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TOMAH CHAMBER LUNCHEON

STATE SENATOR RODNEY MOEN AND ASSEMBLYMAN TERRY MUSSER ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM A SELECT PANEL AND THE AUDIENCE, AT A TOMAH CHAMBER LUNCHEON YESTERDAY FEB 26th Some sixty Tomah Area Business People Gathered For A Sandwitch & Soup Luncheon at The Teepee Supper Club in Tomah To Hear State Senator, Rodney Moen and State Assemblyman, Terry Musser, Discuss Issues and Answer Question on State Legislative Business and Answer Questions From a List of Panel Members and the Audience The Panel Members and Audience Keep Both Legislatures Busy Answering Questions On A Wide Variety of Issues. Such as "How Is The Tomah School District Going to Meet Its Needs If the State Allows Teachers An Automatic Wage Increase of 3.8% With Revenus capped at 2.9% - Both Legislatures agreed it Was a Bad Situation But Could Offer No Solution At This Time. We Are Aware Of It and Working On It Both Agreed. There were questions on the high cost of Medical Care. Senator Moen, commented that at present our Nursing Home population is nearly 70% Taxpayer Finaced. The question of the high cost of electricity and natural gas was brought up. Both Moen and Musser asssured the audience that they would oppose any deregulation of of those industries at this time, especially after the situation that has developed in California this winter. There was considerable discussion of the Kettle Commisions recommendation of consolidating the Police and Sheriffs Activities in the State in order to have better coordination of activties at less cost to the taxpayer. Both Legislature seem to think there is merit in the idea. But no real committement was made. Discussion on Prison and Education. It was revealed that we spend about 25,000 a year to maintain and care for a prisoner in comparison to about 7,000 per pupil. We have to do more to see that our children are given the oppurtunities they need which will keep them from ending up in prisons, said Terry. Campaigne reform was discussed and both Legislatures, were in total agreement that there must be something done to curb the highcost of people who wish to seek political office. Some effort is now underway in that area Rod Moen asserted. The question of Reoapportionment was a topic both men spent some time on and both agreed that because of the fact that Wisconsin will be loosing on congressional seat in this reapportionmnet that it would be a bitter fight and would probably end up in the courts deciding. Rod Moen, said there was a possiblity that there might be a budget crisis since the budget is generally presented to the Legislature in January but due to the Change of Governors this year it was not presented until a few days ago. It is the first time in some years that we do not have a surplus in the budget to work with Moen said. And so the questining went, until finally Eric Prise, Chamber President had to call it quits as the audience was leaving to get back to work.