accepted. This tax redistribution plan would bring needed relief for the over-taxed middle-income individual," said Clarenbach. Assembly Bill 494 has been referred to the Assembly Revenue Committee for a public hearing. WISCONSIN Newspaper Association 33 North Dickinson Madison. Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division Manitowoc Herald Times APR 18 1977 Two Rivers, Wis Mon., April 18, 1977-21 , Wis 31 Gays plan campaign against Anita Bryant MADISON, Wis. (AP) The University of Wisconsin student union is to be the scene of a May Day rally by sympathizers of homosexuals who have begun what they call an anti-Anita Bryant campaign, The campaigners outlined their program Saturday with the support of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state Rep. Da- vid Clarenbach, D-Madison. Funds raised at the May 1 campus festivities are to sun- port Florida homose are defending a cor Miami ordinance whi its job discriminatio sex preference. Miss Bryant, a known vocalist, sai cism of the gays' ordinance has made her a target of political pressure by gay activists. She is organizing an effort to have the ordinance repealed. In a letter to Dade County, Fla., commissioners, Soglin said a similar statute in Madi son "has not had the negative impact feared by some citi- zens.' "It has not led to recruitment of children by older gay people," Soglin said. "It has WISCONSIN Press Association 33 North Dickinson Madison, Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division поротного Wausau Daily Herald APR 18 1977 Isthmus of Panama between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 31 the Seventeen Wiscons Rally at UW organized for Florida homosexuals The MADISON, Wis. (AP) University of Wisconsin student union is to be the scene of a May Day rally by sympathizers of homosexuals who have begun what they call an anti - Anita Bryant campaign. The campaigners outlined their program Saturday with the support of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state Rep. David Clarenbach, D-Madison. Funds raised at the May 1 f campus festivities are to sup- port Florida homosexuals who e are defending a controversial Miami ordinance which prohibits job discrimination based on sex preference. d Miss Bryant, a nationally known vocalist, said her criticism of the gays' ordinance has made her a target of political pressure by tivists. She is organizin fort to have the or repealed. In a letter to Dade Fla., commissioners, So a similar statute in "has not had the nega pact feared by some citi "It has not led to recr of children by older gay Soglin said. "It h destroyed the family building block of socie has it led to a great influ ple into Madison who de be protected under dinance." Miss Bryant's gro collected enough signa force a referendum on troversial statute. --- Clarenbach still has hope for 'consenting adult' bill By OWEN COYLE Of The Capital Times Staff State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison) says there will be an at- tempt to bring the so-called sex bill out of committee and back to the As- sembly floor within the next two weeks, The bill, which won preliminary ap- proval in the Assembly last week by a ten vote margin, was returned to the Assembly Judiciary committee Wednesday by a 51-45 vote. But Clarenbach said the amend- ments which should answer oppo- nents' arguments can be drafted quickly. And by conservative esti- mate, he said, there are still enough votes in committee to report the bill out. The proposal would wipe out present state penalties for sexual acts in private between consenting adults. That includes oral sex which is illegal under present law even between hus- band and wife. Clarenbach said Joanne Duren were tacked on the bill. One would make it clear that prostitution was not legalized by its provisions, while the other would ban sexual massages, such as are allegedly practiced in massage parlors around the state, from the bill's provisions. C-T David Clarenbach 5/12/77 State Rep. John Shabaz (R-New Berlin), the Republican floor leader in the Assembly, was the key figure in getting the bill reconsidered Wednes- day. It was his motion during Wednes- day night's debate that got the bill re- ferred to the Judiciary Committee. Parents and the aim of the Assembly rethinks sex position pr posal is "to get state out of t bedroom." Opponents contended, however, th by definition, the bill was legalizir prostitution and throwing a block in regulation of massage parlors sin those activites alledgedly take place private. Those arguments prevailed Wedne day despite a letter from Dane Coun District Attorney James E. Doyle, J that the bill, even in its original for would not have legalized