Honoring America’s Heroes

from Senator Herb Kohl

After the Civil War, communities across America first started observing a day of remembrance to honor their fallen heroes.  The first national proclamation for a “Decoration Day” was made in 1868 by General John Logan, but initially was only observed in Northern states.  Over time, the wounds of the Civil War healed, and today, Memorial Day has come to honor all Americans who’ve died in service to our country.

No one knows the price of freedom better than America’s service members. When our troops are serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere around the globe, the last thing they need to be worried about are problems at home with foreclosure, child custody, or other legal matters.

That’s why Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and I are introducing the Justice for Troops Act, which connects service members with attorneys who volunteer to represent them free of charge. Many attorneys want to volunteer their time to help the troops, but we need a way to connect supply to demand.

Our bill allows the Defense Department to support programs that link volunteer attorneys to service members. There are several existing efforts that our bill could expand, including a military law clinic in our own state at Marquette Law School.

Alongside our troops, military spouses and children also make great sacrifices.  Last month, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched the Joining Forces Initiative, which assists military families with common challenges like finding new jobs when a spouse is transferred and enrolling children at new schools.

This initiative assists with finding health services, transferring academic records, and working with companies to ensure that military spouses can transfer their jobs to new communities.  You can find out more about these and other efforts at www.joiningforces.gov.

This Memorial Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the brave Americans who paid for our freedom with their lives, as well as the equally brave Americans who continue to defend us at home and abroad every day.

Managing your retirement

Contributed by DJ Johnson

Retirement/401K:  Think about waking up to go to your job. Actually visualize this. Alarm goes off, you stretch and probably feel a little sore, slap the snooze button a dozen times, ponder calling in sick, and wonder why you just can’t win the lottery. Not easy to get going is it? Now, imagine doing the exact same thing…except you are 75 years old! Think it will be any easier then? This is the result of not planning for your retirement. If you don’t have a retirement plan how can you plan to retire? I have never heard someone say, “I wish I would have saved less for retirement” or “I saved TOO MUCH for retirement. What am I going to do with all this money?”

Most companies offer a 401K, IRA, (don’t let names trip you up they are just names) or some type of retirement funds and a lot of people say “no thank you” or “not today”. I wonder if those people really know what they are giving up. First step in successful retirement savings is maximize whatever your company offers. If they match 100% up to a certain amount or 50% up to a certain amount or both, whatever…maximize it. You put $20 into your retirement fund and they do too? Or they even give you $10? Thanks for the free money! I know, you can’t use it now but you will use it someday. And this money goes into an account where it will get invested in stocks (or whatever you choose) and grow or shrink, but even if you lose half your money in these stocks…you break even because half that money came from your employer!

So when you do retire at 65, you can look at the money in your bank account and realize only half that amount is your hard earned savings, the other half you got from just saying yes to wanting to retire at a reasonable age.

Lassa Statement on DOT Contracting

Report finds contracting practices cost taxpayers millions

Madison —   WISC-TV reported yesterday that its analysis of 300 Department of Transportation contracts showed that the use of private engineering consultants to do work on projects rather than state employees cost taxpayers an extra $13.8 million in the first four months of this year alone.  In response to the report, State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) issued the following statement:

“The finding that DOT contracting practices are driving up the cost to taxpayers is sadly not surprising.  Nor is the problem limited to the DOT.  Unfortunately, it looks like Governor Walker’s policies will mean even more outsourcing to private firms in the future.  If the state is broke, we can’t keep spending money in ways that cost taxpayers more and deliver less.”

“Consulting contracts can be a cost-effective way to perform the work of state government.  However, the use of consultants also raises the challenge of ensuring that consulting firms and their employees are providing high quality products and services in a cost-effective manner for taxpayers.”

“The WISC report quotes Joint Finance Co-chairman Rep. Vos as saying he is open to ideas for addressing this issue.   I offered a comprehensive solution last session in the Truth in State Contracting Act. The bill would have required agencies to collect and report data about how contractors are used, and reformed the way cost benefit analyses are prepared to accurately reflect the true costs of contracting work out instead of performing the work in-house. Finally, the bill also would have required the state to exercise better quality control over work done by contractors, and recoup funds when contractors fail to perform up to standards.  The bill was voted out of committee unanimously and passed by a wide in Joint Finance, but time ran out before it could come to the Senate floor.”

