This Week in the Wisconsin Legislature

MADISON--The Wisconsin State Legislature passed a flurry of bills Thursday as the two year floor period entered its final months.

"We're tackling the issues that concern us most," said State Senator Jo Schmoe (R-Riverbottom). "We all know it takes a village to raise a child, and what better village than state government?"

Among the bills which passed both the Assembly and Senate with bi-partisan votes:

• Mandating the use of car booster seats for most children under the age of eight
• Prohibiting the placement of more than one "snack cake" in any bag lunch
• Requiring the use of protective head gear when 'rough housing' in the park
• Allowing law enforcement officers to check to make sure 10 year olds actually wash their hands after going potty. (The bill defines going potty as doing either #1, #2 or both)

The 'rough housing' bill was the subject of a lengthy floor debate. Efforts to amend the bill to include stiff penalties for the cruel winter 'facewashes' were tabled. However the bill was amended to expand the definition of a park to include any area of land with visible vegetation.

"I was hopeful we could have mandated helmet usage, anywhere, 24-7 until the age of 12," said Schmoe. "Clearly, children would be safer if they always wore protective gear."

Schmoe pointed to the time she fell out of her bed as a child and received a lump on her head.

"Who can really know what kind of long-term damage that did to me," said Schmoe. "Thankfully I think I haven't suffered any mental impairment, but you never know."