As of Thursday morning, there has been a total of 32 legislators that have signed on as co-sponsors of the stand-alone smoke-free bill! This is great news!!! Winnebago County legislators that have signed on include Rep. Dick Spanbauer, Rep. Gordon Hintz and Sen. Mike Ellis. These legislators deserve a THANK YOU from their constituents for their support of this issue. Their email addresses are:
Rep.Spanbauer@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Hintz@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Ellis@legis.wisconsin.gov
The next steps for the stand-along bill include submitting the bill to theCommittee on Health in the Assembly and/or the Senate. I'll keep the blog updated as more information is available.
The stand-alone smoke-free bill, which is nearly identical to the smoke-free proposal in the governor's proposed budget, offer us another chance to guarantee Wisconsin passes a smoke-free law this legislative session. With a smoke-free bill as part of the budget and as stand-alone legislation, this issue won't be ignored!
If you haven't visited http://www.smokefreewi.org/ recently, check it out to see what else you could do to make sure WI is the NEXT smoke-free state! Also, letters to the editor expressing your opinion on statewide smoke-free are ALWAYS appreciated!!!
Let me know if you have questions. 920-232-3021. edieringer@co.winnebago.wi.us
the Lakeshore Tobacco Prevention Network
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Update on Statewide Smoke-Free Air and Program Funding
Statewide Smoke-Free Air will be introduced as stand-alone legislation. Lead sponsors are Rep. Richards, Rep. Ott, Sen. Risser and Sen. Ellis. There is a memo circulating among legislators asking them to co-sponsor legislation to make Wisconsin smoke-free. The deadline for co-sponsorship is end of business Wednesday.
The Lead Sponsors have a committement to move this legislation along very quickly. They are hoping to introduce it into both houses before the State Budget is finalized. This means they are shooting for each house to take it up sometime in May.
ALSO, the Smoke-Free Air Bill is STILL in the Budget. As it stands right now, the language is very similar to the stand-along bill. Lawmakers are hoping that the Budget will be ready to be voted upon before the end of June.
If you want to know who your lawmaker is, visit: www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx
I will try to update everyone on smoke-free air as often as I can. This will be moving very quickly in the next few weeks.
For the most up-to-date information or to learn more about what you can do, visit http://www.smokefreewi.org/ or http://www.holdingourbreathwi.com/.
On a side note, I had posted last week that the Tobacco Program Funding was restored into the Budget. Here are a few more details:
*Tobacco Prevention and Control will have $30.5 million allocated to it over the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
*The restored $1.8 million will be placed into the 2009 year. Therefore, 2010 will be operating on a $900,000 cut when compared to 2008 funding levels.
*The word is not final on if the restored funding will STAY in the Budget. Now that the Joint Finance Committee has voted on it, this piece of the Budget will go to the Senate and then to the Assembly.
Visit the Legislature's home page http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ to search for details on the Budget process.
And as always, contact me with questions.
The Lead Sponsors have a committement to move this legislation along very quickly. They are hoping to introduce it into both houses before the State Budget is finalized. This means they are shooting for each house to take it up sometime in May.
ALSO, the Smoke-Free Air Bill is STILL in the Budget. As it stands right now, the language is very similar to the stand-along bill. Lawmakers are hoping that the Budget will be ready to be voted upon before the end of June.
If you want to know who your lawmaker is, visit: www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx
I will try to update everyone on smoke-free air as often as I can. This will be moving very quickly in the next few weeks.
For the most up-to-date information or to learn more about what you can do, visit http://www.smokefreewi.org/ or http://www.holdingourbreathwi.com/.
On a side note, I had posted last week that the Tobacco Program Funding was restored into the Budget. Here are a few more details:
*Tobacco Prevention and Control will have $30.5 million allocated to it over the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
*The restored $1.8 million will be placed into the 2009 year. Therefore, 2010 will be operating on a $900,000 cut when compared to 2008 funding levels.
*The word is not final on if the restored funding will STAY in the Budget. Now that the Joint Finance Committee has voted on it, this piece of the Budget will go to the Senate and then to the Assembly.
Visit the Legislature's home page http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ to search for details on the Budget process.
And as always, contact me with questions.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Funding Restored!
Posted on Smoke-Free Wisconsin's Blog late Thursday evening by Liz Sanger.
This just in from the Joint Finance Committee session last night: Tobacco Prevention and Control Program funding has been restoredto its current level of $15.25 million per year. (Vote: 12-4)
This is good news for state taxpayers, our next generation of youth in Wisconsin, and tobacco users who need help quitting their addictions.The program works. It saves taxpayer dollars. The investment is critical.
Our work isn't done, so keep your sleeves rolled up!
THANK YOU to all of you for your hard work so far.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Parents Who Host Lose the Most:Don't Be a Party to Underage Drinking
Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign is being conducted in partnership with Drug-Free Communities Coalition ,Oshkosh Police Department, Winneconne Police, Omro Police, Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, University of WI-Oshkosh and US Bank.
We have blanketed the community with awareness materials that educate residents on both the dangers and consequences of furnishing minors with alcohol. The community response has been impressive. College youth from the "Helping Hands" UWO volunteer group assisted Lisa Brown, Dorry Wilner and Diana Zeller April 18th where we distributed lawn signs, window clings, fact sheets, stickers and more at area businesses and residential communities.
The pilot state of Ohio boasted huge gains by implementing this program. After 6 years of campaigning every spring they realized results:42% drop in the number of youth who knew parents who hosted teen parties
36% drop in the number of youth who had attended teen parties where alcohol was served in the past 2 months
29% decrease in the number of parents surveyed who knew of other parents who served alcohol to youth.
We hope to follow their lead. We have a great start with Mayoral Proclamations stating that April is alcohol awareness month. Thanks to Bob Breu of Omro and now former mayor of Oshkosh,Frank Tower. If you are interested in viewing some role plays of community leaders engaged in conversations with youth regarding NOT serving alcohol at their grad party, please view http://youtube.com/Parentswhohost
This campaign is strategically designed for this time of year, to precede prom and graduation parties and support parents with positive strategies to celebrate their youth's achievements and milestones. (Neighboring towns in Neenah& Menasha will be served in summer when they anticipate a well attended parent athletic code meeting.)
CALL TO ACTON EVENT! For all parents of teens, teachers, coaches, youth workers, family members and concerned neighbors. Let's pull together and put a dent in the teen culture of underage drinking! See you there:
Oshkosh West High School
Monday April 27 6-7 PM
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