“The situation at DOT and other state agencies didn’t happen overnight and will take time to repair. But we need to take the problem seriously and start to get a handle on state contracting procedures.  If Rep. Vos is looking for ideas for saving taxpayers millions on contracting, he could adopt the provisions of the Truth in State Contracting Act in the state budget.  Otherwise, I will reintroduce the bill as separate legislation shortly.”

Lassa Introduces Senate Dems Job Package

Says it’s time for the state to get real about job creation

Madison —  Saying that it’s time for the state to “get real” about creating good paying, family supporting jobs, Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) circulated for co-sponsorship today three economic development bills that make up the Senate Democrats’ jobs initiative.

“Of all the bills passed by the Legislature during the Special Session on jobs so far, few if any will actually have a real impact on fostering job growth,” Lassa said. “It’s time to get real about job creation.  It’s time to focus on strengthening programs that are already working successfully to create jobs and help put the people of Wisconsin back to work.”

        The package consists of three initiatives:

The Rural Jobs Initiative boosts support for programs that build the state’s rural and agricultural economy by expanding support for the Dairy Manufacturing Credit, the Food Processing Plant and Food Warehouse Credit, and the Meat Processing Facility Investment Credit.   The bill also creates a credit for investment in Community Development Funds that provide microloans to businesses in distressed rural and urban communities.

1. The Entrepreneurship Initiative will continue Wisconsin’s leadership in the development of new technologies and new companies.
   – It enhances the Accelerate Wisconsin tax credit program by creating a refundable credit, bringing investment capital into the state.
   – It expands the Wisconsin Small Company Assistance program, which is creating partnerships between small businesses and researchers at UW System comprehensive campuses to create the next generation of high-tech businesses.
2. It provides vital support to the Wisconsin Institutes of Discovery, and the Schools of Freshwater Sciences and Public Health at UW Milwaukee
3. It creates the Wisconsin Growth Fund to help Wisconsin companies get the venture capital they need.

• The third element is the Manufacturing and Workforce Development initiative.
• It boosts support for the Wisconsin Technical College Advanced Manufacturing Grants program that is providing custom job skills training, allowing dozens of Wisconsin manufacturers to expand their operations and retain and create good-paying jobs.

1. It expands the CAP Services Skills Enhancement program that helps low income workers get the training and support they need to become more employable and increase their incomes dramatically.
2. It creates a Rapid Response Job Retention Team that works proactively to identify and assist companies before they’re on the verge of mass layoffs and plant closings.

“With this comprehensive economic development plan, Senate Democrats continue our leadership in fostering economic growth and helping Wisconsin citizens find good-paying, family supporting jobs.  These are proposals that have been requested by the business community and have broad bipartisan support.  It’s time to get real about job creation, and these jobs bills will do just that,” Lassa said.

Sen. Lassa is chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Veterans Affairs.

One Call ~ One Miracle!

The 23rd annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals television broadcast will take place on June 4 & 5 in the Mother Frances Streitel Conference Center at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital. This event is an opportunity to celebrate the life of children and recognize those who have so generously contributed throughout the year. The mission of Children’s Miracle Network is to improve the healthcare of children in north central Wisconsin and it takes a team of caring people to accomplish that mission ~ individuals, businesses, organizations, medical staff and volunteers.

For 19 hours the broadcast will celebrate the lives that have been touched through the gifts given to Children’s Miracle Network. Beginning at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, the miracle children and their families will share their stories of courage and determination, as well as their gratefulness for the support of Children’s Miracle Network.

The televised event will conclude at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 5 with a turn of the numbers to reveal a grand total of funds raised. Hosts for the televised event will include WAOW TV-9’s Melissa Langbehn, Pam Warnke and Bryon Graff.

