David Clarenbach State Representative Spring 1982 Dear Friends: The legislative session just completed was the most important in my ten years in public office. As reported in previous newsletters, budget cuts and deficits dominated our agenda for 1981-82. After almost a decade of budget surpluses, our current Republican administration came up with a staggering $450 million deficit. Their "solutions" to the deficit, which has only grown bigger, are drastic cuts in programs, services, and assistance to local governments and schools; and increases in taxes. The real economic issues facing our state remain unsolved. We are going to have to make an important decision: whether to continue with "Reaganomics" as supported by the Governor, or to choose a new direction where we actually find cures for our economic ills rather than just doctoring them at the expense of the poor, the disabled and the elderly. Clearly the administration's policies of tax breaks and "incentives" for the rich have not trickled down to benefit middle and low income people. I am confident that we will see a resolve by the people of this state to alter our present course. We will not be able to solve any of the economic prob- lems before us until we establish an economy that serves humane ends. In our society, every citizen ought to have the same rights in the realm of economics as he or she does in politics. Economic democracy today is not a dream, but a prerequisite if we are to turn things around. In 1918, Bob La Follette cautioned that "Democracy in America has been trampled underfoot, submerged, forgot- ten. Her enemies have multiplied their wealth and power appallingly." That warning rings true today. Our economy has evolved from a system of free enterprise to domination by large corporations, at the expense of small businesses and our communities. When it comes to deciding who will work and who will not, and what prices we will pay, and when and where dollars will be invested and spent, the decisions are being made in the board rooms of a few monopolies. If we don't begin to curb this power, we can look forward to more unemployment, more inflation, continued discrimination in the workplace, continued increases in pollution of the environment and public health hazards. If we don't opt for economic democracy, democracy itself will be threatened. I hope it will be a course of economic democracy that this state will now elect. Since this is the final newsletter of the year, I want to re- count some of what I feel were my accomplishments, priorities for the future, and important new laws enacted this term. I owe much to this community and the people who have supported me through the years. What I am able to accomplish is in large measure the result of your help. Sincerely, Waird David Clarenbach State Representative --- Legislative Report Card These are some of the initiatives I authored or co-sponsored that were approved this session: • The creation of a Community Development Authority to give financial assistance to neighborhood revitalization projects (AB 858) The first step in adding an Equal Rights Amend- ment to Wisconsin's Constitution (AJR 86) Increased penalties for drivers who hit and run - leave the scene of an accident (AB 368) A prohibition on "union busting" activities by hospitals (AB 371) The issuing of bonds for housing rehabilitation loans (SB 22) • • • • A prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation (AB 70) A requirement that disability insurance cover insulin infusion pumps for diabetics (AB 703) A call for a bilateral moratorium on nuclear weapons (AR 18) An improved definition of "sexual contact" to assist sexual harassment victims (SB 223) Guarantees for workers right-to-know about toxic substances and infectious agents they handle on the job (AB 615) The granting of a tax exemption to non-profit com- munity radio stations, including WORT (adopted as an amendment to the Budget Bill) A memorial by the Legislature to Rabbi Manfred Swarsenski (Special Session AJR 1) A call for the dismissal of Secretary of the Interior, James Watt (AJR 70) A communicable diseases diagnostic and treatment pro- gram for sexually transmitted diseases (AB 711) An investigation of Job Service and layoffs of public employes (AR 29) The establishment of a brucellosis prevention pro- gram to control the disease that is endangering Wisconsin's cattle herds (AB 441) Prohibitions against the investment of public funds in companies who are labor law violators (AB 364) A program to permit the therapeutic prescription of marijuana to cancer chemotherapy patients (AB 697) A resolution urging Congress to terminate military involvement in El Salvador (AR 13) A Legislative Council study on how Wisconsin can benefit from high technology industry and attract new jobs with a future (AJR 77) My initiatives furthered this session that I expect to see approved next year: • • Final approval of an Equal Rights Amendment to Wisconsin's Constitution Restoration of funding for Job Service employment, work incentive, daycare and other programs that have saved the state millions of dollars in welfare grants Repeal of the state's archaic and intrusive laws that regulate sexual behavior between consenting adults in private (failed by one vote this session) • A hospital Patients Bill of Rights to demystify and humanize the health care system Legal guarantees on privacy of personal records, that highly sensitive personal documents in the custody of the state remain private and prohibitions against the government