Capitol Connection
By State Senator Joe Leibham
April 16, 2008
Constituents’ Ideas Become Law
Oftentimes, the legislative proposals that we discuss and debate in the State Capitol are ideas that come to us from the citizens and taxpayers that we represent. I always enjoy working with area citizens to craft their ideas into legislative bills and work to move them through the legislative process.
I am happy to announce that two such constituent-originated ideas recently made their way through the legislative process and were signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle.
The first proposal was Senate Bill (SB) 136, which ended the automatic distribution of “hard copy” (paper) state statute books. Before SB 136 was signed into law, state law required the printing, mailing and distribution of “hard copy” statute books to all municipal (county, city, village…) clerks, county board chairpersons, sheriffs, highway commissioners, registers of deeds, coroners, county treasurers, county surveyors, health and human service directors, county veterans’ service officers, members and members−elect of Congress from this state, state senators and members of the state assembly. These books were printed and mailed with taxpayer funds to each of these individuals without any request to receive them. Over $430,000 was spent printing and distributing the last “hard copy” edition of the State Statutes.
The idea to change the current mandated printing and mailing of these books came from the Town of Herman Clerk, Mr. George Marthenze. Mr. Marthenze shared with me that all of the information contained in the “hard copy” of these books is now available in a much more user-friendly on-line format. Mr. Marthenze suggested that it was a misuse of state tax dollars to automatically print and mail all of these “hard copy" books when many of the recipients used the on-line electronic version. Under the legislation that I authored, these officials will be asked to request one free copy of the statutes per version of printing if they still used the “hard copy” instead of requiring that statute books be automatically sent to the officials listed above. People who use the electronic format will not be mailed unnecessary copies. The bill was signed into law and this common sense change will save taxpayers hundred of thousands of dollars and not negatively affect anyone.
The second bill that I authored was SB 234. This bill designates State Highway 57 as the “57th Field Artillery Brigade Memorial Highway.” Again, this idea came from a local citizen who is a veteran and a member of The Wisconsin National Guard Enlisted Association. I was honored when this citizen and Guard member first approached me and asked that I lead this legislative effort on behalf of his Association.
I am pleased this legislation received bi-partisan support to honor Wisconsin’s very own 57th Field Artillery Brigade. Their proud heritage and service to our State and Country, from the Civil War to their current mission in Afghanistan, deserves this recognition.
While not major in the grand scheme of issues that come before the legislature, these proposals were important to the citizens that shared them with me and are worthy ideas that received support throughout the legislative process.
As your State Senator, please do not hesitate to contact me with your ideas. Who knows - perhaps you can also have a roll in the lawmaking process? I look forward to hearing from you with your ideas.
As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling 888-295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.state.wi.us. You can also log on to the 9th Senate District on-line office at www.leibhamsenate.com.
It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate!