This Labor Day weekend promises to be a fruitful one for the tourism industry. AAA Wisconsin reports that in Wisconsin, more than 734,000 people are expected to travel. That’s a 10.8 percent increase over 2009. 19,000 of those travelers will be going by air, while an estimated 688,000 are expected to drive to their destinations.

If you haven’t planned a major car trip yet, there’s no need to feel left out. You don’t need four wheels for a Labor Day getaway, especially in Wisconsin. Here, it only takes two wheels. We’re considered one of the most bicycle-friendly states in the nation, with good reason: Wisconsin led the way on building modern bike trails by being one of the first states to convert railways to multiuse paths. According to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, we now lead the nation with more than 1,000 miles of trails, including the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the Hank Aaron Trail, which cuts right through the 5^th Senate District.

Wisconsin also boasts more than 10,000 miles of bicycle-friendly roadways, and nearly 60 state and county parks and forests offer off-road mountain biking opportunities. And when you travel in Wisconsin, your tourism dollar directly benefits the small businesses that make up the majority of our tourism sector—which benefits our entire economy.

Lisa Marshall from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism told me that “whatever your riding interest, Wisconsin is a true world-class biking destination.” I couldn’t agree more, Lisa.

Below is a list of upcoming events and rides the Department of Tourism shared with me:

August-September 2010

·        Aug. 29: Ride the Drive, Madison: www.cityofmadison.com

·        Sept. 17–19: Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, Cable: www.cheqfattire.com

·        Sept. 18: Kickapoo BRAVE Ride, Gays Mills: www.kickapoobraveride.com

·        Sept. 25: Oktoberfest 100 Bicycle Tour/Great River Road 100k Bike Tour, Potosi: www.potosibrewery.com/events_detail.cfm?eventID=24

You can also download a free biking guide at TravelWisconsin.com

Childhood obesity is an ongoing problem in Wisconsin. The 2009 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows 9% of high school students are obese, and an overwhelming majority of students have adopted some pretty unhealthy habits that are bound to catch up with them as they reach adulthood:

• 81% aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables
• 57% did not attend physical education classes daily in school
• 23% watched TV three or more hours per day on an average school day

A poor diet and inactivity has been linked to serious conditions, like diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancer, so it’s critically important that kids get started on the right track early.

Wisconsin’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program developed a statewide plan in 2005, and it’s showing some promising results. Obesity was reduced by 2% among high school kids from 2007 to 2009, but we all must pitch in to help teach our children healthier habits and life choices.

Thankfully, there is some financial assistance for community groups and schools that are helping our kids. The folks over at UnitedHealth Group asked me to help get the word out about their HEROES program. They’re backing programs that put youth in charge: Grants will go to programs that encourage young people to work with educators and youth leaders to design and implement hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. 

UnitedHealth Group tells me that grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to programs that:

• demonstrate a clear understanding of the health risks associated with childhood obesity
• propose creative solutions to fighting obesity in their schools and communities
• can be easily implemented, scaled and measured  

Do you know a group that’s working with smart, creative young people who are looking to make a difference? Make sure they download an application at www.YSA.org/HEROES. The deadline is midnight on Oct. 22, 2010.

“We are helping young people take action to improve their overall health and quality of life in a way that’s not only educational, but beneficial for their communities,” said UnitedHealth Group Executive Vice President Jeannine Rivet. “We look forward to seeing the creative ideas young people come up with to help fight obesity and encourage healthier living.”

To learn about the health and wellness incentives I authored and passed this session, go to SenatorSullivan.com or email me at Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Between the fun of the State Fair and the warm weather this week, it’s easy to forget that the new school year is fast approaching. While my boys are still focused on enjoying the summer, my wife and I are thinking about what they will need for the coming year.

Gearing up for the new school year involves more than stocking up on notebooks and pens. Now is the time to make sure your children are up to date with their immunizations or to schedule a time for them to get the shots they need. State law requires all school students, public and private, to present written evidence of immunization within 30 school days of admission.

Parents who do not wish for their children to receive immunizations for health reasons, religious beliefs, or personal convictions may be granted a waiver from the requirement. Failing to get your child properly immunized can result in a fine of $25 a day or having your child being excluded from school until their immunizations are up to date or a waiver has been completed.

Below is a chart that shows all of the requirements:

Places to get your children immunized

Brookfield and Elm Grove Residents

An immunization clinic in Brookfield is held on the first Tuesday of each month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Brookfield Lutheran Church, 18500 Burleigh Road. No appointment is needed. There is a $7 fee for each childhood vaccine, which may be waived if necessary.

Waukesha County has immunization clinics in several communities. For the full list of dates, locations and times visit the Public Health Department’s Web site at www.waukeshacounty.gov/publichealth or call (262) 896-8430.

