$22 MILLION PER YEAR NEEDED FOR
TREATMENT INSTEAD OF PRISON

WISDOM calls on Wisconsin’s Governor and Legislature to include     $22 million per year for
Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) program
in the 2007-09 state budget.

In 2006, despite knowing that a maximum of $755,000 would be available for the TAD program, 25 counties submitted Treatment Instead of Prison plans, with a combined cost of about $4.1 million.  Each county has recognized that it has a significant population that it now incarcerates which could be better served in supervised treatment alternatives.  Each county has recognized that the community would benefit greatly if judges and prosecutors had more options for dealing with non-violent, low-level offenders. read remainder of TIP position paper here

WISCONSIN CAN’T WAIT FOR
HEALTH CARE REFORM

1.     Wisconsin's health care system is broken. 
The cost of health care is increasing by about 9 percent per year in Wisconsin.  More than a quarter of a million Wisconsin residents reported having no coverage for the past year in 2004. The vast majority of the uninsured live  in households led by people who have a job. Catastrophic health care costs cause half of all personal bankruptcies.  Southern Wisconsin has some of the highest health care and insurance costs in the nation.  Spiraling insurance costs have significantly worsened our state’s school funding crisis and have caused huge problems for our cities and counties. 

2. Wisconsin needs to pass a comprehensive, statewide health reform plan based on the following three principles:
Guaranteed access to affordable, comprehensive health care for all Wisconsin residents;
Choice of health care provider and the quality of health care services;
Fair financing and strategies to reduce and contain costs to assure affordable coverage for all individuals and employers. Read remainder of health care position paper here

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE:  SCHOOL FUNDING

WISDOM has long been concerned about the issue of school funding.  Spending caps have institutionalized inequities and have steadily eroded the quality of public schools in nearly every district in Wisconsin – as fixed costs rise faster than the spending limits. 

WISDOM is proud to be a founding member of WAES (the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools).  We will continue until there is a fair funding system that provides for the real needs of all our children.

The following are areas of concern for us as the state legislature considers the 2007-09 budget: read remainder if education position paper here

IMMIGRATION
CONCERNS

Regarding Drivers’ Licenses:
Because of the major backlog at many Department of Motor Vehicle sites, there are many people who intended to get their drivers’ license by April 1 who have not been able to take the driving test.  We ask that the state make provision that all who start the process of getting a license by March 15 be allowed to finish the process under the current rules regarding documentation.

 The Federal “Real ID” act does not take effect until May of 2008, and the regulations for that law have not yet been written.  We ask that the state legislature pass legislation which would delay enactment of Wisconsin’s requirement of legal residency for a drivers’ license to May of 2008 when the federal law takes effect.

 “Real ID” is applicable only to federal jurisdictions (like boarding an airplane).  States are still allowed to issue driving certificates to some people which would not serve as federal identification, but would be a valid drivers’ license, allowing the person to get insurance, etc.  We ask the state legislature and Governor to create the possibility of driving certificates for any state resident who does not have a social security number.  Read remainder of Immigration position paper here