Staff from Y106.5 will be joining the team on Sunday, sharing special reports about Children’s Miracle Network funded projects and programs, accepting donations, sharing miracle stories and reporting live from the activities taking place in the courtyard at the Hospital’s Conference Center.  Those activities will take place on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and will include a petting zoo, inflatable rides and carnival games.

Please join the broadcast or call your pledge at 1.800.428.5000 ~ it just takes one call to make one miracle!

Senators Johnson, Sessions, Encourage Donations for Alabama Relief Effort

Senator Ron Johnson today thanked the Wisconsin and Alabama chapters of the National Federation of Republican Women for their efforts in support of Alabama storm victims. He also encouraged Wisconsin residents to donate to the relief effort, which is expected to deliver a truckload of humanitarian assistance items to the storm-ravaged state:

“The State of Alabama was recently hit by literally hundreds of tornadoes, which together form the costliest disaster in the history of the state. Hundreds have been killed, and thousands will need new homes. I encourage all Wisconsin residents to donate what they can to help these victims survive and rebuild.”

Senator Jeff Sessions (AL) thanked the many Americans who are assisting in the relief effort:

“I am grateful to the National Federation of Republican Women, the Wisconsin GOP, and Senator Johnson for their support and leadership in collecting donations to bring to Alabamians who have been affected by these terrible storms. The outpouring of assistance has been remarkable. Thank you for your generosity during this critical time.”

According to organizers of the relief efforts, the most needed items include bottled water, household items, pillows and blankets, diapers, backpacks, totes, and plastic storage bins.

Drop-off Details:

Date: Sunday, May 22, 2011
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location:
Leon’s Frozen Custard
121 West Murdock Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54901

Gas Prices Not Expected to Keep Americans Home Memorial Day Weekend

MADISON, WI – AAA projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2 percent – or 100,000 travelers – from the 34.8 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 26 to Monday, May 30.

In Wisconsin, more than 695,000 people are expected to travel for the Memorial Day holiday, virtually the same number of travelers the state saw last year, according to the AAA forecast. Of those, 630,000 people plan to travel by auto while 43,000 will travel by air. Travelers in Wisconsin will find gas prices averaging $3.94 per gallon, $1.12 more than a year ago.

“Last year, Memorial Day travel increased by more than 14 percent, and maintaining that growth for the first major travel holiday this year despite much higher gas prices is a positive sign,”  said AAA Wisconsin Regional President Tom Frymark.  “To compensate for higher gas prices, though, some travelers will adjust their plans to save money in other areas.”

Impact of gasoline prices on travel plans

A survey of intended travelers found that six out of 10 said rising gasoline prices would not impact their travel plans. Of the remaining 40 percent of travelers who said rising gas prices would impact their travel plans, 70 percent will economize in other areas and the rest will take a shorter trip or travel by an alternate mode of transportation.

Travelers concerned about how fuel prices will impact their travel budget can use AAA’s free, GPS-based TripTik^® Mobile application to compare prices for all grades of gasoline at nearby stations. TripTik Mobile is available for iPhone and Android devices. Travelers may also use TripTik Mobile to get maps and directions, AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotel and restaurant information complete with AAA inspector notes, plus details about attractions, events and Approved Auto Repair facilities.

Overwhelming majority of Americans to travel by automobile

Automobile travel continues to be the dominant mode of transportation, with nearly 31 million people nationally planning to drive to their destination. Almost nine out of 10 holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Number of air travelers expected to increase

Nationally, nearly 3 million travelers (eight percent of holiday travelers) will fly during the holiday weekend, an 11.5 percent increase from last year. The remaining three percent of holiday travelers are expected to travel by other modes, including rail, bus and watercraft.

Airfares, hotel rates and car rental rates all rise

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, Memorial Day holiday airfares are expected to be 14 percent higher than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $201 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase five percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $148 per night compared to $142 last year. Weekend daily car rental rates will average $38, just $1 higher than last year.