Milwaukee Residents

The city of Milwaukee has three immunization clinic locations. Immunizations are free for children and adolescents. No appointments are needed, but you should bring any immunization records you have with you to the clinic.

• Southside Health Center, 1639 South 23^rd Street
  • Mondays: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Tuesdays: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Northwest Health Center, 7630 West Mill Road
  • Wednesdays: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Keenan Health Center, 3200 North 36^th Street
  • Fridays: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Wauwatosa Residents

The Wauwatosa Health Department offers three immunization clinics per month. The clinic is held at the Wauwatosa Health Department at 7725 West North Avenue.

The clinic is open on:

• First Tuesday of the month: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Second Tuesday of the month: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Fourth Thursday of the month: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The next clinic date is August 26. The clinic will also be open September 7, 14 and 23.

All of the recommended childhood immunizations are available free of charge. Appointments are not necessary.

West Allis and West Milwaukee Residents

Residents can receive immunizations at the West Allis Health Department Immunization Clinic at 7120 West National Avenue. Immunizations are free of charge.

• The clinic is open to walk-ins on:
  • Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• The clinic is open by appointment:
  • Every second Monday of the month: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Every fourth Tuesday of the month: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The clinic will have additional walk-in hours to handle the back-to-school rush on the following dates:
  • Monday, August 16: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 17: 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 24: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 29: 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• To accommodate working parents,  the clinic will also be open by appointment on the following dates:  
  • Tuesday, August 17: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Monday, September 13:  4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Monday, October 4: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

What to bring

If possible, you should bring your child's immunization record to the physician’s office or clinic. If you do not have a copy of the record at home, you can call your child’s health care provider to obtain a copy. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services runs the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, a computerized database that records and tracks immunization dates. It is a confidential record system that only can be accessed by parents, legal guardians and health care professionals. Parents and legal guardians only have access to the immunization records for their child. Talk to your child’s health care provider about registering for access to the Wisconsin Immunization Registry if you would like to use the database to access your child’s immunization record.

The Wisconsin State Fair starts this week and runs through August 15. As the fair enters its 159^th year, we’ll have visitors from all over the country who will get to experience our wonderful community and those incredible cream puffs for the first time.

For you repeat visitors, organizers tell me they’re doing everything they can to make State Fair the most affordable entertainment experience for families again this summer. Below is a list of admission promotions they shared with me:

Hunger Task Force $2 Day
Thursday, August 5
Just present at least two nonperishable food items or make a cash donation between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the designated locations outside the Fair admission gates to receive a voucher redeemable at the ticket window for $2 admission on Thursday, August 5. Food items and donations benefit the Hunger Task Force. Promotion ends promptly at 5 p.m.

Salute to Wisconsin Scouts Day
Wednesday, August 11
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts dressed in uniform will get in free all day, and Scout Leaders dressed in uniform will receive $3 off the adult admission price.

Goodwill Two-For-One Tuesday
Tuesday, August 10
Bring your Goodwill Store and Donation Center purchase receipt (no minimum value required) dated July 12-August 10 to any Wisconsin State Fair ticket window from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10 and receive one free adult admission ticket with the purchase of one regular priced adult admission ticket.

Military and Veteran’s Day Discount
Sunday, August 15
Military personnel and veterans will receive free admission to the Fair. You must first visit your local CVSO with your Military ID, VA ID or DD214 and pick up your free admission voucher. Only one admission per ID.

You can find more offers and details at www.wistatefair.com.

The stage lineup for the 2010 Potawatomi Bingo Casino Main Stage is also below. Click here for additional details and ticket prices.

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting InvivoSciences, a promising bioscience research company in Wauwatosa. I would like to acknowledge and thank InvivoSciences for the benefits they have brought to our community, including the creation of high-tech jobs and national and global business partnerships.

InvivoSciences was officially launched in 2001 in St. Louis, Missouri. However, a more attractive business environment and enthusiastic state support for bio-tech startups led InvivoSciences to Wauwatosa in 2005. 

InvivoSciences produces 3-D tissues that mimic the properties of human skin. These tissues can be used to test the effects of chemicals and prescription drugs and eliminate the dangers associated with animal and human testing.

Ultimately, InvivoSciences would like to generate heart tissues that carry an individual’s genetic information and functions. This type of “personalized medicine” would allow a lab to test specific heart disease treatment drugs and evaluate how those drugs affect the patient. The project has been supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. One day this research will change the way care is provided to cancer patients.  

In November 2009, InvivoSciences was selected as one of the top three most promising technologies in the United States at the World's Best Technology Showcase in Texas. Investors and tech-commercialization experts from across the country selected InvivoSciences from a pool of 450 tech companies to receive its gold prize. InvivoSciences was also one of six startups to be recognized for making strides to commercialization at the Biotechnology Vision Summit 2009 in Madison.

