Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
I voted no today on minimum wage indexing
I voted no on the Senate floor today on Senate Bill 130 (SB 130) that would increase the minimum wage and implement minimum wage indexing, a yearly increase based on the consumer price index.Here is a copy of SB 130.
The minimum wage is a tired old policy often trotted out by supporters that would only hurt the individuals it intends to help.
The conventional wisdom among most economists is that the minimum wage costs thousands of jobs.
A low-paying job remains an entry point for those with few marketable skills. Because of the minimum wage, teenagers, workers in training, college students, interns, and part-time workers see fewer opportunities in the job market.
When the minimum wage increases, jobs disappear. The jobs that vanish are entry-level jobs, the jobs needed by the poor and those with minimal skills to gain experience and establish work history.The non-profit Employment Polices Institute says:
“Automatically increasing the minimum wage at the rate of inflation prevents lawmakers from making future adjustments in the entry-level wage in response to changes in the state’s economic climate.
Already, two-thirds of minimum wage earners receive a raise within their first year of employment. However, there are some people who lack the skills necessary to advance in the workplace. It is this vulnerable subsection of employees that will be the first to lose their jobs when the mandated wage exceeds their productivity level.
A recent University of California at Irvine study found that high school dropouts and African-American teens suffer four times more employment loss from minimum wage increases than their more educated counterparts. For these vulnerable individuals, a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage leads to an 8 percent decrease in employment.”
Proponents argue they want to increase the wage to help the poor. However, the effect is just the opposite. They will also say they want to provide a living wage.
The fact remains that a very small percentage of minimum wage workers are single parents or adult heads of households. The majority of minimum wage workers are single individuals, many of them living with their parents.
Minimum wage workers are not parents struggling to feed their families. They are high school or college students living at home.
Dr. Peter Brandon of the Institute for Research on Poverty studied the effects of the minimum wage on the transition from welfare to work. He found that raising it keeps welfare mothers on welfare longer. Mothers on welfare in states that raised their minimum wage remained on welfare 44 percent longer than mothers on welfare in states the minimum wage was increased.
Another side effect of increasing the minimum wage according to a report by the Employment Policies Institute is that it increases the number of high-school drop-outs because higher mandatory minimum wages will entice some students into sacrificing school for work. At the same time many employers are compelled to forgo hiring low-skill teenagers in favor of older employees whose experience makes them worth hiring at higher wage rates.
The effort to raise the minimum wage is a campaign that panders using misleading arguments. Increasing the wage will only deprive low-skilled, poor workers of much-needed job experience and opportunities.
The Senate approved SB 130, 19-13.
The bill now goes to the state Assembly.
State Senate agenda for Tuesday
Here is the state Senate calendar for the state Senate agenda for Tuesday, January 15, 2008:First Order. Call of Roll.
Second Order. Chief clerk's entries.
Third Order. Introduction, first reading and reference of proposals; reference of appointments.
Fourth Order. Report of committees.
Fifth Order. Petitions and communications.
Sixth Order. Advice and consent of the Senate.
QUESTION: Shall the appointment be confirmed?
Armstrong, Stephanie, of De Forest, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2009
Barnett, Jeffrey, of Whitewater, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2010
Benz, Lisa, of River Falls, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2010.
Bohon, Frances, of Marshfield, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2010.
Brown, Jeanne, of Eau Claire, as a member of the Athletic Trainers Affiliated Credentialing Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2011.
Cattau, Ann, of Neenah, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2007.
Cattau, Ann, of Neenah, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2010
Champeau, Ryan, of Waukesha, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2009.
Gaier, John, of Neillsville, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2009.
Grignon, John, of New Berlin, as a member of the Dentistry Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2009.
Hase, Paula, of Wausau, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2009.
Kaeske, Russ, of Hales Corners, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2009.
Lewno, Pat, of Racine, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2008
Oliver, Jamie Lynn, of Ettrick, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2008.
Pickett, Debra, of Darlington, as a member of the Prison Industries Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2011.
Schoessow, Terry, of Mequon, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2010.
Serlin, Erica, of Madison, as a member of the Psychology Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2011.
Seventh Order. Referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules.
Eighth Order. Messages from the Assembly.
QUESTION: Shall the amendment be concurred in?
Senate Bill 1. Relating to: authorizing library boards to transfer a gift, bequest, or endowment to certain charitable organizations.
Ninth Order. Special Orders.
Tenth Order. Consideration of motions, resolutions, and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading.
QUESTION: Shall the joint resolution be adopted?
Senate Joint Resolution 72. Relating to: recognizing and encouraging international education as an essential component of the future of this state.
Senate Joint Resolution 75. Relating to: commending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team.
QUESTION: Shall the joint resolution be concurred in?
Assembly Joint Resolution 61. Relating to: Midwest Airlines
Eleventh Order. Second reading and amendments of senate joint resolutions and senate bills.
QUESTION: Shall the bill be ordered to a third reading?
Senate Bill 38. Relating to: possession of dogs by certain felony offenders and providing a penalty.
