“People under the control of others should not be victimized twice,” Sen. Coggs says Sen. Spencer Coggs announced this week that he is introducing legislation that would protect victims caught up in the trade of human trafficking by overturning their convictions for prostitution and other related crimes when they were controlled by abusers and victimizers. [...]

Senator Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) is introducing a bill that will require the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to improve its investigation and inspections of illegal child care centers, establish a hotline to receive reports of illegal child care centers and improve the public education and information to parents on the dangers of using illegal [...]

State Representative Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee) last week introduced the Small Business Loan Guarantee legislation. “One of the most significant factors for African American businesses is lack of access to capital,” stated Rep. Fields. “I am pleased to work with Rep. Fred Clark to expand the types of businesses eligible for the small business loan guarantee [...]

Priorities for next session include job creation, education, health care and law enforcement WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Senate convenes for the 112th Congress this week, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced plans to immediately introduce several bills related to his priorities for the new session of Congress. Kohl will continue serving on the Appropriations, Judiciary [...]

Washington, DC –U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) was on hand at the White House this week as President Barack Obama signed a modified version of her legislation – the Family Violence and Prevention Services Act (FVPSA), which expands and improves services to victims of domestic violence and their families. Congresswoman Moore said, “I’m so proud [...]

The Internal Revenue Service today released instructions to help employers implement the 2011 cut in payroll taxes, along with new income-tax withholding tables that employers will use during 2011. Millions of workers will see their take-home pay rise during 2011 because the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act Of 2010 provides a [...]

A significant change to how the City of Milwaukee addresses non-compliant owners of vacant properties passed the Common Council this morning on a unanimous vote. The ordinance, File # 100639, was sponsored by Common Council President Willie L. Hines, Jr., who stated that the new penalties are necessary to ensure compliance and stabilize neighborhoods. “You [...]

Did you know that there are new rules governing the fees and penalties that credit card companies can charge you? The provisions in the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 should save consumers at least $10 billion a year, according to the Pew Foundation. The Minnesota Society of CPAs (MNCPA) explains [...]

Legislators, municipal judges and court clerks, attorneys, and court agency officials celebrated this week as Governor Jim Doyle signed into law SB 383 – the Municipal Court Reform & Restructuring Act. Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and Representative Donna Seidel (D-Wausau), the bill’s authors, applauded the action of the Governor. The bill makes sweeping changes [...]

4 bills authored by Sen. Coggs become law MADISON – Senator Spencer Coggs joined Governor Jim Doyle for the signing of four jobs related bills designed to provide protections and social safety nets for employees in Wisconsin. Senate Bills 523, 585, and 586 and Assembly Bill 884 were authored by Senator Coggs and were approved [...]