Southeastern Wisconsin is fortunate to support a significant base of emerging industries, including large biomedical companies such as GE Healthcare and a variety of smaller companies like InvivoSciences. The region also has significant academic resources spread across multiple institutions, and together, Wisconsin industry and universities can make great strides in the research world, generating medical advances and job creation that will benefit our state for years to come. 

I wanted to bring you an update on the West Allis/New Berlin Relay For Life. According to organizers, the event raised $30,000, with 21 teams participating and 37 cancer survivors walking the opening lap of the relay.

One of those brave survivors, Judy Olson, shared her story with me. She called the survivor lap “phenomenal.”

“I had goose bumps from the beginning to the end,” said Olson.

The emotional support didn’t stop there. Olson said that as a survivor, she wore a special purple shirt and was applauded everywhere she went that evening: “When we came around and everyone acknowledged us, it was so emotional and so positive . . . That is such a giant emotional boost.”

Olson, who also lost her husband to cancer, said her breast cancer was discovered after her family started bugging her to get regular mammograms. Now that she’s done with chemotherapy, she is eating healthy and has given up that occasional cigarette she used to enjoy with friends. Now she’s working to remain positive by staying off what she refers to as “that pity pot,” which she calls a very “dangerous place to be.”

To stay focused on healing, Olson makes a daily mental checklist of three unexpected things of kindness she is going to do for people. The checklist includes everything from taking someone out to dinner to complimenting their hair. The only rule for a checklist item is that it has to be sincere and from the heart.

“You stop feeling bad about yourself,” said Olson. “When you’re bummed out about something, remember that people are having worse days than you. Be there for those people.”

I think that’s a good lesson for all of us.

--Jim

I want to make sure all of you know about The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Allis / New Berlin. It’s taking place at the Nathan Hale High School in West Allis from July 16 to July 17.

Organizers tell me they are still looking for volunteers and participants (teams or individuals) for this event, which is special for a number of reasons: 1) The money you raise helps support American Cancer Society research, education, and patient service efforts; and 2) it’s a chance for all of us to honor cancer survivors in our community and cheer them on as they keep up the fight.  

The event kicks off with a Survivor Lap, where cancer survivors from throughout the area take a victory lap. At the end of the evening on Friday, participants have a chance to honor those who have been affected by cancer with a special Luminaria Ceremony. Organizer Lindsay Mahn described it as “candlelight tribute.”

“Luminarias are purchased in honor of those who have survived their battle with cancer, those still fighting, and in memory of those who have courageously battled this disease, but lost. The luminarias are kept burning throughout the night representing the healing power of community and the importance of funding to find a cure,” said Mahn. 

Mahn and her team from Relay For Life stay in touch with cancer survivors from throughout the community, but they could still use your help. If you know of a cancer survivor, or your life has been touched by this devastating disease, Relay For Life wants to hear from you. You can visit www.relayforlife.org/westallisnewberlinwi or email Mahn at lindsey.mahn@cancer.org. You can also call the American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-947-0487.

The Schedule of Events for this two-day event can be found below.

2010 Schedule of Events

Friday, July 16

3:00 p.m.          Campsite Set Up

4:00 p.m.          Registration Begins

5:00 p.m.          Luminaria and Raffle tickets available

6:00 p.m.          Food Available

6:00 p.m.          CELEBRATE – Opening Ceremony

6:15 p.m.          Survivor/Caregiver Lap

6:30 p.m.          Music by Sub Sonic DJ Systems

6:30 p.m.          Dancing Grannies

6:30 p.m.          Chair Massages

7:00 p.m.          Locomotion Lap (make a train)

7:15 p.m.          Blood Pressure Checks by ANS Home Health Care

8:00 p.m.          Pie Eating Contest

8:00 p.m.          Patriotic Lap (wear Red, White & Blue)

9:00 p.m.          Raffle Closes

10:00 p.m.        REMEMBER – Luminaria Ceremony

11:30 p.m.        Quiet Time Begins

12:00 p.m.        Halloween Costume Lap

Saturday, July 17

6:00 a.m.          Breakfast Available (Last chance to turn in donations for team totals)

8:00a.m.           FIGHT BACK – Closing Ceremony

Wisconsin Act 100, the most significant overhaul of our state’s drunk driving laws in decades, goes into effect today. 

Representative Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) and I worked with victims’ families, advocates, and legislative leaders for nearly a year to craft Wisconsin Act 100, which strengthens sanctions and promotes prevention.