Senate Amendments 1 and 2 pending
Senate Bill 71. Relating to: substitutions by pharmacists dispensing epilepsy drugs.
Senate Bill 98. Relating to: providing benefits to tribal schools and tribal school pupils similar to those provided to private schools and private school pupils and making an appropriation.
Senate Bill 116. Relating to: repeat drunken driving offenders and providing a penalty.
Senate Amendments 1 and 3 pending
Senate Bill 128. Relating to: heated exterior pedestrian walkways.
Senate Bill 130. Relating to: a state minimum wage and granting rule-making authority.
Senate Bill 156. Relating to: prohibiting certain persons from refusing to honor, or from attempting to avoid honoring, a document of gift for donation of an anatomical gift
Senate Bill 197. Relating to: restrictions on the use and sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and other lawn fertilizer and providing a penalty
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 208. Relating to: the leasing of land in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest for the purpose of gravel extraction.
Senate Bill 211. Relating to: soliciting purchases of goods or services using unsolicited checks or money orders and providing a penalty
Senate Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 244. Relating to: prosecution decisions based on certain payments to organizations or agencies. Senate Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 260. Relating to: strangulation and suffocation, and providing a penalty.
Senate Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 264. Relating to: the reporting of child abuse or neglect exemption for privileged information Senate Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 280. Relating to: authorizing an elective member of a political subdivision's governing body to refuse his or her salary. Senate Substitute Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 281. Relating to: reporting requirements related to general transportation aids to local governments.
Senate Amendment 1 pending
Senate Bill 288. Relating to: regulation of and registration requirements for certain cemetery authorities, cemetery associations, and cemetery merchandise
Senate Bill 291. Relating to: University of Wisconsin System tuition gift certificate program.
Senate Bill 300. Relating to: repealing, consolidating, renumbering, amending, and revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of correcting errors, supplying omissions, correcting and clarifying references, eliminating defects, anachronisms, conflicts, ambiguities, and obsolete provisions, reconciling conflicts, and repelling unintended repeals (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Senate Bill 301. Relating to: repealing, consolidating, renumbering, amending, and revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of correcting errors, supplying omissions, correcting and clarifying references, eliminating defects, anachronisms, conflicts, ambiguities, and obsolete provisions, reconciling conflicts, and repelling unintended repeals (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Senate Bill 302. Relating to: amending and revising under section 10.53 of the statutes various provisions of sections 10.62 to 10.82 of the statutes for the purpose of correcting conflicts between the listings in sections 10.62 to 10.82 of the statutes and the substantive statutes to which those sections refer (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Senate Bill 303. Relating to: amending and revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of correcting errors, supplying omissions, and correcting and clarifying references (Revisor's Correction Bill). By Law Revision Committee.
Senate Bill 304. Relating to: renumbering, amending, and revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of correcting and clarifying references, reconciling conflicts, and repelling unintended repeals (Revisor's Correction Bill). By Law Revision Committee.
Senate Bill 305. Relating to: renumbering and amending a provision of the statutes for the purpose of eliminating ambiguities (Revisor's Correction Bill). By Law Revision Committee.
Senate Bill 310. Relating to: anatomical gifts, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.
Senate Amendment 1 pending
Twelfth Order. Second reading and amendments of assembly joint resolutions and assembly bills.
QUESTION: Shall the bill be ordered to a third reading?
Assembly Bill 32. Relating to: prohibiting employment discrimination because an individual is or applies to be a member of, or performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform active service in, the state defense force, the national guard of any state, or any reserve component of the military forces of the United States.
Assembly Bill 75. Relating to: assistance for veterans affected by depleted uranium.
Assembly Bill 80. Relating to: special distinguishing registration plates for persons who have had an immediate family member die while in military service
Assembly Bill 82. Relating to: recall of elective town sanitary district commissioners.
Assembly Bill 152. Relating to: the method of election of village officers
Assembly Bill 181. Relating to: continuing education for architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers of engineering systems, and land surveyors.
Assembly Bill 184. Relating to: the investment by certain local units of government of funds held in trust to provide post-employment benefits.
Assembly Bill 228. Relating to: the transfer of certain fish and game licenses and permits to minors.
Assembly Bill 239. Relating to: automated teller machine charges for international accounts.
Assembly Bill 296. Relating to: issuing hunting and fishing approvals to members of the U.S. armed forces who are former residents of this state.
Assembly Bill 305. Relating to: control of final disposition of certain human remains and providing a penalty.
Assembly Bill 351. Relating to: designating and marking a bridge in Columbia County as the Veterans of the American Revolution Memorial Bridge
Assembly Bill 359. Relating to: the preference systems for issuing Class A bear licenses, bobcat hunting and trapping permits, fisher trapping permits, and otter trapping permits.
Assembly Bill 370. Relating to: commercial driver license testing for military license holders
Assembly Bill 413. Relating to: temporary certificates to practice respiratory care.
Assembly Bill 454. Relating to: issuance by the Department of Natural Resources of federal hunting, fishing, and trapping approvals
Thirteenth Order. Third reading of joint resolutions and bills.
