Around Wisconsin
... Public hearings on state budget opportunity for taxpayers to voice their views
... Black Marriage Weekend to be held in Milwaukee - March 24-25
... Poll shows voters know very little about the Wisconsin Supreme Court or the upcoming April 3 spring election
... Safe Place for Newborns awareness campaign in Wausau
... Proposed bill would force all hospitals to provide "emergency contraception"

Around the Nation
... South Carolina bill would require women seeking an abortion to view ultrasound of their child
... Day of Truth just four weeks from today

Around Wisconsin Family Council
... March 15 Lobby Day at the Capitol challenging and inspiring
... 2007-2008 Legislative Directory correction
... Updated list of legislation Wisconsin Family Council is tracking

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Around Wisconsin

... Public hearings on state budget opportunity for taxpayers to voice their views
Public hearings on the 1,757-page state budget are being held around the state between now and April 12. Rep. Frank Lasee (R-Green Bay) divides the people of Wisconsin into two groups: taxpayers and tax spenders. According to Rep. Lasee, the Joint Finance Committee is going to hear a lot from the tax spenders who constantly justify the need for more money for their programs or their benefits. An example of this is the email Wisconsin Family Council received recently from an employee of the University of Wisconsin (a tax spender organization), forwarding an email all UW employees received with the subject line "Budget hearing schedule." The message read, "Encourage interested academic staff to attend and make their views known on issues such as domestic partner benefits and enabling legislation for collective bargaining." The schedule of hearings was pasted into the email below that sentence. These outside-the-capitol hearings are a rare opportunity for taxpayers to address their concerns to legislators.

Here's the procedure for speaking at a budget hearing: When you arrive at the hearing, you will get a number. The speakers will be called in order of their number. You may put your comments in writing to distribute to legislators at the hearing. Keep your comments short and to the point. Include a personal example of how you and your family would be affected by proposed budget items. Indicate if you speak for a group.

Another way to get your opinions on the budget in general or specific items within the budget is to call the state's toll-free legislative hotline at 800-362-9472. Just give the operator your name and address (giving your address is the only way to ensure the message goes to your elected officials) and your message.

Tuesday, March 27 — CHIPPEWA FALLS - 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Chippewa Falls County Courthouse — Assembly Room (lower level, rooms 1 & 3)
711 N Bridge St — Chippewa Falls WI 54729

Wednesday, April 4 — PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Prairie Du Chien High School — Auditorium
800 E Crawford St — Prairie du Chien WI 53821

Wednesday, April 11 — RHINELANDER — 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Nicolet College — Learning Resource Center - Theatre
5634 College Dr (Off County Road G) — Rhinelander WI 54501

Thursday, April 12 — GREEN BAY — 10:00 - 4:00 p.m.
National Railroad Museum — Lenfestey Center
2285 S Broadway — Green Bay WI 54304

... Black Marriage Weekend to be held in Milwaukee - March 24-25
MMP Healthy Marriage Initiative and YMCA are sponsoring the 5th annual Black Marriage Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. "Black Marriage Weekend is designed to bring families together to learn about barriers that breakdown the family structure in the African American community and learn to...as a community...work to bring marriage and positive influences back to the homes of African Americans." This community-wide marriage-strengthening event begins with Family Day, on Saturday, March 24. Family Day activities are free to the public and will be held at the Northside YMCA in Milwaukee. The Couples Day Banquet on Sunday, March 25, will be at Heartlove Place in Milwaukee. Tickets for the banquet are $15 per couple. Table sponsorships are still available at $60 per table. Click here for more information.

... Poll shows voters know very little about the Wisconsin Supreme Court or the upcoming April 3 spring election
A poll commissioned by the Federalist Society and released last week found that likely Wisconsin voters know very little about the Wisconsin Supreme Court or the candidates who will be on the ballot Tuesday, April 3, to replace retiring Justice Jon Wilcox. The poll of 509 likely voters taken March 1-4 found that only 22 percent knew the Wisconsin Supreme
Court has seven members. Only 16 percent could accurately name one of the justices; 9 percent named Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. Eleven percent were able to name candidate Annette Ziegler; 4 percent named candidate Linda Clifford. Wisconsin Family Council has compiled information on the candidates. Read more...

... Safe Place for Newborns awareness campaign in Wausau
Posters in Wausau Area Transit System buses make riders aware of a 2001 law that allows parents to anonymously drop off their newborns at local hospitals or law enforcement agencies within three days of birth without fear of prosecution. The law provides help for a mother who may otherwise abandon or kill her newborn baby. Safe Place for Newborns executive director Terry Walsh said that more than 30 newborns have been given up by
parents since the law was enacted. Read more...

... Proposed bill would force all hospitals to provide "emergency contraception"
Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit) is circulating a proposed bill entitled "Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act" (LRB 1387/2) for co-sponsors. The bill would force all hospitals to provide so-called "emergency contraception" for rape victims. "Emergency contraception" is a very large dose of hormones that prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, thus causing a very early abortion. Those hospitals that oppose abortion and do not perform abortions would nonetheless be forced to do so under this bill.

Since the bill is still being circulated for co-sponsors, now is the time to contact your legislators in both the state senate and state assembly to let them know your views on this proposed legislation. Calling the state's toll-free legislative hotline at 800-362-9472 is the easiest and most efficient way to get a message to your legislators.

Around the Nation

... South Carolina bill would require women seeking an abortion to view ultrasound of their child
A bill making its way through the South Carolina legislature would require a woman seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound of her unborn child and to certify in writing that she has viewed it. If it passes, it would be the first bill of its kind in the country. Wisconsin law requires that women seeking an abortion must be told that an ultrasound is available for viewing under the Women's Right to Know Act. Read more...

... Day of Truth just four weeks from today
The third annual Day of Truth, a day in which students have an opportunity to counter the homosexual agenda in schools and express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective, is April 19, 2007, just four weeks from today. There is still time to register. Participating students are encouraged to wear t-shirts and pass out cards (outside class time) with the following message:

I am speaking the truth to break the silence. Silence isn't freedom. It's a constraint.
Truth tolerates open discussion, because the Truth emerges when healthy discourse is allowed.
By proclaiming the Truth in love, hurts will be halted, hearts will be healed,
and lives will be saved.

The Day of Truth follows the April 18, 2007, Day of Silence, organized by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and the United States Student Association.

Around Wisconsin Family Council

... March 15 Lobby Day at the Capitol challenging and inspiring
Over 100 participants in Reclaiming Wisconsin for Life and Family: A Day at the Capitol co-sponsored by Wisconsin Family Council and Pro-Life Wisconsin last Thursday heard about the challenges pro-family, pro-life legislators face in the current legislative session. Speakers included Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), chairman of the Assembly Committee on Health & Health Care Reform; Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), Assistant Assembly Majority Leader and chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Ethics; Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Senate Minority Leader; and Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), Assistant Senate Minority Leader. Following breakout sessions led by Wisconsin Family Council and Pro-Life Wisconsin staff members, participants met with their legislative representatives at the Capitol.

... 2007-2008 Legislative Directory correction
Please note the following correction to the 2007-2008 Legislative Directory: On page 11, under Sen Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), the toll-free number should be 888-326-6673.

... Updated list of legislation Wisconsin Family Council is tracking

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