Wisconsin Act 100 protects motorists and passengers by:

• Making a fourth-offense OWI a felony if the driver has a previous OWI-related conviction within the past five years
• Criminalizing first-offense OWI if a child is in the vehicle
• Requiring the installation of Ignition Interlock Devices (IID) for first-time offenders with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or higher
• Requiring IIDs for all repeat offenders
• Expanding statewide the successful Winnebago County Safe Streets Treatment Option Program

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, approximately 45 percent of all fatal traffic crashes in 2009 were alcohol-related. An April 2009 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also revealed that more than 26 percent of Wisconsin adults who were surveyed admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol in the previous year.

Meanwhile, AAA predicts that just over 753,000 people will travel in Wisconsin for the holiday weekend, up 19.2 percent from 2009. A vast majority of these travelers will be driving on our roadways.

As we embark on our Fourth of July celebrations this weekend, let’s work together to ensure that no family’s holiday is marked by the tragedy of a drunk driving injury or fatality. The startling statistics and the increased penalties should be a potent reminder to think before you drink.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary Department of Wisconsin is holding its 2010 state convention in Milwaukee. I was fortunate enough to have a chance to speak to the brave men and women who have fought for our freedom. Below is text from the address I delivered this week:

Good morning everyone, I am Jim Sullivan, the state senator from Wauwatosa, and the chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs. As a legislator, as committee chair, and as someone who served in the U.S. Navy Reserves, it has been a true honor to serve you over the past four years. It is also an honor to stand among those who have fought so diligently for our freedom as we approach Independence Day.

The Fourth of July does more than commemorate the passage of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices our military members have made to preserve our independence through the history of this nation.

If you are in this room today, however, honoring veterans is not reserved for a holiday. In fact, for us, there is no holiday—as leaders, as veterans, it is incumbent upon us to remember these sacrifices every day. It is also incumbent upon us to meet the needs of the veterans who call the great state of Wisconsin home.

Together, I think we have done an admirable job of serving veterans over the last couple of legislative sessions.

In 2007, we waged a successful battle to restore funding for the Wisconsin GI Bill, which allows veterans to continue undergraduate and graduate studies.

The governor's budget proposal ended up appropriating $11.6 million for grants to provide undergraduate or graduate school tuition for all veterans who live in the state of Wisconsin and were honorably discharged.

We also increased funding for assisting those suffering from PTSD, and we upped the amount the state puts toward emergency financial assistance for veterans having a hard time paying for medical, dental, hearing and vision care.

Vision care is a growing concern among veterans and those who care about them. According to the Blinded Veterans Association, more than 165,000 blind or visually impaired veterans now live in the United States. Each year, roughly 7,000 veterans become newly blind or visually impaired due to age-related conditions and injuries, and roughly 13 percent of the evacuated wounded service members in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered a serious eye injury.

We responded to the need to better represent the visually impaired by adding a member of the Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin to the Council on Veterans Programs.

Ensuring proper representation through bringing a number of perspectives to the table is very important to me. That’s why I also authored and passed legislation that added a member of the Wisconsin American GI Forum, a group representing Hispanic veterans, to the Council.

We also looked out for the financial interests of veterans this session by protecting the Veterans Trust Fund and the Mortgage Loan Repayment Fund from budget cuts.

It was down to the wire during the 2009-2011 budget negotiations. But together with Steve Hilgenberg, the chair of the Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, we let the state know loud and clear that tampering with these segregated funds—which are dedicated to helping veterans obtain health care, education, and basic subsistence—was not only financially irresponsible, it was unconscionable.

We also successfully fought to have the two veterans’ homes, King and Union Grove, exempt from the nursing home bed tax increase. Private homes that face a new tax can often receive more funds from Medicaid, but that was not an option for military homes. Even in tough economic times, we just could not stack one more fee on homes that have already tapped out all of their Medicaid resources. Senior service members simply deserve better than that.

But as anyone who has ever worked hard to make ends meet knows, you cannot just save money. You have to make money. That’s why we passed Act 299, which created preferences in awarding state contracts or orders to businesses owned by disabled veterans who have at least a 30 percent disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Getting a job is also a bit easier with a high school diploma, but there were disabled vets in our state who never had a chance to get one because they were busy serving their country in Vietnam. Now, if you are at least 55 years old, you have a service-connected disability and you meet a few other requirements, a high school can grant you that well-earned diploma.

Teddy Roosevelt once told a group of veterans that “a man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.”

Now, more than 100 years later, I can tell you that in Wisconsin, we are a great deal closer to that square deal. We certainly have more work to do, as a state and as a nation. But as we win these victories for veterans, let us not be discouraged by any setbacks or delays we may face. Instead, let us remind each other today to soldier on.

As Roosevelt said: “Thrice happy is the nation that has a glorious history. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

I would like to take a moment to thank T. Michael Bolger, JD, retiring president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin, for his commitment and years of service to the people of Wisconsin. Bolger’s drive, integrity and dedication to the expansion and development of the Medical College of Wisconsin serve as a great example to our entire community. 