prostitution Clarenbach said one of the problen which arose during the Assembly flo debate is that clarifying amendmen were drafted in improper form. But it will be a simple job, he said, write the proper amendments in con mittee and bring the bill up for a se By MARK HAZELBAKER Proponents of the bill, led by Rep. David Clarenbach, D- Madison, vehemently denied the bill would legalize prostitution. Clarenbach distributed an opinion by Dane County D.A. James Doyle that the bill would not legalize of the Cardinal Staff A bill legalizing all private sexual acts between consenting adults ran into trouble in the state assembly Wednesday when charges the bill would legalize prostitution caused many prostitution. representatives to reconsider an earlier vote in favor of the bill. Rep. John Shabaz, R-New Berlin, assembly minority leader and a member of the John Birch Society, charged the bill would prevent police from arresting prostitutes, because it legalizes all private sexual acts. WHEN THE bill came up for consideration Wednesday, the 54- 44 preliminary approval margin In response to the charges, several amendments to the bill specifically exempting prostitution from legalization, were introduced. But the assembly still failed to approve the bill. Clarenbach termed the vote "really bizarre." Ten legislators told Clarenbach they could no longer support the bill, for fear of backlash from constituents, he said. "THE THING that bothers me is the number of legislators who ond committee vote. of last week vanished as the The committee recommended th measure was returned to the bill for passage the first time on an 8. Judiciary Committee for further said 'Yeah, this is a good bill, but I can't vote for it,' and all for vote. Clarenbach said one committe consideration. political reasons," Clare said. Clarenbach said an amendment taking care of the prostitution objections has been drafted, and will be added to the bill. "It'll probably take weeks," Claren- bach said. Clarenbach was sharply critical of the tactics used by opponents of AB 323. "Several members resorted to bible reading,' he said. "Wisconsin's answer to Anita Bryant, Joe Tregoning (R- Shullsburg), started saying this bill would legalize 'those homosexuals.' "We have the votes to pass it if we can get it through committee again," Clarenbach said. He said most Judiciary Committee members will still go along with it. Dust be noted that Ben Louise --- Friday, May 6, 1977-the daily cardinal-page 4 Between consenting adults Bill legalizes all private sexual acts By MARK HAZELBAKER of the Cardinal Staff A bill legalizing all private consensual sexual acts between adults, both hetero- and homosexual, was passed Thur- sday by the Wisconsin Assembly, 54-44. It will now be considered by the state senate. The bill, AB 323, similar to liberalization statutes passed by 18 other states, removes existing criminal penalties for fornication (sex between unmarried persons of the opposite sex), anal and oral intercourse (a provision which was strongly supported by gay rights groups) and other sexual acts now barred. " "IT WAS A hard battle," to get the bill passed, said AB sponsor Rep. David Clarenbach, D- Madison. "Our society continue to be hung up about sex, he said. However, "Ninety-eight per cent of our citizens have violated these laws," he said, including "Most members of the legislature. " Presently, some acts between married people, such as fellatio and cunnilingus, are prohibited by law. Clarenbach's bill legalizes any sexual act between con- senting adults. Clarenbach said the legalization also allows sado- masochistic acts, but only there is consent. when A coalition of gay groups, the League of Women Voters and some church organizations in the state fought for the bill and con- tributed significantly to its passage, Clarenbach said. With a broad-based coalition behind the change, it was hard for the assembly to vote no, he said. ONE OF THE 44 members who did vote against the bill was Rep. Earl Schmidt, R-Shawano. "You ought to let a bill like this die on the vine," he said. Schmidt said he has no strong objections to the bill, but felt the change was unnecessary because "present laws aren't a hardship 66 on anyone. The laws are so rarely enforced they have no meaning, Schmidt said. A change in the rights of minors 16 and older will result from the bill, Schmidt said. The rape law reform bill passed last year allows sexual acts between consenting minors ages 16 and 17, if consent could be proven in court, Schmidt said, claiming AB 323 outlaws sexual acts between minors. Clarenbach denied the bill would affect minors, saying it would not be interpreted that way by the courts. PASSAGE OF THE bill in