Rep. Krug’s response to Governor Walker’s State of the State Address

Madison- This afternoon, State Representative Scott Krug (R-Wisconsin Rapids) issued the following statement regarding Governor Scott Walker’s annual State of the State address:

“Last evening Governor Walker reiterated our need to focus on doing all that we can to improve the business climate in our state. Though we have seen marked improvement in the number of our state’s citizens heading back into the workforce over the past year, we must always do whatever we can to combat this national recession. Job growth and business expansion for the residents of the 72nd Assembly district will continue to be my number one priority throughout the rest of this year’s session.”

In additional comments, Krug also said that “It is not the government’s role or responsibility to create jobs; it is the government’s job to get out of the way of Wisconsin’s job creators. Far too often, entrepreneurs and taxpayers are tied down by red tape and bureaucratic nonsense. I look forward to doing all that I can to support these efforts for responsible economically sustainable policies on behalf of the state government, starting with the passage of a job-creating mining bill today. This legislation will not only add jobs directly at the mining site in Northern Wisconsin, but will also be vital to the expansion of transportation networks in my district.”

In addition, Representative Krug praised the Governor’s proposal to increase teacher salaries based on merit and student achievement in the classroom. “In order to remain a leader in education, we must reward teachers who excel in the classroom. Rather than continue to applaud stagnancy by maintaining the status quo, let’s achieve excellence by supporting pay increases for those whose performance leads to enhanced achievement by our children. We owe the future of this state no less than our best effort to create the world’s finest educational system right here in Wisconsin.

I applaud Governor Walker for his speech last evening, and in reaffirming his commitment to economic solvency, job growth, educational excellence, and continued responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.”

Lassa: Governor’s Policies Take State in Wrong Direction

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement this evening in reaction to Governor Scott Walker’s State of the State Address:

“Unfortunately, it seems that Governor Walker is continuing to promote the same failed policies that have divided our state and caused six straight months of job losses. After promising to create a quarter million jobs, the Governor and the Republicans in the Legislature have focused instead on handing out $2.3 billion in tax giveaways to big corporations, weakening protections for consumers and the environment, and decimating funding for education and healthcare. We see the results of those policies all around us. While the rest of the county is experiencing positive economic growth, while our neighboring states are adding jobs, Wisconsin has lost over 35,000 jobs ever since Governor Walker’s policies went into effect. We’re clearly headed in the wrong direction.

“The Governor also promised to balance the budget without raising taxes. Instead, he left a $2.9 billion budget gap for the next Legislature to fix, and raised taxes on seniors and working families by $70 million.

“The state of the state is deeply divided. By pursuing an extreme agenda on behalf of special interests, Governor Walker has created an atmosphere of division that makes it hard for the state to move forward. In the meantime, Wisconsin has lost more jobs in the last six months than any other state in the nation. Governor Walker’s approach is simply not working for Wisconsin families.

“It was encouraging to hear the Governor talk about education tonight. But the programs he outlined will do little to repair the damage that he created by cutting $1.6 billion from our public schools, along with more than $320 million from our universities and technical colleges All the task force reports in the world won’t help schools that are losing educators, cutting programs and increasing class sizes in the wake of the deep budget cuts and revenue caps the governor has imposed.

“The quarter million unemployed workers in our state are tired of waiting for jobs. I and my Democratic colleagues have brought forward solid proposals based on proven ideas that help get people back to work. We’ve been at the table, ready to work with Governor Walker and Republican legislative leaders to help create the 250,000 good-paying, family-supporting jobs the Governor promised and our state needs. I urge the Governor to listen to the people of Wisconsin and be a leader who will bring us together and move our state forward.”

Winter’s Garden at the Riverfront Arts Center

Winter’s Garden is a juried exhibition of floral art featuring live orchids in bloom and available for sale. The exhibit is on display until February 19 at the Riverfront Arts Center at 1200 Crosby Ave.

Arts Center Hours: Tuesday – Friday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturday – Sunday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Admission is Free.

Lassa Bills Aid Disabled Vets and Promote WEDC Accountability

Madison — Two bills authored by State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) received public hearings by committees in the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs yesterday.

