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More news items can be found at the
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February 10, 2010
Barca and Vinehout Receive 2010 Outstanding Legislative Service Award
Wisconsin Association of County Homes Recognize Representative Peter Barca
and Senator Kathleen Vinehout for Outstanding Service
MADISON - Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) and Senator Kathleen
Vinehout (D-Alma) were recognized by the Wisconsin Association of County
Homes and presented with the 2010 Outstanding Legislative Service Award. The
association selected one member of the Assembly and one member of the Senate
for the award. The Wisconsin Association of County Homes was in Madison to
lobby legislators on their legislative agenda and to hold their spring
conference.
“It is truly an honor to be selected for such an award,” Representative
Barca explained. “I believe it is critical that we protect our county
nursing homes so they can continue to provide basic, affordable healthcare
services to our aging population. In Kenosha, we are blessed to have a high
quality facility like the Brookside Care Center and I will continue to be a
strong advocate for county nursing homes in the future.”
Barca and Vinehout were chosen for the award in large part due to their
efforts during the state’s biennial budget process last spring to restore
funding of the Certified Public Expenditure to county nursing homes. The
budget that Governor Doyle had initially introduced called for the state to
keep that funding, however the legislature deleted that provision and
returned approximately $10.2 million to county nursing homes.
“County nursing homes are vital partners in providing quality care for our
frail and elderly citizens,” Sen. Vinehout said. “Even in the face of the
most serious budget shortfall, the state simply could not retreat from its
commitment to that partnership. Doing so would have jeopardized not only
resident care but the economic contributions of our county homes to our
communities.”
“The Association of County Homes worked very hard to ensure that the
Certified Public Expenditure funding to county nursing homes was restored in
the current budget,” said Fran Petrick, Past President of the WACH and
Administer of Brookside Care Center in Kenosha. “We were successful because
of the support we received from our legislators. When I asked our members
about who they believed the key legislative leaders on this issue were, it
was their response that Representative Barca and Senator Vinehout should be
especially recognized for their contributions.”
Representative Barca and Senator Vinehout were invited to address the
association during the lunch portion of their conference.
November 5th, 2009
Legislation Authored by Rep. Danou to Curb Organized Retail Crime &
Protect Law Enforcement Clears Assembly
AB 241 & 269 Passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly with bi-partisan support
MADISON - State Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) is pleased to
announce the passage of two key law enforcement bills: AB 241 and 269. AB
241 seeks to curb the problem of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) in Wisconsin.
Unlike shoplifting, where the thieves usually work alone and steal items for
personal use, ORC involves teams of two people or more who steal merchandise
from retailers with the intent to resell the products. These teams work by
distracting the sales staff, then stealing small but expensive products. The
Wisconsin Grocer’s Association estimates that ORC costs Wisconsin retailers
$631 million annually.
“Small business owners can’t afford to absorb the losses they suffer because
of Organized Retail Crime - so sadly, the cost of these thefts are often
passed directly onto consumers,” said Rep. Danou. “In stopping retail theft
rings, we can help support Wisconsin businesses and keep the prices of
everyday household goods down for Wisconsin families.”
“As a police officer, Representative Danou had direct experience with this
type of crime. His first-hand knowledge of the problem and his perseverance
as a legislator has been key to moving this bill through committee,” said
Michelle Kussow, VP-Government Affairs & Communications for the Wisconsin
Grocers Association.
Assembly Bill 269, dubbed the Police Protection Act, also cleared the
Assembly Chamber with wide bi-partisan support. Under this bill, a person
who causes bodily harm to a law enforcement officer while the person is
resisting or obstructing, is guilty of a Class H felony.
“Law enforcement from around our state puts their lives on the line each and
every day to keep Wisconsin’s citizens safe. I am pleased that the Wisconsin
State Assembly has joined me in taking action to protect the people who
protect us,” said Rep. Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau).
Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police
Association (WPPA) commented: “From starting his career in public service as
a law enforcement officer to his public service now as a Wisconsin State
Representative, Chris Danou has been working to keeps the citizens of
Wisconsin safe and the (WPPA) is pleased to support him in that effort.”
Rep. Danou: Recovery Programs Have Supported 22,100 Wisconsin Jobs, On
Track to Create or Save 70,000
State Lawmaker Notes Efforts to Boost Business Will Build on Recovery
Success
Representative Chris Danou press release - October 15, 2009
MADISON - State Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) today noted the
report from the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment which shows
the state’s use of federal recovery dollars has directly paid to put
thousands of Wisconsinites to work. A White House report, which includes
both the jobs directly funded through ARRA aid and the jobs indirectly
supported by ARRA programs, shows recovery efforts have created or saved
22,100 full-time jobs for Wisconsin workers.
