LARSON BI-WEEKLY REPORT - December 20, 2012

Dear Friend,

This week we remember those we lost to gun violence in Connecticut. We also take a look at the challenges facing our state as we approach the New Year and a new legislative session.

Sincerely,
Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
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Office Phone: (608) 266-7505

Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487

Email: Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov

Web Site:
SenatorChrisLarson.com
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Mourning Those We Lost
Our country is currently in a state of mourning for the 20 children and 7 adults that were killed in Newtown, Connecticut late last week by a lone gunman. As a father, I cannot help but see my son's eyes when I look into the faces of those we lost so young.

The sheer magnitude of what was lost that day was summed up well by President Obama when he said:

"Our hearts are broken today. The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them: birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams."

As stories have been coming out, it has become evident that many of the teachers and staff that gave up their lives on that tragic day did so out of love to protect their students. I am humbled by these brave and selfless individuals who sacrificed everything and acted heroically to try and save the innocent children they often referred to as "their kids."

As a community that experienced the devastation of violence first-hand earlier this year, at both the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek and Azana Salon & Spa in Brookfield, we know it takes time to grieve and start to move forward. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and neighbors of those wounded, killed, or present in the shooting during this difficult time. In the days to come, we must step beyond partisan roadblocks to seek real solutions to prevent such tragic and senseless acts of violence.

Challenges to Tackle in New Year
Last session was a historic one in Wisconsin. As we approach the New Year, it is time to examine the challenges facing our state as we get closer to the start of the new legislative session.

ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY
Another challenge Wisconsin has had to grasp is how to stretch what little money we have during these tough economic times. One of the best ways to ensure our tax dollars are being used wisely and as intended by the people of Wisconsin is to increase accountability and transparency measures so we can all track where the money is going to determine if the investments we are making are sound. In general, Wisconsinites agree that accountability and transparency are crucial to a well-functioning government that places the people first. This is illustrated by our laws requiring open meetings and records, thoughtful checks and balances in government structures, and significant disclosure for campaign contributions.

We recently saw what can happen when accountability and transparency are sacrificed by state agencies. Major concerns with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) were brought to light in a public hearing on October 17 in the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

WEDC was hastily created in 2011 by Governor Walker, who is now the chairman of the WEDC Board, to replace the state's Department of Commerce. Unfortunately, WEDC was handed $85 million in taxpayer dollars but never given a rule book. This mistake has cost taxpayers dearly and caused the agency to perform irresponsibly. For two years, calls for common sense accountability and transparency measures were ignored by those in charge. Void of checks and balances to properly safeguard our limited resources, WEDC has been allowed to operate in the shadows.

This public-private agency has had persistent problems since its inception. These include circumventing Wisconsin’s fair and competitive bidding process and ignoring federal and state laws when giving out grants. The final straw, which led to an independent audit being conducted, was losing track of $50 million in loans, including about $12 million already overdue. According to the audit, WEDC also failed to double-check credit card purchases and accounting journals of staff. Such a basic business practice is necessary to prevent internal fraud, including embezzlement. Additionally, the agency did not track the tens of millions in taxpayer dollars it gave to businesses. This shoddy accounting contributed to WEDC failing to follow-up on delinquent loans.

WEDC’s culture of secrecy has left taxpayers in the dark on their investment in this agency. We cannot afford to continue footing the bill to cover the mistakes made by WEDC. With Wisconsin still struggling economically, failing to create promised jobs, and lagging behind the rest of the country, it is unacceptable to allow WEDC to continue to play fast and loose with our tax dollars.

Regardless of which party is in control, it is always better to error on the side of more accountability and transparency, not less. I look forward to working with my Democratic colleagues, Republican legislators, and the governor to make our state agencies, like WEDC, more transparent on behalf of Wisconsin’s taxpayers.

HEALTH CARE
Health care is a major economic issue as it affects all Wisconsinites and businesses statewide. A healthy workforce means less sick days, catching health issues before they become chronic conditions, and increased productivity. Our state still has many challenges to overcome regarding health care in Wisconsin, including recent attacks on women's health priorities and opting to punt implementation of health care exchanges to the federal government. As we approach the upcoming legislative session, economic issues, including health care, must be a top priority.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal health care reform law on June 28, 2012, making meaningful health care reform implementation in Wisconsin imperative. Unfortunately, in November, Governor Walker submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stating that Wisconsin will not adopt a state-based exchange but rather let the federal government create one. Despite initially rejecting this opportunity, Wisconsin may still have a chance to adopt its own exchange in the future. Given that Wisconsin is unique with its own health care needs, moving forward with implementing a state-based exchange, instead of one controlled by the federal government, seems to be the best option for our state.

Wisconsin will also face challenges regarding women's health, such as combating problems that have arisen in other states that, like Wisconsin, passed regressive women's health measures during the last legislative session. Providing women in Wisconsin an opportunity to seek preventive care services, regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic status has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support in our state. However, last session, Republicans attacked Wisconsin’s health services for women by eliminating all state funding for health centers that provide all-options family planning services. These funding cuts affected at least 50 health centers throughout the state, some of which act as the sole provider of family planning and preventive care services for low-income women. This means more mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters will lose access to life-saving cervical and breast cancer screening and other reproductive health services unless these centers are able to independently maintain adequate funding.

Other states, including Texas, passed similar regressive laws regarding women's health recently and have come to realize that such pursuits may end up costing taxpayers dearly. Texas estimates that their decision to cut $73 million from family planning and women's health centers could cost taxpayers an additional $273 million during the 2014-2015 biennium due to an anticipated additional 23,760 babies being born in poverty because of decreased access to birth control. This consequence of eliminating funding for women's health and family planning centers has already caused Texas legislators on both sides of the aisle to rethink their hastily crafted law.

To move forward together, we need to stand on the side of best practices that promote healthy communities, save taxpayer money, and give all Wisconsinites an opportunity to receive basic health care services. In fact, for every public $1 spent on preventive family planning services taxpayers save, on average, $4. Like Texas, Wisconsin should also stop to think of the unintended consequences of eliminating state funding to family planning and women's health centers.