During Bolger’s tenure, the Medical College of Wisconsin has become one of the nation’s premier medical schools. The college experienced a 1,482 percent increase in endowment and a 275 percent increase in faculty positions. It has been recognized as the largest private research institution in the state, as well as one of the nation’s largest providers of physicians.

Bolger oversaw the expansion of the school through construction of the Medical College’s Health Research Center, the Translational and Biomedical Research Center and the Cardiovascular Center/Anesthesiology research laboratories. He also fostered stronger affiliations with Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Froedtert Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center to forge partnerships that better serve our community.

Encouraging others to strive and succeed has been at the very core of what he does. When the Student Affairs Committee of the Medical College of Wisconsin awarded Bolger the first ever “Standing Ovation Award” for his service to the students, Bolger explained his leadership style: “I’ve been honored to help the Medical College of Wisconsin’s faculty, staff and students realize their potential for greatness and collectively engage in creating an atmosphere and culture in which real learning and scholarly pursuit can occur.”

Bolger has helped create an atmosphere for real learning and scholarly pursuit not just for Medical College students, but for everyone in southeastern Wisconsin. His work with the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital and the Blood Center of Wisconsin has built the very foundation of the high-tech hub that will be created with the addition of the UWM Engineering Campus. His hard work will help the entire state and the region, as Wauwatosa becomes an epicenter for scientific advancement and high-tech jobs.

I would again like to thank and honor Michael Bolger. His legacy and his leadership will continue to benefit people in this area for years to come.

Father’s Day lands on June 20 this year. And while many of us who have reached adulthood may just pick up a card or give the father figure in our lives a call on Sunday, celebrating Dad can be tough for youngsters who either have to come up with their own crafts or who have to scrape together allowance for a gift. Those kids and their dads are getting a break this weekend, and they won’t have to travel very far from home to enjoy some of the most fun activities in the state. 

Any dad gets free admission at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Sunday. You can even take the kids over to the Zoo’s Northwestern Mutual Family Farm, where they can make a “Number One Dad” button.

The “Adventure Dinosaur!” robotic dinosaur exhibit, which has always been a big hit with my kids, is also back after a four-year hiatus. According to the Zoo staff, you can dodge the two-story-tall Tyrannosaurus rex or get squirted with Dilophosaurus saliva (which mysteriously enough feels just like water).

If you are a dad like me in the 5^th Senate District, you’re no more than 10 minutes from the Milwaukee County Zoo. If you enjoy the free Father’s Day Admission, consider an annual Zoo Pass. For the price of two adult admissions and a minivan full of kids, you can support the Zoo and enjoy free access year round. My family wouldn’t be without it.

If Dad and the kids prefer HOGs to dinosaurs, you may also want to check out the Harley-Davidson Museum here in Milwaukee. Dads enter for free from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Every Sunday is also Family Day at the museum, and kids are treated to face painting, balloon animals and other fun activities starting at 10:30 a.m.

Click here to learn more about Father’s Day at the Zoo.

Click here to plan your visit to the Harley-Davidson Museum.

Those of you who participate in Medicare Part D and have reached the prescription drug coverage gap (also known as the doughnut hole) will start receiving $250 rebate checks this month. The rebate checks, which will start going out on June 10, are designed to help you cover drug costs and other expenses.

Jim Flaherty, the communications director for AARP Wisconsin, said these rebate checks are the “first step in the gradual closing of the doughnut hole.” 

According to AARP, more than 3 million people fall into this expensive gap in coverage each year.   

“Research shows that people who have trouble paying for their prescription drugs are more likely to skip doses or stop taking their medications altogether, which can lead to more serious health problems and higher long-term costs both for them and for our health care system as a whole,” said Flaherty.

Flaherty said that starting in 2011, people who reach the doughnut hole will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs. He added that by 2020, the doughnut hole should be eliminated entirely.

Below are five facts from AARP on what people in Medicare Part D should know about the rebate check and their prescription drugs:

1)         Receipts can help you track your spending.

People in Medicare Part D who have paid more than $940 in out-of-pocket drug costs should automatically receive a check after reaching that threshold, but they should save their receipts just in case. If you think you’ve reached the doughnut hole and don’t receive your check within a few months, having your receipts handy will be helpful when talking to Medicare.

2)         Checks will be mailed automatically.

Medicare tracks your drug costs for you. Once you reach the coverage gap, you will receive a check.

3)         Protect yourself against scams.

If someone says they can help you get your check more quickly if you pay them a fee, immediately report this scam or any similar fraud to the police or to the Attorney General. You should also report any suspected scam to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

4)         Your check will be mailed to the address Social Security uses to reach you.