“Those jobs are helping Wisconsin families keep a roof over their heads and
food on the table, while the money workers earn is feeding back into the
local economy, keeping businesses open and communities strong,” said Rep.
Danou. “This money provided much-needed relief at a critical time, and is
helping to set Wisconsin on a track to a stronger economic future.”
Here in Western Wisconsin economic recovery funds have already been used to
support projects such as the improvements to the Bruce Valley Creek Bridge
in Trempealeau County. Infrastructure and development improvements in the
form of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the City of Blair will
be used as a facelift to the city’s downtown, with additional funds going
towards other infrastructure projects, health care for low income children
and working adults, a better safety net for the unemployed and food
assistance.
With many ARRA projects still in process or in the pipeline, Rep. Danou
notes that the new White House report predicts that recovery efforts will
ultimately spur the creation of approximately 70,000 jobs.
“This is a great sign that we are using federal funds wisely,” said Rep.
Danou. “And, it’s not the only encouraging sign that better days are ahead.”
Earlier Tuesday, a chief state economist delivered a report that shows,
while the national jobless rate is still very high, Wisconsin’s employment
levels are stabilizing. The expert also predicted that Wisconsin will
outperform national levels of economic growth in 2010.
Department of Commerce official Zach Brandon credits part of that success to
Rep. Danou’s vote to approve a package of growth incentives for Wisconsin
businesses. Since the passage of those programs, Wisconsin has seen biotech
and nanotech firms move into the state, backbone industries like meat and
dairy processing expand, and major manufacturers consolidate here.
“We are working to build on the success of recovery programs, through the
more than $200 million in job-creating, business-boosting incentives I voted
for earlier this year,” said Rep. Danou. “From the funds that were
appropriated to the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council for
assistance to disadvantaged individuals to the handful of biotech companies
in our state that have relocated here because of our leadership, we are
seeing our efforts pay off - and I will continue to do everything I can to
support Wisconsin workers and Wisconsin businesses and set the state on a
path to economic recovery and future prosperity.”
Assembly Speaker Tours Arcadia Businesses with Local Lawmaker
Rep. Danou Shares News of Local Small Business Successes, Ongoing Needs
Rep. Chris Danou August 4, 2009 Press Release
MADISON - State Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) today welcomed
Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) to the 91st District. Rep.
Danou spent the day highlighting local economic success stories and sharing
news of the needs of small business owners with the legislative leader.
Danou and Sheridan walked down Main Street in Arcadia, visiting small
businesses like Mary Kay’s Kitchen and Halvorsen Lumber Company.
“In this economy, it’s critical that the state look out for businesses of
all size - from large companies like Ashley Furniture or Gold’n Plump to
Mary Kay’s Kitchen and Halvorsen Lumber. Every job and every dollar counts,”
said Danou. “I think it’s critical that we listen to the people who run
these businesses, and try to give them the boosts they need to survive and
thrive in Wisconsin.”
“Rep. Danou knows his district so well, and he is a strong voice for his
constituents in Madison,” said Sheridan. “Rep. Danou fought hard for budget
tax incentives and credits that will grow the rural economy. Chris knows
that the small cities and towns he represents have great economic potential
- but they could use a helping hand from the state, if they’re going to
grow.”
Danou noted district businesses may qualify for newly-approved tax credits
and incentives he worked to include in the state stimulus and budget bills.
Those business aids include:
Enterprise Zone Tax Credit
Under this measure, businesses can receive a credit for a portion of a
full-time employee’s yearly salary, if it totals more than $30,000.
Jobs Tax Credit
This measure benefits new and expanding businesses by crediting them for up
to 10% of wages paid to each new employee.
Business Development Tax Incentives Program
A business can claim tax benefits totaling $65.29 million for projects that
create full-time jobs, reinvest capital into new equipment, machinery or
property, allocate business funds for worker training, or for the location
or retention of a corporate headquarters in Wisconsin.
Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment Tax Credit
This measure increases the number of cooperatives that may be eligible for a
tax credit equal to 10% of the amount paid in a tax year by the business for
dairy manufacturing modernization.
Beginning Farmer and Farm Asset Owner Tax Credits
The beginning farmer credit refunds a new farmer for the costs of enrolling
in a financial management program. The farm asset owner credit equals 15% of
lease money received by an established farmer for the rental of land to a
new farmer.
“The budget and stimulus bills Speaker Sheridan and I worked to pass
included more than $230 million in business tax credits and incentives -
intended both to boost Wisconsin companies and to lure new employers to our
state, but I know we have more work to do,” said Danou. “I will continue to
educate my more urban legislative colleagues about the needs of my district
– and to show them what makes our communities so special, and worthy of
state investments.”
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