MEDIA CONTACT: Casey Langan, Senior PR & Media Relations Specialist (Focus on Energy) 608.230.7031   Casey.Langan@focusonenergy.com WEST ALLIS – Focus on Energy’s Strategic Energy Management program has helped Quad/Graphics achieve major energy and cost savings. It is estimated Quad/Graphics will achieve more than $100,000 in annual energy savings at its 1 million-square-foot manufacturing facility in West Allis that operates 24/7 and employs more than 800 people. Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin businesses and residents to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus on Energy’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program provides technical, management and financial support to companies looking to

CONTACT: Brian Rothgery, 414-278-4230 or brian.rothgery@milwaukeecountywi.gov Questions Abele’s Transit Cuts in Light of $2.75 Million Transit Surplus MILWAUKEE – The County Board will vote Thursday on a resolution that offers several options the Transportation Department and the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) can use to avoid route cuts announced by County Executive Chris Abele. Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr.’s resolution calls on MCTS to identify efficiencies that led to recently revealed $2.75 million surplus in Transit for 2017, study modifications to certain bus routes, and use higher than anticipated wheel tax revenue to maintain service for transit riders. “Citizens are counting on us to

Contacts: Pete Jopke, Dane County Land and Water Resources-Parks Division, (608) 224-3733 Lisa Johnson, Dane County UWEX Horticulture Educator, (608) 224-3715 Marla Eddy, Madison City Forester, (608) 266-4450 Scott VanOmmeran, Sun Prairie Parks and Forestry Supervisor, (608) 825-0723 February 12, 2018 6:00 pm Lyman F. Anderson Agriculture & Conservation Center 5201 Fen Oak Drive – Conference Room 121 Madison, WI 53718 Dane County Parks, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the City of Madison, the City of Sun Prairie and the Dane County Tree Board will hold a public information forum about the 2018 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program in Dane

CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722 On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/news.htm On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce On Twitter: @WIWorkforce MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen today announced steps that DWD and its regional workforce partners are taking to assist workers following news that Kimberly-Clark plans to close two plants in Neenah and Fox Crossing over the next 18 months. “We have contacted our regional workforce partners to prepare Rapid Response services that help affected workers find new, good-paying jobs,” Secretary Allen said. “We want the workers to know that the labor market outlook is bright, our reemployment services produce results, and

Contact: David Callender or Dale Knapp 608.241.9789 or dcallender@wispolicyforum.org WPF Report Provides Open Forum for Three Running in Spring Elections MADISON—Wisconsin voters this spring will choose a new state Supreme Court justice to fill the first open seat on the high court in more than a decade. Voters will narrow the field from three candidates to two in the February 20 primary; the two finalists will face each other in the April 3 election. The winner will serve a 10-year term on the court. To help voters make an informed choice, the Wisconsin Policy Forum (WPF) sent questionnaires to all

CONTACT: Jim Dick, DNR Director of Communications, James.Dick@wisconsin.gov, 608-267-2773 MADISON – The Department of Natural Resources has scheduled a public hearing March 7 in Sturtevant regarding the city of Racine’s Lake Michigan water diversion application. The proposed diversion is for the Racine Water Utility to extend public water service to portions of the village of Mount Pleasant in the Mississippi River Basin that do not currently have a public water supply. The proposed diversion area includes part of the area identified by Racine County as the Foxconn facility site. In its application, the city of Racine proposes to divert up to an annual average of

Contact: Kate Constalie, kate.constalie@legis.wi.gov, 608-266-5490 Special Session bills will keep families in poverty MADISON, WI – In an attempt to boost his approval ratings in a tough election year, Gov. Walker has called for a Special Session on Welfare Reform. The package of proposals that will create more barriers for struggling families to access food and long-term job training received a joint Senate and Assembly hearing today. “Governor Walker and Legislative Republicans are out of touch with the needs of struggling families,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “Rather than introducing solutions that address the cost of child

CONTACT: Jennifer Miller, 608-266-1683 Elizabeth Goodsitt, 608-266-1683 Work requirement leads to more people moving into the workforce According to data issued by the Department of Health Services, more than 25,000 FoodShare members who participated in the FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET) program have secured employment, as of December 2017. As part of Governor Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Works for Everyone reform, the FSET program helps Wisconsin citizens move from government dependence to true independence through the dignity that comes from work. Data shows that: Since FSET implemented statewide on April 1, 2015, there have been 25,071 FSET participants who have gained employment. On

Contact: Jessica Lovejoy, 608-318-3065, jessica@dalletforjustice.com Dallet highlights 20 years of experience as prosecutor and judge MILWAUKEE, WI – Today, Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Dallet released her second ad in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice election. Judge Dallet will run the 30-second ad, titled “Stand,” on TV beginning this week. The TV ad highlights Judge Rebecca Dallet’s experience as a prosecutor and a judge delivering justice to victims in some of the toughest cases of sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence. Dallet promises to continue to stand up for the people of Wisconsin as a Supreme Court Justice. The ad can be seen here: https://youtu.be/T5j05Ha2UqY “Unlike her opponents,

CONTACT: Matt Rothschild Executive Director, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign W: (608) 255-4260 C: (608) 695-7368 Two GOP lawmakers who are top recipients of rent-to-own contributions are still pressing their bill to loosen state regulations on the industry. A legislative hearing was held Tuesday on the measure, Senate Bill 637, which would exempt the industry from the state’s consumer protection laws. Under current law, rent-to-own companies are required to disclose to customers their interest rates, which often climb into the triple digits. The bill would do away with that obligation. And it would limit how much customers could receive if they sued rent-to-own store. Damage

Today Dane County Executive Parisi kicked off construction of a new facility at the Henry Vilas Zoo including a concession area and bathrooms. The $1.6 million dollar project will replace the building to include more bathrooms, provide a family and breastfeeding area, and feature more handicapped stalls. The new facility will include a concession area with a slide up window for sales of ice cream and a new outside seating area adjacent to the Flamingo Exhibit. The plan also includes LED lighting and other green features. “The Henry Vilas Zoo has become a destination for families across Wisconsin,” said County

CONTACT: Zach Madden, 608-266-7521(office) 608-620-3884 (cell) MADISON – Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), ranking Democratic member on the Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, issued the following statement ahead of today’s public hearing on special session bills that chip away at the safety net for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable families: “Too many hardworking families across Wisconsin live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to make ends meet. Instead of helping these families get ahead, the governor proposes chipping away at the very safety net that these families count on when times are tough. Democrats are committed to getting people to work and breaking