arbitrarily collecting data on citizens Reforms in our marital property laws Changes in the structure of the State Historical Society to make it more accountable for its expen- diture of public funds Other important bills I supported that were approved: • • . Increased penalties for persons committing crimes with a dangerous weapon (AB 242) The creation of a Radioactive Waste Policy Council and Review Board to control the storing and disposal of radioactive wastes in Wisconsin (AB 555) Stricter licensing, inspection and regulation of nursing homes (SB 263) Further toughening of our drunk driving law with increased penalties and enforcement (SB 741) Adoption of an Open Records Bill which guarantees the public's right to inspect public records (SB 250)* Required installation of automatic sprinkler systems in new public buildings and work places (AB 239) Restrictions on the possession of firearms by persons who have committed crimes (AB 127) The extension of mandatory mediated arbitration to resolve teacher contract disputes and prevent teacher strikes (AB 320)* Privacy protections when using 2-way cable tv and other 2-way devices (AB 757) * A law that finally makes the act of "breaking and entering" a crime (AB 282) A Wetlands Protection Act to preserve the state's ecologically important and rapidly shrinking wetlands (AB 839) • • • . • New penalties for intimidating a witness or victim of a crime (AB 398) A requirement for "fair share" and maintenance of membership agreements for public employes - a simple rather than 2/3rd's majority to form a union (SB 71)* A mandate that courts award triple damages for injuries to businesses and property caused by arson (AB 25) Extension of private sector OSHA safety standards to public employes (AB 322)* A ban on the trafficking of look-alike drugs - legal drugs made to look like illegal drugs (SB 536) Guarantees to employes that they have the right to copy their own personnel records (SB 332)* acted as a floorleader during debate Job Service and Layoffs The investigation conducted by the Government Opera- tions Committee on public employe layoffs and their affect on services and programs is well underway. Many of the first to receive layoff notices were Job Service employes, cut as a result of the elimination of federal funds. The Committee, which I chair, has made recommendations to restore state funding for Job Service's Work Incentive Program (WIN). WIN is a job training and placement service for AFDC recipients. It is a positive and successful means of cutting welfare costs by finding jobs for the unemployed. The savings in public assistance grants alone makes WIN ex- tremely cost effective and its elimination is an example of the shortsightedness of "Reaganomics." The Committee will continue to address the many prob- lems resulting from the proposed elimination of programs and personnel in state government. Layoffs will be especially critical to those of us who live in Madison, where many public employes work. Our community until now has enjoyed a "recession-proof" economy because of the high concentration of state and University workers - they pro- vide stability to our local economy when the private sector is in a slump. Now, with the continued threat that more and more public employes will join the record numbers already unemployed, Madison's economy could plummet. A 10% reduction in state employes would result in 5,000 people looking for work, but a 10% increase in the private sector would result in only 2,600 available jobs. --- Plug for Your Neighborhood The political backbone and strength of our community is its neighborhood associations. These neighborhood associa- tions are all active and viable organizations which, at the grassroots level, are making real contributions towards a better way of life for their residents. They need your par- ticipation and your financial support. If you aren't a member already, I encourage you to join. For a very few dollars at most, you can make an invest- ment in something as close to home as you will ever get. I have listed the associations in our area, their member- ship secretaries, and their annual dues. I'm sure they would like to hear from you today. (If you aren't sure which neighborhood association to contact, my office would be glad to supply you with this information.) Atwood Neighborhood Association Guy Beels 3121 Atwood Ave. Madison, WI 53704 no dues Eastmorland Community Association Chris Holler 46 Bradford La. Madison, WI 53714 dues - $3 Fourth District Neighborhood Association Gail Beyer 132 N. Franklin St. Madison, WI 53703 dues - $2 Marquette Neighborhood Association Jane Roberts 1302 Morrison St. Madison, WI 53703 dues - $2 Schenks Corners Neighborhood Association Jill Hermolin 2211 Rusk St. Madison, WI 53704 no dues Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association Heidi Sime 1047 E. Johnson St. Madison, WI 53703 dues - $1 Can We Help? Photo: Lynn Levy This session of the Legislature may be over, but my office is still open and at your service. A simple letter or call can frequently provide information or help you solve a problem. Members of my capitol staff Linda Kessel Roovers and Dan Curd are available for assistance each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and if you leave a message we will get back to you promptly. Our phone number is 266-8570. - FORWARD David E. Clarenbach, State Representative 422 North State Capitol Madison, WI 53702 Or current resident Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Madison, WI Permit No. 1749 ---