BULLETIN

WHAT HAPPENED

• “Tow truck operator killed while working on the interstate.” “Trooper’s cruiser hit by out-of-control vehicle.” The Wisconsin State Patrol wants to put an end to tragic headlines like these. “Drivers have a legal and moral responsibility to help protect those who must work on the side of busy roads while fast-moving vehicles pass by just a few feet away,” says Wisconsin State Patrol Lieutenant Tony Burrell of the Northeast Region/Fond du Lac Post. “To prevent needless deaths and injuries, drivers must comply with Wisconsin’s Move Over Law, which provides a safety zone for workers on the side of roadways. By law, drivers are required to shift lanes if possible or at least slow down when encountering a law enforcement vehicle, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck, highway maintenance vehicle or utility vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing. On interstate highways and other divided roads with multiple directional lanes, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement or other emergency vehicle if you can safely switch lanes. If the road has a single directional lane or you can’t safely move over because of traffic, you must reduce your speed until safely past the vehicle.” A citation for a Move Over Law violation costs $263.50 with three demerit points added to your driver’s license.

• According to a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services, 92,398 people in Wisconsin selected plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace leading up to the Dec. 15 deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2015. About 90 percent of Wisconsinites who selected health insurance plans in the first month of open enrollment were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums, compared to 88 percent who selected plans during a similar period last year. Of the 92,398 Wisconsinites who selected a plan, 58 percent re-enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2015 and 42 percent signed up for the first time. Consumers shopping for health insurance coverage should sign up by Jan. 15 in order to have coverage effective on Feb. 1. If consumers who were automatically re-enrolled decide in the coming weeks that a better plan exists for their families, they can make that change at any time before the end of open enrollment on Feb. 15.

COMING UP

• The League of Women Voters of Door County would like to urge any citizen or candidate interested in a forum for the spring election cycle to contact Sandy Brown at [email protected], or 920.743.8146 by Jan. 16. Any candidate, group, or individual citizen can request a forum. However, the League will proceed only if the position is contested (i.e., more than one candidate is running for that seat) and at least two of the candidates agree to participate.

It has long been the policy of the Door County League of Women Voters to conduct one candidate forum per race. If there is a primary, the forum would be held before the primary election. If there is not a primary, the forum is held during the general election season. The deadline for making a request related to spring elections is Jan. 16. Requests will be honored in the order in which they are received.

The goal of League of Women Voter candidate forums is to inform citizens about candidates and their stands on issues. As an organization, the League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office. LWV Candidates Forums are conducted in such a manner that each candidate has an equal opportunity to inform the electorate and state his/her positions.