Senate Bill 369 would create a tax credit for businesses that hire disabled veterans. The credit would help defray any extra costs, such as adding accessibility features, that businesses may incur by hiring a disabled veteran.

“Veterans have been disproportionately affected by unemployment, and, unfortunately, those with disabilities face even greater challenges when trying to find full-time and long-term work,” Lassa said. “Right now we have around 15,000 working-age disabled veterans in Wisconsin with about 3,700 looking for jobs each year. Some estimates find unemployment among disabled veterans as high as 50 percent. This bill will help break down the barriers our disabled veterans face when they seek employment.”

Senate Bill 376 would make senior executives at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) subject to the same ethics provisions that state employees are held to. Because WEDC was created as a public-private corporation, its senior executives aren’t automatically subject to those ethics provisions.

Under the bill, WEDC executives would be prohibited from using their positions for private benefit, accepting anything of value in return for official actions, accepting meals or transportation expenses, using confidential information for private gain, or using their positions to benefit themselves or family members. They will also be required to file annual statements of economic interest.

“In creating WEDC, the Legislature gave the new public-private corporation unprecedented flexibility in how it uses millions in taxpayer dollars to create jobs and promote Wisconsin’s economy,” Lassa said “By passing SB 376, we will be fulfilling our duty as legislators to make sure that tax dollars are used responsibly and in the public interest.”

SB 376 was developed in consultation with WEDC Secretary and CEO Paul Jadin, and was approved unanimously by the WEDC Board of Directors at its December 13th meeting. Senator Lassa is one of four legislative members of the WEDC board; the other three legislators joined her in cosponsoring the bill.

Two Lassa Bills Pass State Senate

Madison — A bill that expands hiring preferences for disabled veterans and another that gives greater latitude for philanthropy by credit unions, both authored by State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), passed the State Senate today by wide bipartisan margins.

Senate Bill 339, which Senator Lassa introduced along with Senator Pam Galloway (R-Wausau), expands state agency hiring preferences for disabled veterans to all positions in the classified service of the state civil service system. Currently, agencies can only make non-competitive appointments for non-professional or entry-level positions. The disabled veteran who is considered for a non-competitive appointment must still be qualified to perform the job.

“Our disabled veterans come back from the service with all kinds of valuable skills, including advanced managerial and professional experience. If they qualify for professional positions or those above entry level, they should get the same hiring preference we currently give for lower-level positions,” Lassa said.

“Unemployment among newly-returned veterans is at 13.1 %, and even higher for vets under age 24,” Lassa said. “For disabled vets, unemployment is around 50 percent. We need to do better for those who volunteer to go into harm’s way to serve our country, and this bill is a step in that direction.”

Senate Bill 356, introduced by Senator Lassa along with Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) increases the limitation on the amount of charitable donations and grants a credit union may make to community groups

“Credit unions have a long tradition of service to both their members and their communities,” Lassa said. “Our state credit unions want the ability to do more to address community needs through contributions to charitable causes, and this bill will give them that ability.”

Both bills now go on to the State Assembly.

Aamod Soman, MD joins Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital

(Stevens Point,WI) – Ministry Health Care is pleased to welcome Aamod Soman M.D., to Ministry Medical Group (MMG) Hospitalist Services. He will be seeing patients at900 Illinois Avenue in Stevens Point.

Dr. Soman completed his medical education and Internal Medicine training from Grant Medical College & Sir JJ Hospital in Mumbai, India and his residency training at New York Medical College-Metropolitan Hospital Center.

“I have a ‘patients first’ philosophy,” shared Soman. “I always strive towards giving my patients competent and compassionate medical care. I treat the patient as whole human not just a medical condition.”

Dr. Soman enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling, visiting national parks and nature hikes.

For more information please call 715-346-5000.

Legislature Needs to Get Working on Jobs

(Madison) – State Senator Julie Lassa (D- Stevens Point) joined Minority Leader Mark Miller (D-Monona) and other Democratic Senators today in calling for the legislature to take quick action to promote job growth in Wisconsin.

