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Just as snow melt brings a rush of spring chores, the end of
the two-year Legislative Session brings a rush to finish business. The pace
at the Capitol has stepped up as legislators take stock of what work
remains.
Like college students, writing papers and presentations the week before
finals, legislators scramble to finalize ideas for bill drafts and to
prepare testimony on bills pending before a committee or the full Senate.
The past few weeks brought a dramatic increase in bills drafted, bills
introduced, legislative hearings and work ‘on the floor’ with the full
Senate. Deadlines loom and work not done by May will need to wait until next
January when the new Legislature convenes.
Early spring always brings many visitors to the Capitol to share their
concerns and ideas. Often the best ideas for bills come from citizens. While
many folks will comment on the big issues - like health care, school funding
and tax reform - frequently the bills that make life better for
Wisconsinites in little ways started as someone’s good idea.
One example is a bill I introduced allowing for the use of neighborhood
electric vehicles. Former Senator Rod Moen, the current Mayor of Whitehall,
worked with me to write the bill allowing small electric vehicles to cross
state highways. He realized the city would save money by using an electric
rather than a gasoline powered vehicle to do city business. But state law
forbids the electric vehicles from crossing a state highway. And Whitehall,
like most rural communities, is divided by a state highway.
Another common sense bill I drafted would help increase the ability of
taverns to offer bar patrons a free, safe ride home. Under current law, half
of the SafeRide funding comes from fines on drunken driving convictions. The
other half is raised by community members who volunteer countless hours to
sponsor various fundraisers.
Tavern owners participating in the SafeRide program receive a grant from the
state to cover half the cost to transport a person safely home. To make safe
rides more available, my bill would increase the state grant amount to 80%
using the state dollars set aside for this purpose. Last session, the
Legislature increased the drunken driving fines making more dollars
available for SafeRide grants.
Both of these small but important bills easily passed the Senate and are
scheduled for action in the Assembly.
Last week, the Governor signed into law two other small but important bills.
The first was a bill I worked on with local veterinarians that eliminated an
old law requiring veterinarians to take continuing education as pesticide
applicators. The old law dated back to the time animals had to be dipped in
pesticides. Times have changed and now veterinarians use and sell pesticide
products that require no prescription and are easily applied to the animal.
The second bill was one I worked on with volunteer firefighters and EMTs.
Our rural communities are protected by these essential volunteers who give
their time for training and to be on call when we need them. Because fires
and accidents can happen at any time, it is possible volunteer fire fighters
or EMTs are required to respond to an emergency call at the same time they
are required to be at a regular job. The new law protects our local
volunteer firefighters and EMTs from disciplinary action if their duties
interfere with their regular job. Many local volunteers contacted me to say
how much this new law means to them.
My job is working in partnership with local people who frequently offer the
best ideas for legislation. If you have an idea for a bill, now would be a
great time to contract me and talk through the idea. After the end of the
session - some time the end of April or the beginning of May - the
introduction of bills will no longer be allowed.
So now is the time to get the job done.
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