If you need to change your address, please call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. If you prefer, a change of address may also be reported by calling or visiting your local Social Security office.

5)         You may be able to save on your prescription drugs.

By entering the name of each of your drugs, its dosage, and how often you take it into AARP’s Doughnut Hole Calculator (www.aarp.org/doughnuthole), you can see when you are likely to enter the doughnut hole. This tool will also identify less costly drugs available in your Part D plan and will print out a personalized letter that will help you begin a conversation with your physician about switching to lower-cost alternatives.

If you have additional questions, you can check out www.aarp.org/getthefacts. And as always, don’t hesitate to email me at Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov.

A special note to fellow bicyclists: Make sure you don’t miss out on all the exciting events that are taking place for Bike to Work Week 2010. Click here to see what’s happening in the Milwaukee area.

Small business owners in the Milwaukee area are getting the recognition they deserve this week at the 25^th Annual Small Business Awards Breakfast, which is taking place this Friday at the Italian Community Center. The awards breakfast is part of an annual effort to recognize small business owners. There’s very good reason to do so: According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and small businesses create 60 to 80 percent of new jobs in the country.

While all of this year’s winners deserve our thanks for driving innovation and bringing jobs to southeastern Wisconsin, there was one person on this impressive roster who really caught my attention: Dr. Isabela Sardas. Dr. Sardas, the recipient of the 2010 Wisconsin SBA District Director’s Award, is the program director at Childynamics, a child and adolescent mental health treatment center in Wauwatosa.

I find Dr. Sardas’ story particularly inspirational because she took a setback and transformed it into an opportunity. About ten years ago, she was working as the attending psychologist for a major hospital when it shut down. She lost her job, and had no managerial or business training. But Dr. Sardas knew that her work, and the work of her colleagues, was just beginning. “I had a good sense of what I wanted to accomplish and the needs of the children that I saw . . . I thought we could provide a very needed service. There were several other clinicians who found themselves in the same position, and I asked them if they wanted to come on board, and they said yes.”

From that humble start, she started a business that helps children from throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha and Racine. She advises people who find themselves out of a job or looking to make a better life to “go with what you know.”

“Having the support of my family, having the confidence, the proper training . . . That gave me the confidence to know that I was doing the right thing,” said Dr. Sardas.

Dr. Sardas said it helps to do plenty of professional networking: “I knew people who did good work. I had a select group of people who want to join me, and it gave me the confidence to take that step.”

If you’d like to follow in the entrepreneurial footsteps of Dr. Sardas and other small business owners, I would highly recommend checking out the following links for networking opportunities:

U.S. Small Business Administration Local Business Resources:

www.sba.gov/localresources/district/wi/localresources/index.html

The Wauwatosa West Suburban Association of Commerce:

www.westsuburbanchamber.com

The West Allis/West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce:

www.wawmchamber.com

Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce:

www.brookfieldchamber.com

FUEL Milwaukee: 

www.fuelmilwaukee.org

The words Memorial Day stir images of summers past for many of us…pictures of parades, American flags waving from sunlit porches, and sometimes, a solitary yellow ribbon wrapped around a sturdy tree in remembrance of a lost military member.

Bringing honor to those who have sacrificed using beautification is actually at the heart of Memorial Day, so much so that it was originally called Decoration Day. The day was first set aside in 1868 to remember those who died in the Civil War. General John A. Logan issued the following proclamation:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

Memorial Day grew throughout the remainder of the 1800s and 1900s, and was declared a national holiday to honor veterans of all wars in 1971. Those “fitting services and testimonials of respect” General Logan spoke of have grown to include memorials, ceremonies and parades throughout our nation and the state of Wisconsin. Another fitting tribute to the brave veterans who have been injured while defending our freedom is happening in our state—Homes for Our Troops.

Homes for Our Troops is a great program.  Homes for Our Troops is a national nonprofit that builds barrier free, specially adapted homes for our severely injured veterans by hosting Build Brigades. Coordinators tell me the Build Brigade is a three-day construction blitz where professional tradespeople volunteer their time to frame a house, and install everything it takes to make the structure weather tight, including doors, windows, roof and siding. Volunteers from the general community are invited to put the finishing touches on the home by decorating it inside and out.

Volunteers with Homes for Our Troops have already built two homes in Wisconsin, and they are gearing up for a third. I encourage you to learn more about the building projects and opportunities to decorate homes for our decorated veterans at www.homesforourtroops.org.

Please also take a moment to learn about events happening throughout the state this weekend at MyCommunityNOW.com and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Web site at http://dva.state.wi.us/PA_MemorialDay.asp.

And finally, please join me in thanking the veterans who have reminded us through their hard work and sacrifice that freedom is not free.

