jONline

An electronic newsletter from Senator Jon Erpenbach – 1-18-08

 

Minimum Wage Increase and Index Passes the Senate – This week in Senate Floor action an increase in the minimum wage and permanent indexing of the minimum wage passed on a vote of 19-13. Rather than continuing the cycle of no increase in the minimum wage and then a significant jump in the wage, indexing for inflation would provide stability for businesses and guarantee the economic power of the increase for 250,000 Wisconsin minimum wage workers. The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families has put together an informational paper  on indexing. Senate Bill 130 , the minimum wage bill, will need Assembly action before landing on the Governor’s desk. Contact you State Representative on the bill. See Senator Erpenbach on the Senate floor.

 

Mental Health Parity Bill Hearing – The Senate Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation Committee, chaired by Senator Erpenbach, held a public hearing this week on Senate Bill 375 . The proposal requires health insurance coverage of mental health and substance abuse problems. It is important for Wisconsin's legislature to act and end discrimination that plagues patients struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. Receiving treatment should not be a privilege reserved for only wealthy people in Wisconsin.

 

Credit Scores and Car and Property Insurance – When you seek renter, home, or auto insurance, your credit score may prohibit a policy or make your premiums a lot higher. Senate Bill 259 coauthored by Senator Erpenbach would prohibit this “look-see” practice. Your driving record or past claims should determine whether or not you can obtain insurance, not a few bad financial decisions. Every time your credit report is accessed your score is lowered. Red lining people with little or below average credit scores is a mistake and causes people to drive and live without insurance. SB 259 received a public hearing this week.

 

CWAG and AARP Join Fight for Campaign Finance Reform – The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, and AARP have lent the voice of their members in support of Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 171. For leaders on this issue, like Senator Erpenbach, support from the thousands of members of two of Wisconsin’s biggest organizations is appreciated as we work to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform before the end of the session. Watch the video from Wisconsin Eye . 

 

UW Madison Paperless Admission Causes Delay in Admissions – Potential students and their families will be waiting a bit longer to find out if they are accepted at UW Madison this year. All applicants who got their application in before February 1st should be processed by May 1st. There is no change in who will be accepted but the admissions process is being changed to a paperless program. UW staff are coming in evenings and weekends to process applications as soon as possible. Visit the UW Madison website for more information. If you have specific concerns please contact Senator Erpenbach’s office.

 

This Week the People Say – This week constituents of the 27th Senate District are saying, “Find a compromise to preserve virtual schools within the limits of the recent Appeals Court decision.”