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State Senator Attends Conference in Poland

WARSAW, POLAND (May 26m 2006) - State Senator Bob Jauch (D. Poplar) is in Warsaw, Poland attending the tenth annual World Congress on Civic Education this week. The conference, hosted by the Center for Civic Education and the Polish Centre for Citizenship Education is being attended by participants from 63 nations and 21 US States. The conference theme is Civic Education: A Worldwide Movement. The World Congress attracts educators from around the world to share information about the best practices of citizenship education. This year’s emphasis is on the ten years of collaborative efforts to train thousands of teachers to encourage young students to be knowledgeable and responsible citizens. “Democracy cannot exist nor thrive without an actively engaged citizenry. These citizenship initiatives are essential in developing civic minded citizens who are more likely to participate in influencing government decisions,” Jauch said. “No matter what the language, culture or political system, civic education has worked in producing citizens who develop, sustain or preserve and protect democratic values in their society.” The Poland conference is the 5th International Congress that Jauch has attended, the other four occurring in Moscow, Budapest, Mexico City, and Amman. No Wisconsin tax dollars are used for the event as the conference provides for Jauch’s accommodations and travel.

Sexual Assault Loophole Closed

MADISON (May 26, 2006) - Important legislation that closes a loophole in Wisconsin’s sexual assault law was signed by the Governor earlier this week according to the bill’s author State Senator Cathy Stepp (R-Racine). Until Senate Bill 526 was signed into law, Wisconsin was the only state in the nation that specifically excluded alcohol from the state law definition of the word “intoxicant” for the purpose of sexual assault. Stepp’s bill passed both houses of the legislature unanimously. The bill idea came from students at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. “I congratulate the Parkside students that brought this loophole to the attention of the Legislature and testified on the bill’s behalf in committee,” said Stepp. “This bill is another example of how real citizen action can bring about change.” Before SB 526 passed, not only was Wisconsin’s “intoxicants” law inconsistent with every other state in the country, it was inconsistent with itself. Alcohol is defined as an intoxicant in the drunk driving statutes but it was not in the sexual assault law. The bill was supported by law enforcement agencies because it will help them close that loophole and more effectively punish sexual predators. Stepp stressed that the new law did not make it a crime for adults to have consensual sex after having a few drinks. This was a misconception people who did not understand the bill held when the Legislature was debating SB 526 earlier this year. The bill gives prosecutors another tool to get tough on sexual predators who use alcohol to facilitate a rape.

Congress Members Not Above the Law

WASHINGTON, DC  (May 26, 2006) - U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) released the following statement in regards to the FBI search and seizure of documents from the Congressional office of Rep. William Jefferson, who is under investigation for bribery: "Members of Congress are not above the law. As a former prosecutor, I believe that simply being a member of Congress should not grant anyone immunity from lawful searches conducted with a court-approved search warrant. Furthermore, I find it to be the height of hypocrisy that the Republican leadership, which acts as a rubber stamp for the President's warrantless eavesdropping on law-abiding citizens - in apparent violation of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act law -is so quick to take the defense on the protection of rights when Congress is the target."

Feingold Voted for Senate Immigration Bill

WASH., D.C. (May 26, 2006) -  U.S. Senator Russ Feingold says he voted in favor of the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform legislation because he believes the bill, while far from perfect, moves the country in the right direction with a sensible solution to a very difficult problem. "I agree with the bill’s main sponsors and the President that a comprehensive, pragmatic approach is needed to secure our borders while also meaningfully addressing the fact that there are 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country," Feingold stated.  The U.S. Senate Bill allows many of those who are currently here illegally to earn legal status if they pay significant fines, learn English, hold down a job, and pass background checks. This is not amnesty. The bill also institutes a guest worker program that will allow American businesses to hire foreign workers only when they cannot fill jobs with American workers, and that is subject to strong labor protections. "While the Senate bill is a good start, we still have a long way to go," Feingold ctoninued . He says the House bill is a disaster. "The House bill’s enforcement-only approach is divisive and unrealistic. "The President’s leadership, and a willingness of House leaders to work with the Senate, will be crucial to retaining the important reforms in the Senate bill during the conference process."

U.S. Attorney for Western District Named

WASH., D.C (May 26, 2006) - U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced that the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Erik Peterson for the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. “Erik Peterson will make a fine U.S. Attorney for Western Wisconsin. Erik is a dedicated public servant and has prosecuted numerous cases for the state,” said Kohl. “His experience on the state level will serve Mr. Peterson well as he makes the transition to the U.S. Attorney’s office and to the federal court system.” After graduating from Marquette Law School, Peterson spent his entire legal career in Wisconsin. He has served as the District Attorney for Iowa County since 1999. Mr. Peterson was nominated for the U.S. Attorney position by the bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission. For the past 27 years, Wisconsin has used a nominating commission to select U.S. Attorneys, as well as candidates for the federal bench.