the assembly came after a heated debate in which Rep. Joanne Duren, D-Cazenovia, said the state should not consider such a bill, because it sanctions im- morality. (Duren is the sponsor of another bil, AB 321, which would cut off all public funding of abortions and facilities which perform them, including hospitals.). Rep. Harvey Dueholm, D-Luck, replied to Duren, "If you don't play the game, don't make the rules." Dueholm said present laws are enforced against the poor, minorities and other persons unable to defend themselves in court as effectively as the rich. turned down by a 52-45 vote. 49-47 and a committee referral mo- A motion to kill the bill was defeated tion, which followed immediately, was attempts to sidetrack it and to kill it. Of The Capital Times Staff By OWEN COYLE sembly today after narrowly suviving preliminary approval in the State As- tween consenting adults was given sexual acts committed in private be- Legislation eliminating penalties on private adult sex acts Assembly votes OK on self" to even consider it. bly, she added, "should not lower it- Duren (D-Cazenovia), and the Assem- sion in private, said State Rep. Joanne But it does condone sexual perver- consenting adults in private. affected minors and related only to Clarenbach said the bill in no way tated the felony penalties. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), reins- meanor. The amended bill, supported such acts were reduced to a misde- by the principal author, State Rep. remain a felony. In the original bill Acts of sexual perversion in public of fornication in public. a felony to a misdemeanor the crime for private acts, the bill reduces from In addition to erasing the penalties legitimate concern." what he labeled a "very serious and kosh) said the bill addressed itself to State Rep. Richard Flintrop (D-Osh- He said throughout the state had signed letters 106 clergymen from science." personal pain to their own con- selled, he said, that produces "some persons whom clergymen had coun- under present state law. And for some vacy of the bedroom were illegal reason was that some acts in the pri- of support for the bill. He said a prime ure the result of a "holier than thou at- titude. Luck) tagged opposition to the meas- State Rep. Harvey Dueholm (D- . make the rules," he added. "If you don't play the game don't pretty near. Maybe the eighth.' ed. "It's the first act in the Bible. Well, "Sex is not a sin," Dueholm continu- big enough and high enough, it's al- people. Under present law, "if you're right," he said. was primarily legislation for poor Beyond that, Dueholm said the bill CT 5/5/77 --- Sex bill is stalled in Assembly May 11, 1977 The bill which would liberalize state laws restricting sexual activities be- tween adults has run into trouble in the Assembly. Representatives voted 98-0 to recon- sider an earlier vote which had ap- proved the measure. The action came after Minority Leader John C. Shabaz (R-New Berlin) said he believed the bill would lift the prohibition against prostitution. Assembly Bill 323, which had been expected to pass, was placed on the table while supporters tried to draft ar amendment to solve the language problem. State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison), one of the authors of the bill, said today that he feels there should be no problem in clearing up the language to which Shabaz objects. Clarenbach was busy drafting an amendment to the bill this morning and it was hoped that it could be fin- ished in time for the Assembly to re- consider the bill later today. Under the measure, consenting adults would be allowed to have sexual relations and engage in oral and anal intercourse providing that the acts are done in private and do not involve a minor. Fornication and "sexual perver- sion" now are felonies for which fines and prison terms can be imposed. Prostitution, which includes both sex- ual relations and perversion, also is prohibited by a separate law. sembly votes OK on private adult sex acts By OWEN COYLE Of The Capital Times Staff Legislation eliminating penalties on sexual acts committed in private be- tween consenting adults was given preliminary approval in the State As- sembly today after narrowly suviving attempts to sidetrack it and to kill it. A motion to kill the bill was defeated 49-47 and a committee referral mo- tion, which followed immediately, was turned down by a 52-45 vote. In addition to erasing the penalties for private acts, the bill reduces from a felony to a misdemeanor the crime of fornication in public. Acts of sexual perversion in public remain a felony. In the original bill such acts were reduced to a misde- meanor. The amended bill, supported by the principal