Thank you and have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

Are you still looking for somewhere to take the family this weekend? As chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, I would like to personally encourage you to take a day trip to Green Bay, where you can honor Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans at LZ Lambeau: Welcoming Home Wisconsin’s Vietnam Veterans.

An estimated 30,000 veterans will be honored throughout the weekend at Lambeau Field, and almost all of the events are free and open to the public. There will be a music stage, exhibits featuring the Vietnam Motor Pool and Vietnam-era aircraft, plus free shuttles that can help you and your family navigate the attractions throughout the area.

On Saturday evening, Wisconsin’s Vietnam veterans will receive a long overdue, official Welcome Home during a special ceremony inside Lambeau Field. Event organizers tell me the ceremony will include music, aerial fly-bys, presentations and premiere segments of a documentary called Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories.

You can order advance tickets online here for $12, or purchase them when you get to Lambeau for $10. Tickets are free for Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans.

The Safe Placement of Children Act that I authored with Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) and Rep. Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) was signed into law this week. The legislation gives social workers access to the tools they need to verify that a caregiver would be able to provide a safe environment for a child.

This bill is just commonsense legislation to help protect those in an already vulnerable situation. It only makes sense to give social workers access to these records. We need to make sure that children aren’t put at additional risk because of incomplete information.

When child protective service social workers are in the process of placing a removed child, they conduct detailed criminal background checks of the placement home’s residents. This includes contacting the courts to gain access to juvenile court records of those living in the placement home.  However, when the courts are closed, child protective service social workers have no way to access juvenile court records. The Safe Placement of Children Act will give social workers the ability to access these important records in these situations.

In addition, in order to protect against unauthorized access of the records, the bill requires that the information accessed be used only for purposes of providing transfers of children and that the information be kept confidential.  Anyone who violates the trust and confidentiality of these records could be subject up to a $5,000 fine.

The legislation was crafted in coordination with the Department of Children and Families.

The governor also signed a bill I authored with Rep. Louis J. Molepske, Jr. (D-Stevens Point) that authorizes local units of government to extend the life of a Tax Incremental District (TID) if it is distressed. The move will allow districts more time to meet their debt obligations.

Tax Incremental Financing law has been a successful way to incentivize communities to make improvements that benefit the local citizens. This law will allow a number of communities across the state avoid a potential default situation, while encouraging future growth.

Read coverage from Tom Daykin’s Land and Space blog at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

New law would help troubled tax districts

By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: May 13, 2010

Legislation that allows more time for financially troubled tax incremental financing districts to pay off their debts has been signed by Gov. Jim Doyle.

With a TIF district, a community typically borrows money to help fund a real estate development. The project's property taxes are used to pay off that debt. Once the debt is paid, the development's taxes flow to the community, its schools and other local governments.

However, some districts have run into trouble because the recession has reduced property values, so it's taking longer to pay their debts. Some of the deepest holes are in smaller communities, such as Warrens and Necedah.

The legislation, SB 291, was written by Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) and Rep. Louis Molepske (D-Stevens Point). Both the Senate and Assembly unanimously passed the bill's final version.

Read the entire article.

I will be joining elected officials from throughout the state tomorrow to learn what it’s like to be a firefighter. We will be donning gear and breathing apparatus to participate in live firefighting and EMS exercises at the Madison Area Technical College’s Truax Campus in the morning, come rain or shine. 

The idea behind the training is that when it’s time for members of city council, mayors, and legislators like myself to tackle tough questions of what cities, counties and states need to do to protect firefighters and first responders, we’ll have firsthand knowledge of what these brave men and women are facing.

One problem that first responders face is the danger of contracting a communicable disease while on the job. That’s why I am proud that the governor is scheduled to sign a bill at the event that I authored to help these first responders. This legislation will make it a little easier for them to attain duty disability benefits when they contract one of these illnesses.

To learn more about the bill itself, read my previous blog on the topic: Helping Firefighters and Officers Exposed to Infectious Diseases.

The governor signed the Police Protection Act (Assembly Bill 269) this morning as we kicked off National Police Week* in the Capitol. The Police Protection Act is a bill I authored with my Assembly colleague, Rep. Chris Danou, who also happens to be a former law enforcement officer. Under our bill, a person who resists or obstructs arrest and causes an officer substantial bodily harm in the process will be guilty of a felony.

Under current law, if a criminal strikes an officer, he or she is guilty of a Class H felony. But if an officer seriously injures himself in the pursuit of someone who has broken the law, the criminal causing the injuries is only charged with a misdemeanor. This law closes the question of intent, and makes the defendant equally liable in either situation. Law enforcement officials from throughout the state supported this important initiative.