“After promising to create a quarter million jobs, the governor and Republican legislators have focused instead on handing out billions in tax giveaways to big corporations, weakening protections for consumers and the environment, and decimating funding for education and health care,” Lassa said at a press conference today. “We see the results of their policies all around us. While the rest of the country is experiencing an economic upswing, and our neighboring states are adding jobs, Wisconsin has suffered its sixth straight month of job losses.”

Lassa said Democrats have proposed numerous jobs bills; most have not received public hearings, and the handful that did have not been allowed to come up for floor votes. As an example, she pointed to Senate Bill 40, which expands the Advanced Manufacturing Training Grants program.

“This bill addresses a problem manufacturers all over the state are calling their biggest hurdle to growth – finding workers with advanced manufacturing skills,” Lassa said. “The bill passed the Senate by a lopsided 32 to 1 vote. Clearly, legislators on both sides of the aisle recognize the urgency of this legislation. Yet since it passed on October 20, over three months ago, the Assembly Republican leadership has failed even to assign it to a committee.

“Senate Democrats understand that the quarter million unemployed workers in our state are tired of waiting for jobs,” she said. “There is no more time for the Republican-controlled legislature to waste. The final legislative floor sessions are slipping away. We call on the Republican leadership to join us, and let’s get working to put Wisconsin back to work.”

Bancroft State Bank has trailers, boats and more for sale

Bancroft State Bank has trailers for sale including one park model and various sized toy haulers. There are also boats and motorcycles. Priced to sell. Visit www.bancroftstatebank.com for pictures and information or call Jill at 715-572-6230.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

By Peter Brey, Partner, Buena Vista Investment Management

The market has started the year on a positive note. The S&P 500 is up almost 5%. Volatility has been very low as there has not been one day where the Dow 30 has risen by more than 100 points. In this environment it is easy to get bullish.

From 1982 through 1999 the best stock strategy was to buy stocks and hold on to them. The S&P 500 rose an average of 18% plus each year for 17 years. Maximum returns were amassed by buying good quality stocks or mutual funds and just maintaining these positions.

The returns from 2000 through 2011 have been very modest at best if you continued to just hold your positions. However, if you adopted a more active management style you would have garnered better returns.

So where are we going now? The economy will remain in a slow growth mode. The effect of cutting spending at the federal level has not yet taken place. These reductions will not stimulate the economy. Likewise, the current crises in Europe, is resulting in belt tightening in almost every country. These budget cuts will mean less purchases and less money circulating into the European economy. Asia will also be affected by Europe. All of this austerity will ultimately be bullish for the world economy as financial discipline will prevail.

Thus, there will be a return of volatility. Now is the time to review your portfolio and determine if it is the time to eliminate positions. If your investments do not have dividends, do you project that their growth is dynamic enough to overcome that fact? If you hold financials, is this a good time to reduce your holdings? Dodd-Frank, Volcker Rule and low spreads are still hurting their growth. It might be time to put some money on the sidelines to take advantage of the next downturn!

Starting Friday January 27th on WFHR at 10:30am we will be starting our new radio show “Investment Insights from Buena Vista.” Also please go to our website to find out more information www.buenavistainv.com, or like us on Facebook to stay up on our latest thoughts.

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Buena Vista Investment Management
241 Third Street South l Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Phone: 715 422-0700

Intensive Architectural/Historical Survey Report

The Intensive Architectural/Historical Survey Report documents an intensive architectural/historical survey of all buildings located within the City of Stevens Point as of January 1, 2011. The boundaries of the survey area were set by the City and the staff of the State of Wisconsin’s Division of Historic Preservation (DHP) prior to the beginning of the study.

A reconnaissance survey of the City was undertaken as the first part of the intensive architectural/historical survey, and then an intensive research effort designed to ascertain the historic and architectural significance of the buildings identified by the survey was undertaken. The results of the research are summarized in the intensive survey report.

The intensive survey ultimately surveyed 787 individual buildings. Of these, five historic districts containing a total of 157 individual buildings, and 29 individual buildings and building complexes were identified as having potential for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.