Fourteenth Order. Motions may be offered.
Fifteenth Order. Announcements, adjournment honors, and remarks under special privilege.
Sixteenth Order. Adjournment.
All states watching California, Massachusetts on health care
I’ve written extensively about my opposition to the state Senate Democrats’ $15.2 billion government health care plan that wisely was rejected last year.
Food donations to charities are immune from litigation
At a time when Wisconsin’s economy is floundering, gas prices are high, and the needs of the poor are on the rise, it is important to note there is a Good Samaritan law in Wisconsin that allows food donations without risk of liability.A constituent doing Christian charity work contacted me recently to voice concern about excess food. The food is available, but those involved in charity work are experiencing difficulty in getting the food from restaurants or food industry groups. The fear is that these entities might be worried about health and safety liabilities, especially in this litigious age.
My constituent was straightforward in submitting that pick-up loads of day-old bread are transported to pig farmers while the poor go hungry.
The fact is that donations can and should be made to churches, food pantries and any charitable organizations without fear of a lawsuit.
There is a Good Samaritan law that includes charitable donations of food to churches and food pantries, so food industry groups/restaurants can donate the surplus instead of giving it to pig farmers or the landfills without worrying that someone is going to sue them.
Wisconsin Statutes section 895.51(2) protects the donor of the food from civil liability. When any group involved in charity work solicits new donors of food, it may want to remind them that Wisconsin law immunizes them from civil liability.
Wisconsin Statutes 895.51(3) protects the charitable organization or food distribution service from civil liability.
The law does not protect from civil liability if death or injury results from “willful or wanton acts or omissions” or if the food does not meet minimum standards under state and federal law.
Here is the statute:
895.51 Civil liability exemption: food donation, sale or distribution.
(1) In this section:(b) “Charitable organization” means an organization the contributions to which are deductible by corporations in computing net income under s. 71.26 (2).
(c) “Food distribution service” means a program of a private nonprofit organization that provides food products directly to individuals with low incomes or that collects food products for and distributes food products to persons who provide the food products directly to individuals with low incomes.
(d) “Food products” has the meaning specified in s. 93.01 (6).
(e) “Qualified food” means food products that meet the standards
of quality established by state law or rule or federal law or regulations, including food products that are not readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplusage or other condition, except that “qualified food” does not include canned food products that are leaking, swollen, dented on a seam or not airtight.
(2) Any person engaged in the processing, distribution or sale of food products, for profit or not for profit, who donates or sells, at a price not to exceed overhead and transportation costs, qualified
food to a charitable organization or food distribution service is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the qualified food donated or sold by the person.
(3) Any charitable organization or food distribution service which distributes free of charge qualified food to any person is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual
caused by the qualified food distributed by the charitable organization or food distribution service.
(4) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by willful or wanton acts or omissions.
How can anyone object to asking for ID?
After the Legislative Audit Bureau released an audit last November that recommended, “the Elections Board and, after it is replaced, the Government Accountability Board request that municipal clerks obtain birth dates from voters during future elections and consider ways to more easily facilitate the collection of this information,” I said the following in a press release:“What better way to obtain the birth dates of all voters than a driver’s license or state-issued photo ID?”
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving Indiana’s strict photo ID law.
The court's swing vote, Justice Anthony Kennedy, in questioning the lawyer for the state Democratic Party and ACLU asked, "You want us to invalidate a statute on the ground that it's a minor inconvenience to a small percentage of voters?"
Now the Wall Street Journal in an opinion piece asks the following:
“How can anyone object to asking for ID?”
The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the photo Id law in Indiana, the strictest photo ID requirement in the nation.
John Fund writes in the Wall Street Journal that without photo ID, voter fraud is easy.
“Indiana officials make the obvious point that, without a photo ID requirement, in-person fraud is "nearly impossible to detect or investigate." A grand jury report prepared by then-Brooklyn District Attorney Elizabeth Holtzman in the 1980s revealed how difficult it is to catch perpetrators. It detailed a massive, 14-year conspiracy in which crews of individuals were recruited to go to polling places and vote in the names of fraudulently registered voters, dead voters, and voters who had moved. "The ease and boldness with which these fraudulent schemes were carried out shows the vulnerability of our entire electoral process to unscrupulous and fraudulent misrepresentation," the report concluded. No indictments were issued thanks to the statute of limitations, and because of grants of immunity in return for testimony.
Even modest in-person voter fraud creates trouble in close races. In Washington state's disputed 2004 governor's race, which was won by 129 votes, the election superintendent in Seattle testified in state court that ineligible felons had voted and votes had been cast in the name of the dead. In Milwaukee, Wis., investigators found that, in the state's close 2004 presidential election, more than 200 felons voted illegally and more than 100 people voted twice. In Florida, where the entire 2000 presidential election was decided by 547 votes, almost 65,000 dead people are still listed on the voter rolls--an engraved invitation to fraud. A New York Daily News investigation in 2006 found that between 400 and 1,000 voters registered in Florida and New York City had voted twice in at least one recent election.”
