The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee Post • September 27, 2013 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST 1 Businessman Kujawa to run for state Assembly Business leader Chris Kujawa announced Monday that he will seek the 21st District Wisconsin State Assembly seat vacated with the retirement of 10-year veteran Rep. Mark Honadel. "I have lived in the area all my life and know the issues families face because my family has faced them too," Kujawa said. "I've also run a business here and know how important it is to help local companies grow – not weigh them down with what government thinks is best." For 30 years, Kujawa has served as executive vice president for Kujawa Enterprises Inc., a landscape management firm in Oak Creek. "Since the Great Recession of 2008, small businesses have had to be incredibly smart with their spending decisions and growth strategies just to survive," Kujawa said. "I know how hard it has been. With health care and other challenges coming at us, I want to be in Madison to make sure Wisconsin government does what's right for the people and businesses of the 21st Assembly District." Kujawa grew up in Cudahy and has lived in South Milwaukee for 23 years with his wife, Judy, and their three children. 2 Baldwin criticizes Walker on Medicaid notice 3 St.Francis plant to stay open without layoffs Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin criticized Republican Gov. Scott Walker's letter telling Medicaid recipients they're likely to lose coverage at the end of the year. Walker's administration began sending the letters to an estimated 92,000 BadgerCare recipients Monday to let them know that they or someone in their family may be earning too much to remain on the program. Baldwin said in a letter to Walker that he must take more responsibility and communicate with those who are losing Medicaid coverage and must now purchase insurance through the new marketplace or exchange. Baldwin She is asking Walker to send a personal letter to anyone who is at risk of losing coverage. Baldwin also said Walker's administration should make phone calls and team up with other groups to work with those affected by the change. The Shur-Line St. Francis plant will stay open without any layoffs after it was sold this month to Chicago-based Nova Capital. Shur-Line, which makes painting products such as brushes and rollers, has 200 employees in St. Francis. Shur-Line was sold by its parent company, Newell Rubbermaid, to Nova Capital in a $214 million deal that also included four other hardware brands. It will operate the five brands under the Piedmont Hardware Brands name. Shur-Line will continue to make and sell products under its present name. Shur-Line is located at 4051 S. Iowa Ave. 4 State Patrol warns about phone scam Wisconsin State Patrol officials are warning about a phone scam which involves a male caller identifying himself as a sergeant with the State Patrol Green Bay office and asking for money to resolve a car crash involving a relative of the person called. The State Patrol reports that they have received calls from people on at least two occasions, saying they received calls from a man who identified himself as "Sergeant Walker of the State Patrol office in Green Bay" and then asked for $900 to pay for damages caused by the person's child or grandchild in a crash, according to a press release. The caller then told the people that they needed to wire the money immediately to fix the damage so the other driver would not press charges. "The phone message is a scam, and the State Patrol under no circumstances would contact anyone with such a request for money," said Major Brian Rahn, director of the Bureau of Field Operations. "If you receive a scam phone call like this, please notify the State Patrol Northeast Region – Fond du Lac Post at 920-929-3700." More information about this type of scam is available online from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection at http://datcp.wi.gov. The 51-year-old has served on several national organizations boards' and was instrumental in creating the Associated Landscape Contractors of America's educational foundation, which has grown to more than $1 million, and awards scholarships to college-bound students annually . In 2010, Professional Landcare Network, a national trade association, presented Kujawa with the Lifetime Leadership Award, recognizing his service, commitment and contributions to the green industry . "Chris has served many national and local groups, and has quite a record for getting things done," South Milwaukee Mayor Tom Zepecki said. "I am confident he would bring that talent to the 21st District. We would certainly do well in having him represent us in Madison." Last week, Oak Creek Common Council President Ken Gehl announced his candidacy for the seat. Gov. Scott Walker recently announced a special election for the seat. If necessary, a primary election would be held Oct. 22, and a special election Nov. 19. The 21st Assembly District covers Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and parts of Franklin. 5 Richards backs association Badger Care vote 6 Airport hotel to be Home2 Suites 7 Sturgeon Fest moving to Milwaukee State Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, applauded the Wisconsin Counties Association for voting at its annual state conference to support a provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows states to fully expand their Medicaid programs, also known in Wisconsin as BadgerCare, for people earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $20,628 for a family of two. Richards said the vote offers further proof that Gov. Scott Walker's "ideological opposition to the Affordable Care Act is hurting Wisconsin." "Rejecting an opportunity to insure more people that saves state taxpayers money was partisan politics at its worst," Richards said. "But it's still not too late for Republican lawRichards makers and Gov. Walker to do the right thing, reverse their terrible mistake and embrace this good deal for Wisconsin." Last month, Richards and several Democrats introduced legislation to fully expand BadgerCare to people earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Assembly Bill 311 would insure 85,000 more people on BadgerCare and save state taxpayers approximately $119 million in the next two years, compared with the changes passed in the state budget. Hilton hopes to build a 110room, extended-stay Home2 Suites near Gen. Mitchell International Airport. The three-story hotel would be built immediately north of the current 143-room Hilton Garden Inn, 5880 S. Howell Ave., according to plans submitted to the city of Milwaukee recently. Hilton launched the mid-tier Home2 Suites style in 2009, but does not have a location in the Midwest, according to its website. Plans have yet to be reviewed for the 62,000 square-foot building by city officials. Sturgeon Fest, the annual release of the fish into the Milwaukee River that has taken place in Thiensville Village Park since 2006, will be held in downtown Milwaukee on Saturday . Brad Eggold, the Lake Michigan fishery supervisor for the state Department of Natural Resources, said Riveredge Nature Center decided to move the event to Lakeshore State Park, which is near the Summerfest grounds and Discovery World. The change was made in an effort to get more people involved, he said.

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