author, State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), reins- tated the felony penalties. Clarenbach said the bill in no way affected minors and related only to consenting adults in private. But it does condone sexual perver- sion in private, said State Rep. Joanne Duren (D-Cazenovia), and the Assem- bly, she added, "should not lower it- self" to even consider it. State Rep. Richard Flintrop (D-Osh- kosh) said the bill addressed itself to what he labeled a "very serious and legitimate concern." He throughout said the 106 clergymen from state had signed letters of support for the bill. He said a prime reason was that some acts in the pri- vacy of the bedroom were illegal under present state law. And for some persons whom clergymen had coun- selled, he said, that produces "some personal pain to their own con- science." State Rep. Harvey Dueholm (D- Luck) tagged opposition to the meas- ure the result of a "holier than thou at- titude. "Sex is not a sin," Dueholm continu- ed. "It's the first act in the Bible. Well, pretty near. Maybe the eighth." Beyond that, Dueholm said the bill was primarily legislation for poor people. Under present law, "if you're big enough and high enough, it's al- right," he said. "If you don't play the game don't make the rules," he added. ISM 5/17/77 Homosexual law Paul Soglin, his associates, State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), and other liberals throughout the country are rushing to the aid of the homosexuals in their battle against is to be expected as the deep big, bad Christian Anita Bryant. compassion the permissive liberal has.. for the "oppressed" commercial sex vendors, the violent student activists publicly expressed. and other such dubious causes have Soglin stated in his letter to the Dade County, Florida commissioners that the City of Madison ordinance protecting the homosexual has not had negative impact on Madison. I com- pletely disagree. Soglin should talk to some of the young, bona-fide residents of Madison. His dialogue only seems to be with those individuals having the same political and moral mores as himself. Under Soglin, Madison has become the sex mecca of, the Mid- west. I would definitely call that a neg- previously been ative influence. This on I agree with Anita Bryant and her husband. The homosexual needs un- derstanding and compassion. He or she is also a child of God but that does not mean my religious convictions can be violated by the government passing a law changing a religious tenet by political means. Today, homosexual- ity; tomorrow, what further violation of the freedom of religion will be prop- osed? E. J. Kohlaas, Madison. Anita Bryant Anita Bryant epitomizes all that is wrong with religion. She is righteous, judgmental, overly concerned with other people's sex lives and not too bright. - Carl H. Jenkins, Madison. --- 6/1/77 Test Votes Favor Mills, Rich Areas Milw By NEIL H. SHIVELY Sentinel Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. - The State Assembly cast test votes favoring wealthy suburbs, polluting paper mills, big labor and small business Tuesday as it opened its week- long state budget exercise. However, by the end of the week, the votes may not mean a lot. By then, the 66 to 33 Democratic majority will go into caucus and shape a budget that can attract 50 or more votes, principally from Democrats. Assembly Democrats are following essentially the same procedure used in the Senate two weeks ago - test the strength of changes offered to the $10 billion 1977-'79 budget bill, then table the amendments if they survive test votes. The amendments are then reshaped in caucus. Amendments that survived included: An attempt to kill a $7.5 million shift in state prop- erty tax credits which, if left in the bill, would strip high income communities, such as River Hills, of gener- al property tax relief. The move to drop the idea drew a 54 to 45 vote, but many were Republican votes. Senate positions that would give Wisconsin River and Fox River Valley paper mills extra time to meet pollution standards a position opposed by the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA). Votes against the DNR's "trust us" position on setting standards were 60 to 38 and 55 to 44. An attempt to kill the "design-build concept" au- thorizing $20 million in new Madison state office build- ings, an approach opposed by organized labor. Opposition to design-build, which opponents fear will erode competitive bidding principles, was substantial- 89 to 9. Removal of the $18 million budget provision to ap- ply a 4% sales tax on computer services - a tax sever- al legislators said would unfairly tax small businesses. Before the 80 to 19 test vote on deleting the