I am very pleased that our state recognizes the importance of protecting our law enforcement officers in situations where suspects resist or obstruct justice. Attacking and resisting can have the same devastating consequences, and should be treated the same under the law. Every day, the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate courage, bravery and dedication to upholding our law, and they deserve the highest form of protection we can provide.

Here is what some of the bill’s supporters had to say:

“This bill goes a long way towards protecting officers in the line of duty,” said Milwaukee Police Association Vice President Thomas E. Fischer.

“The Wisconsin Professional Police Association is pleased to join Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Danou in protecting our law enforcement officials. Causing harm to a law enforcement officer is a serious crime which should have serious consequences in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer.

“As a former police officer, I know that this bill will protect the brave men and women serving our communities. I could not have asked for better advocates than Sen. Jim Sullivan and Wisconsin’s law enforcement community in authoring and promoting this legislation. I am very pleased with this legislative accomplishment,” said Rep. Danou. 

*National Police Week runs from May 9 to May 15 this year.

The Wisconsin Senate passed Senate Bill 530 (which I authored) by a vote of 21 to 12 yesterday, bringing 32 pages of strong, meaningful regulation to the payday lending industry.

We must ensure that the people of Wisconsin can access emergency capital without being forced into a cycle of debt or wiping out their financial futures. Comprehensive, effective regulation that both prevents abuses and eliminates the cycle of debt is the best way to help Wisconsinites maintain a strong financial footing.

Senate Bill 530 imposes significant regulation on the previously wide open, completely unregulated payday industry by: 

• Capping the maximum loan amount and creating an income test to determine it.
• Allowing only one rollover, and establishing a rate cap of 2.75 percent per month on the outstanding balance after the maturity date of the loan.
• Establishing a real-time database to prevent multiple loans at one time.
• Allowing customers to repay the outstanding balance in four equal payments coinciding with the customer’s payday.
• Allowing the customer to rescind a loan until close of business the next day.
• Prohibiting wage garnishments.
• Promoting financial literacy.
• Requiring lenders to divulge all the disclosures required by the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, including the percentage per year of interest charged.
• Creating a new license specifically for payday lenders and giving the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) regulatory powers over them for the first time.
• Requiring an annual report from DFI to the Legislature regarding payday loan transactions.
• Prohibiting lenders from locating within 1500 feet of another lender and within 150 feet of residential areas.

The days of the lawless, Wild West approach to payday lending in this state are coming to end. The Senate voted in favor of consumers. We rejected endless rollovers, limitless loans and wage garnishments. The message to the payday industry is clear: The people of Wisconsin come first.

If you have any questions about this bill, please email me at Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov.

I have always supported regional transit. Unless mass transit plays a role in the way our region grows, drivers will spend more time sitting in traffic, using more gas and creating more exhaust. It will also affect our regional ability to compete with attracting new businesses and tourism.

The goal of an RTA is to provide choices and alternatives to commuters, and when well designed, it can produce many benefits for a community and a region. Transit reduces pollution, relieves congestion on roads and connects workers with jobs. It improves access to airports, hotels and city centers, which makes the region a more inviting and accommodating place to live and do business. It can also help spur an increase in recreational travel and bring more revenue to the area it is serving.

I want to especially thank the business and labor leaders who have stepped forth in support of regional transit, including Ed Zore with Northwestern Mutual, Tim Sullivan with Bucyrus, Julia Taylor from Greater Milwaukee Committee, Rich Abelson from AFSCME District Council 48, Sheila Cochran with the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, and Lyle Balistreri from the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council. When business, labor, transit advocates, and citizens come together, the Legislature needs to pay attention.   

I am concerned about the dilapidated state of county transit under County Executive Scott Walker, and I empathize with those who rely on the buses to get to work and school. The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee lost a significant opportunity to achieve real regional transit in the last budget, by letting Racine and Kenosha off the hook financially while doubling the tax on Milwaukee. This abandonment of real RTA, the doubling of the tax on Milwaukee, along with the delay in the Zoo Interchange reconstruction, were major transportation factors that contributed to my No vote on the budget.

My position on RTA is very clear and has been consistent: I support a regional transit system that is truly regional and multi-county. The funding should be regional and dedicated solely to transit. Additionally, any new funding must be offset by a reduction in property taxes.

While I will continue to support RTA, I hope to ultimately see a proposal that is truly regional, includes property tax relief, and offers true change and more efficient transit. I do not want to see a proposal that just puts more dollars toward what is now a dysfunctional system. At the very least, we should be able to agree that we need to move toward efficient, regional transit, that we need to get it off the property tax, and that the current state of erosion of the bus system is not acceptable.

Creating true regional transit will enable people to live, work and do business throughout southeastern Wisconsin. I will continue to work with our regional partners and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to create regional transit that works for the residents and businesses in our community.