With budget enacted:
Legislature turns to other concerns

		Eye on the  Capitol  John Huebscher

Every biennial legislative session has two parts.

During Phase One, from January to July of the odd numbered year, the budget holds center stage.

Phase Two, which runs from September of the odd numbered year until the end of regularly scheduled floor sessions in late March of the even numbered year, is taken up deliberating on legislation that addresses many non-fiscal items.

This period will involve discussion of issues large and small. Some bills represent a bi-partisan agreement between the Republicans who dominate the legislature and Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Others will be enacted with every expectation they will be vetoed and the issues addressed in the bills made part of the debate during the 2006 campaign.

Issues of interest

As in every session, a number of bills will engage matters of interest to Catholics and the moral priorities for public life identified by the bishops.

Following are some issues of interest to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) that are likely to be dealt with in the months ahead:

• Definition of marriage. A joint resolution to amend Wisconsin's Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and woman will be debated later this year or, more likely, in early 2006. WCC supports the amendment.

• Lending Practices and Consumer Credit. Lawmakers will review several pieces of legislation to modify the rules governing loans and purchases on credit. Plans to regulate payday loan companies, to ease regulation of "rent-to-own" agreements, and a proposal to limit interest rates on consumer purchases will be addressed.

In debates over these bills, WCC will ask legislators to assess these lending practices in light of their impact on the poor and economically vulnerable in Wisconsin.

• Conceal and Carry. Legislation to permit individuals to carry concealed weapons will be on the agenda this fall. WCC is opposed to the bill on the grounds that Wisconsin is already a safe place to live with a low crime rate. Introducing more weapons into society is likely to foster more violence and accidental deaths from firearms.

• Conscience Protection for Health Care Workers. The legislature will debate bills to permit health care workers to refuse to participate in certain procedures that compel them to violate their ethical and religious beliefs.

WCC is using the discussion on these bills to educate legislators on the Catholic view regarding conscience and urge that the rights of conscience be given broad protection in our laws.

• Ban on Human Cloning. A bill to ban human cloning has passed the Assembly and is awaiting action in the Senate. WCC supports the ban.

• The Death Penalty. It is possible that backers of the death penalty may seek to hold a referendum to ask voters whether Wisconsin should restore capital punishment. WCC will oppose any effort to reinstate the death penalty.

Be active participants

Bills relating to health care, services for immigrants, the parental choice program, and other issues may also get serious attention over the next six and a half months. WCC will engage those as necessary.

All in all, the remaining months of the 2005-06 legislature is sure to offer ample opportunity for Catholics to be active, engaged participants in public policy debates.

John Huebscher is executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.

Arrival: Catholic Relief Services volunteer begins journey in Africa

		Notes from  The Gambia  Tom Brodd

Just a few words of introduction, as I embark on this journey for the next 18 months.

If you recall the article from July in the Catholic Herald, you know that I am going to The Gambia in Africa to work in the area of small business development for Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Also, a large part of the volunteer program is to bring back to Americans the solidarity and understanding that we are all one human family. I hope in the coming months to be able to convey a little of that back to you through these writings.

A late start

As with all journeys, something goes wrong. At least mine happened early on. I finally arrived in The Gambia a day late as my plane from New York was seven hours late in leaving so that I missed my connecting flight in Dakar, Senegal. I spent the night in a hotel near the CRS office and spent some time with one of the other volunteers of the program who is in based in Dakar. Her name is Carol. She is from Illinois and is retired.

Having lived in Africa before as a Peace Corps volunteer, it was a thrill to step off the plane and feel the air and smells and sights of Africa again - for if you fall in love with a place, there are no feelings to match the ones you have when you return after a long absence.

My entry into The Gambia was inauspicious as my plane from Senegal to The Gambia was two hours late and the driver who was to pick me up did not know the plane was delayed. He had left the airport before I arrived so I had to call the CRS office to let them know that I was in.

I was given a tour of the office by the country director and met my fellow workmates and tried to remember all of their new and different sounding names. Then it was off to my apartment to unpack and rest up for the coming days' activities.

Living in The Gambia

My apartment is a detached two-bedroom house, which is in the courtyard of my landlord's compound. My landlord is a retired widow who has living with her one of her sons and grandsons; she is very kind and keeps giving me more food than I can eat.

The house has electricity, which is on about half of the time, and running cold water, as there is no need for hot water since the temperatures are always hot here and a cold shower before going to bed is just the ticket to cool down.

The next day at work I was tossed into the food culture at lunch time as the office had been invited to a Fula naming ceremony. With the Fula people, seven days after the birth of a child it is given a name.

Because they were not able to go, some of the food was sent to the office and I was invited to partake. The food was sour milk with rice and sugar added. It tasted like yogurt and was quite refreshing. Although at lunch, which consisted of rice and fish cooked in palm oil, I did argue with those who wanted to eat the fish head, which is considered a delicacy here.

This so far has been my introduction to The Gambia. I can only hope that the next 18 months go as well. Lastly, I just want to thank again all those that have helped to realize this work through their prayers and contributions.

Tom Brodd of Madison is living in The Gambia, West Africa, as one of 16 participants in the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Volunteer Program, which provides U.S. Catholics with opportunities to share their skills through CRS and to live in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world.