Average travel distance up 27 percent; median spending down 14 percent

According to a survey of traveler intentions, the average distance traveled by Americans during the Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to be 792 miles, which is 27 percent greater than last year’s average travel distance of 626 miles. Air travel is expected to gain a larger share of overall travel, and is likely the cause of a substantial increase in the average travel distance compared to a year ago. Median spending is expected to be $692, a decrease of 14 percent from $809 last year.

Project Fresh Start

Nearly 3,000 children attending Portage County public schools in grades K-12 qualify to receive free or reduced priced meals through their schools. Project Fresh Start is a program designed to help these same children start off the school year with all the supplies they need to be ready to learn. In providing the supplies, we hope to alleviate anxiety about the cost of a new school year and contribute to our children’s academic success.

United Way Volunteer Center of Portage County teams up with hundreds of volunteers and businesses each August to collect and distribute needed supplies to children. In recent years, we have expanded the program to serve all grades from Kindergarten on up to seniors in high school as well as adding a satellite event in Almond-Bancroft to be more inclusive of this rural area of our county. With these additions, there has been a substantial increase in the number of registered participants and need for donated items.

In this time, community support is even more critical! Specifically, program organizers need help with the following:

• Ensuring those who qualify for this service sign up.
  REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Registration forms and informational materials for families can be found online at http://www.VolunteersRock.org and at the United Way Volunteer Center.
• Helping collect school supplies.
  Preparing kids for success will require an enormous amount of supplies. If the ten pencils given to all students at last year’s Project Fresh Start event were laid end-to-end, they would stretch for over 3 miles! Event organizers are expecting up to 300 more students this year than last year. Through the months of July and August area businesses, organizations and churches will host collection sites. Consider holding a school supply drive or being a drop location at your organization and encouraging others to contribute supplies. Sign your organization up at http://www.VolunteersRock.org.
• Volunteering with Project Fresh Start.
  Volunteers are needed throughout the summer to help collect, sort and distribute supplies.  Beginning in mid-June, individuals and groups can sign up to volunteer by visiting http://www.VolunteersRock.org. Click on “Project Fresh Start 2011” under the “Events” section.

Project Fresh Start makes the first day of school fun for everyone involved by giving students the tools to excel in the classroom. Whether you contribute your time, dollars or supplies, Project Fresh Start is an opportunity to make an immediate impact while helping a child prepare for a brighter future.

If you have questions about Project Fresh Start, call 715-341-6740 or simply dial 2-1-1 (some cellular customers may need to dial 1-800-922-5590).

Sheriff’s office requests homicide charges for homicide suspect

Portage County — The Portage County Sheriff’s Office has requested charges of first degree intentional homicide for the stabbing of Karen Dombrowski by Tyler Dahms. Additionally, detectives have requested one count of attempted first degree intentional homicide for the stabbing of Michael and Kenneth Dombrowski. The possibility of additional charges exist as the investigation continues.

Dahms is scheduled to make an appearance in Portage County Circuit Court the afternoon of May 17th. The ultimate decision on formal charges rests with the Portage County District Attorney’s office. These charges are Class A felonies under Wisconsin law and carry with it life in prison.

The suspect was taken into custody on May 15th after three people had been stabbed, one mortally. The incident occurred after Dahms was kicked off the property when a large party was broken up by the Dombrowskis. Dahms returned to the residence a short time later to retrieve his truck, when a second confrontation occurred. The three stabbings were a result of this second altercation.

One dead, two wounded in stabbing

Portage County — On May 15th, deputies from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a stabbing at 8964 Rolling Hills Road in the Town of New Hope. Upon their arrival, they discovered that three people had been stabbed.

41-year old Michael Dombrowski, along with his wife, 37-year old Karen Dombrowski, both from the town of Amherst; as well as his 46-year old brother, Kenneth Dombrowski from the town of New Hope had been stabbed.

Karen died from her wounds. Michael was taken by helicopter to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield with serious injuries and Kenneth was flown to Aspirus Hospital in Wausau with critical injuries.

Deputies were able to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect, 19-year old Tyler Dahms from the town of Pine Grove. Dahms is currently being held in the Portage County Jail on related charges. The Portage County Sheriff’s Office and the County Coroner are investigating.