computer tax, the Democratic leadership said its loss would throw the budget out of whack. The Assembly voted on almost 30 amendments dur- ing Tuesday's session that ran into the evening, with dozens more awaiting action. None was adopted. The test votes on rejection of amendments indicate strength, and in some instances give legislators a chance to get roll call records on issues sensitive in their dis- tricts. Waiting in the wings, too, is a Republican substitute budget that differs markedly from the bill offered by Gov. Lucey and modified by the Joint Finance Commit- tee and the State Senate last week. It eliminates the transportation agency reorganiza- tion Lucey seeks and tightens up welfare law. On other amendments to the budget, the Assembly: Voted against the idea of Wisconsin going to a sin- gle automobile license plate. The two plate system was supported, 61 to 38. Voted against, 66 to 32, the budget provision per- mitting countywide assessment with a majority vote of the county beardr Rejected, 55 to 44, an amendment to add state in- come tax brackets above $14,000 (now 11.4%) to make the tax system more progressive. Rep. David Claren- bach (D-Madison) was the sponsor. Rejected increasing by $4 million the state's pay- ments for municipal services provided state property, uch as fire protection. Localities are currently being mbursed at 71% of service costs. size progi oted 'or into the beefed up Homestead Tax Credit ar w Beet City gets grant to study night transit dilemma 151 6/1377 A $75,000 grant to explore the feasi- bility of using taxi cabs to provide late night public transportation was ap- proved today for the city of Madison by the state Dept. of Transportation. "This is a grant for development of a pilot project to study the feasibility of use of taxi cabs or private cars to take up the slack that Women's Transit Authority (WTA) is now hav- ing to bear," said Rep. David Claren- bach (D-Madison). "WTA funding problems are ex- tremely severe," he said. With recent sexual attacks on women in the central city, WTA rider- ship has increased, taxing the finan- cially troubled rape prevention trans- portation system that is run by volun- teer help. At present, the WTA budget is $11,- 000: $3,000 from the University of Wisconsin Dean of Students, $3,600 from the Wisconsin Student Assn., and $4,500 from the city of Madison. "Lack of money has jeopardized the needed services of WTA," Claren- bach said, "and they are now on the verge of folding. "With the awarding of this grant, Madison will be able to continue a pro- gram of providing safe transportation in the late evening hours to all citi- zens.' " The grant includes $67,100 in state funds and $7,455 in local funds. Supporters of liberalizing r sex laws admit an error MILWAUKEE (AP). - Supporters of a bill for legalizing controversial sex acts in private say there was an error in petitioners' claims that do- zens of clergymen and 10 organiza- tions endorse the legislation. "A minor mistake was clearly made," said Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison) chief author of the bill. Petitions which said clerical, law- yer, health and voter groups had en- dorsed the bill should have stated in- stead that the organizations "en- dorsed the concept," Clarenbach said. The petitions urge legislators to vote for the bill which Rep. Stephen Leo- pold (D-Milwaukee) says would "remove archaic laws that aren't obs- erved anyway." The measure would allow adults to engage in sex acts - even those con- sidered to be perversion if con- ducted in private. Leopold said it is not designed to accommodate prostitu- tion. Petitioners contend that existing laws "criminalize much of what is now regarded as normal physical ex- pression of love and affection." The Rev. Judith Michaels, a Presby- terian minister serving with a reli- gious education division at the Univer- sity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said "there was a mix-up in communica- tion" leading to the petition allegation of endorsements by the 10 groups. "We are working it out now," she said, adding she doesn't know who lis- ted the endorsements. C-T 6/6/77 "I really don't have an answer," she said. "I didn't work on that part of it and don't know who did." The petitions said the bill has the blessing of more than 100 clergymen and such groups as the League of Women Voters, the United Federation of Teachers, the American Bar Asso- ciation, the National Council of Chur- ches in Christ, the National Federa- tion of Priests Council, the YWCA, the American Psychological Association, the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association and the American Public Health Asso- ciation. TI we idered ---