WI Assembly Passes “Promiscuity for Youth” Bill

Last evening the Wisconsin Assembly passed AB-458.  The vote was rather partisan with every Democrat but one (Rep. Ziegelbauer) voting in favor of  the legislation to forbid schools which have Human Growth and Development to have an abstinence only education.  Every Republican voted against AB-458.  The legislation also opens the door for Planned Parenthood to teach the curriculum.  The measure now moves to the Wisconsin State Senate which will likely take up the issue in 2010 when their floor period resumes.

 

Milwaukee County Supervisors vote to approve next step toward Domestic Partner Benefits for County Employees

This morning on a 13-6 vote to Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted to require the Director of Administrative Services along with related departments to draft revisions to the county employee health plan to extend health benefit coverage to domestic partners of eligible Milwaukee County employees.  They are to present the revisions along with an estimated cost to the Personnel Committee and the Finance & Audit Committee no later than July 1, 2010.  Another vote will be necessary by the County Board to formally accept these new benefits once they receive the plan revisions and cost estimates. 

Voting in favor were Supervisors Broderick, Clark, Coggs, DeBruin, Dimitrijevic, Holloway, Johnson, Jursik, Larson, Lipscomb, Thomas, Weishan and West. 

Those voting against were Supervisors Borkowski, Cesarz, Mayo, Rice, Sanfelippo and Schmitt.

Milwaukee County Board Schedules Public Hearing on Budget

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors will be holding a Public Hearing on the 2010 County Budget.  This budget (see below) was amended in committee recently to include Domestic Partner Benefits for County Employees, impose a new $20 wheel tax on vehicles in Milwaukee County.  The Public Hearing will be held Monday, November 2^nd at 7pm at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 West Vliet St. in Milwaukee.

 

Full Assembly to Vote On “Promiscuity for Youth” Bill

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 458 which produces mass changes to the Human Growth and Development Curriculum promoting promiscuity is scheduled to be voted on in the Wisconsin State Assembly Tuesday, November 3^rd.  (See below for further discussion/explanation on this Bill). 

Further, the Senate Education Committee held their public hearing on their version of the Bill (SB 324) and no doubt will be acting on it soon in committee.  To have your views heard Wisconsin residents may call the legislative hotline at 1-800-362-9472. 

 

Milwaukee County Supervisors Consider Domestic Partner Benefits

Despite the facing of a potential $80 million dollar shortfall, the Personnel Committee of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted 4-2 to recommend the adoption of domestic partner benefits for County employees at a cost of multiple millions of dollars.  At the same time, to help raise revenue for other county needs the Budget Committee by a 4-3 vote passed a $20 wheel tax for every vehicle registered in the county.  This comes on top of the wheel tax City of Milwaukee residents are already paying.  Further, this comes at a time when the county may lay off up to 200 employees.  The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors next meet on Thursday, November 5^th at 9:30am and the final budget is scheduled to be voted on Monday, November 9^th at 8:30am.  County Executive Scott Walker has pledged to veto domestic partner benefits should they pass.  To contact your Milwaukee County Supervisor with your views on forcing taxpayers to fund new domestic partner benefits for county employees you may call (414) 278-4222. 

Supreme Court to Consider Constitutionality of Wisconsin’s Marriage Amendment

In November, 2006 the voters of Wisconsin passed Wisconsin’s Marriage Amendment which states, “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.  A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.”  Shortly after voters passed this amendment by a nearly 60% vote, William McConkey a political science and communications professor at UW-Oshkosh filed suit against the amendment.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court summarizes his case in this way:

Was Article XIII, Section 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution, commonly known as the marriage amendment, enacted in violation of the single subject rule set forth in Article XII, Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution?

Can a voter who would have voted the same way on each of two propositions included in a single ballot referendum claim to have personally suffered a direct injury by an alleged violation of the single subject rule?

On Tuesday, November 3^rd, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments in this case.  We at VCY America ask that you be praying for the Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court as they hear the oral arguments Tuesday and then deliberate their individual decisions. 

 

Assembly Education Committee Advances Promiscuity for Youth Bill

Today the Assembly Education Committee passed on a party line vote (8-5) Assembly Bill 458, legislation which will promote promiscuity among youth (see below). 

Voting for AB-458 were Representatives Pope-Roberts, Dexter, Hilgenberg, Sinicki, Hixson, Smith, Madcliffe, and Krusick.  

Voting against the legislation were Representaives Davis, Nass, Townsend, Vukmir and Nygren.

This moves the legislation on to the full Assembly.  The next Floor Session of the Assembly is Thursday, October 29^th.  You may contact your State Representative at 1-800-362-9472.

The Senate Public Hearing on SB 324 will be held Thursday morning, October 29^th at 9:30am in Room 201 Southeast in the State Capitol (see below for more details).