BishopAccountability.org
	Is Sen. Lazich Doing What Is Needed to Protect and Help Children? By Linda Richter My Community Now March 31, 2009 http://blogs.mycommunitynow.com/inside_new_berlin/archive/2009/03/31/is-sen-lazich-doing-what-is-needed-to-protect-and-help-children.aspx On March 14, Mary Lazich had a Conservatively Speaking blog entry titled “State Budget Watch: Provision in Governor’s Budget Puts Children in Harm’s Way”. But speaking of putting children in harm’s way, what about drunk driving? Men, women, children and unborn children have been injured or killed by drivers operating vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What is Senator Lazich (R-New Berlin) doing about it? What has she done to reform Wisconsin’s lenient OWI laws? What bills has she introduced? What legislation does she support? And on the topic of children in harm’s way, what about victims of sexual abuse? Recently, we’ve been reading about Daniel Acker of Waukesha, the part-time aquatics program coordinator suspected of sexually assaulting young boys and teens for over 30 years. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial titled "Helping the victims" contends that stigma, shame, and fear result in sexual crimes being notoriously underreported. It argues that’s why serial predators can operate so long without detection. The editorial states, “It’s time for legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases for victims of past child sexual assaults.” It notes that SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), an organization familiar with the reluctance of victims to step forward, pushed to get the State Legislature to change laws. Indeed, in the previous legislative session, Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) proposed a Child Victims Act. It would have opened up a 3-year window for victims to file a suit against their perpetrators, regardless of how long ago the crime was committed. The Journal Sentinel has expressed support for the Child Victims Act. Does Sen. Lazich support the Child Victims Act? What action has Sen. Lazich taken? What is she doing to help victims of sexual predators get closure and justice? She has a blog and should clearly communicate her positions on these issues. Certain actions can put children in harm’s way, but so can inaction.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.