Bill ARB-368 Passes Senate Committee

From: Wisconsin Section Manager W9IXG

Greetings!

Happy to report that the Senate hearing on AB-368 (antenna-tower bill)
happened yesterday.  Sam Rowe, KG9NG (Assistant Section Emergency
Coordinator), and I were present. Jim Lackore, AD9X, (State Government
Liaison) had a medical situation that prevented him from attending.

Our bill was second on the agenda.  It followed a lengthy presentation on a
bill regarding amateur boxing.  You want to know anything about amateur
boxing, see Sam or myself!  ;-)

Around noon, our bill finally came up and Representative Olsen, who carried
it from the Assembly following the retirement of Representative Joan Wade,
and Senator Risser, who sponsored it in the Senate, gave a very nice
presentation in favor of support. Olsen mentioned the September 11 tragedy,
Siren tornado, Weyauwega train incident as justification for support and the
need to change State language to agree with the federal government (PRB-1).
Risser stated that of the 12,000 amateurs in Wisconsin, 10% are involved in
ARES/RACES; he added the need for added communication for State security and
that this is a free service to the public. Senator Hansen wanted to know why
the League of Municipalities opposes this bill and Senator Risser answered
(in essence, a political turf battle) to the apparent satisfaction of the
committee. Sam followed with an excellent statement citing ARES/RACES
justification and several Wisconsin incidents where amateurs were called
upon to aid in emergencies; that 13 other States have already passed similar
bills, etc.  There were are couple of questions from the committee that were
answered by Sam.

The League of Municipalities did not send a representative but did send in a
letter opposing the bill.

Later that day, the committee went into executive session and voted
unanimously (6 to 0) to pass it on the Senate floor for vote!

Another step forward to passage.  However, our battle is not over.  I found
out the League of Municipalities will, most likely, try to come in through
the back door and convince Senator Chuck Chvala, 16th district, to keep it
off the Senate floor for vote.   This is typical tactics so we have to be
prepared to, again, notify our Senator that this bill needs to be supported
and to ask the Senator to please pass the word to Senator Chvala to allow it
to be voted upon by the general Senate.   The floor vote won't happen until
January.   I will keep you posted on when to send the next letters.

Our thanks to AD9X, KG9NG, K9ZZ, and all of you who have supported this bill
with your letters.  Things are looking pretty good but our push for passage
is not yet over so please stay ready to help.  Keep your eye on the Badger
State Smoke Signals web-site, www.bsss.org and the Wisconsin ARRL section
website, www.w9ixg.eboard.com for more information.   If I hear of anything
that needs immediate attention, I will use this ARRL email bulletin service
and our section nets.

 73,

  Don
  W9IXG
  ARRL section manager

Donald E. Michalski
4214 Mohawk Drive
Madison, WI 53711
(608)263-4685 (w)
(608)274-1886 (home)
w9ixg@arrl.org
www.w9ixg.eboard.com

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