Newsmakers, May 21, 2015

Air Date:
Heard On Newsmakers

GOP Lawmakers On Wisconsin Budget; Safe Haven Proposal

Featured in this Show

  • GOP Lawmakers On Wisconsin Budget

    Two southwestern Wisconsin Republican legislators are having very different experiences dealing with the proposed biennial state budget. The budget Gov. Scott Walker proposed in February has been heavily criticized by Democrats and other agencies and groups that say they will be negatively impacted by the budget.

    Republican Assembly member Lee Nerison (R-Westby) is working on his sixth state budget. While he’s a member of the majority party now, he’s been in the minority and has served with governors of both parties. Despite the criticism of this budget, he doesn’t notice much difference in the budget process.

    “Somebody asked me the other day, ‘Are you catching a lot of grief on this one?’ I said, ‘No more than any other budget that’s come out,’” he said.

    For freshman Republican Rep. Nancy VanderMeer, (R-Tomah) the budget experience has been an eye opener.

    “As a newcomer, one of the things that is amazing to me is the complexity,” she said.

    VanderMeer held 10 listening sessions on the budget in the 70th District which includes parts of Monroe, Jackson, Wood and Portage Counties.

    “We represent everyone,” she said. “It’s important to listen to all the different views. I look forward to those changes (to the state budget) that have been able to be accomplished.”

    Both Nerison and Vandermeer say restoring funding cuts for public education were near the top of the list of complaints they’ve heard from constituents about the governor’s proposed budget.

    Nerison says one budget item he was pleased to help get reversed was a proposal to move oversight of the 8,500 acre Kickapoo Valley Reserve between Ontario and La Farge from the Department of Tourism to the Department of Natural Resources. Hundreds of people in his district opposed that and the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee removed the change from the budget early in the process.

  • Safe Haven Proposal

    Some Wisconsin lawmakers want to create better protections for children who are arrested for prostitution. They say legislation will help create a safe harbor for victims of human trafficking.

    Under current state law, someone arrested for prostitution could face a misdemeanor charge with a fine or jail time, even if they’re a minor.

    Rep. LaTonya Johnson of Milwaukee says that’s problematic, especially since most prostitutes under age 18 are likely victims of human trafficking.

    She wants to change the law to shield children who cannot legally consent to sex in the first place.

    “The problem with labeling these children as prostitutes, it can cause problems with finding housing, which is the number one issue we have with trying to make sure these children can find safety,” she said.

    The bill would also require child welfare agencies to investigate all sexual exploitation cases, even if the perpetrator is not the child’s caregiver. Johnson says this could hold more pimps and johns accountable.

Episode Credits

  • Maureen McCollum Host
  • John Davis Producer
  • Lee Nerison Guest
  • Nancy VanderMeer Guest
  • John Nygren Guest
  • Jill Billings Guest
  • Sen. LaTonya Johnson Guest