Try, and try again, and finally Wisconsin Wing succeeded on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 when Governor Jim Doyle signed into law Assembly Bill 132, which requires employers to grant CAP members up to 15 days a year unpaid leave to participate in emergency services operations and prohibits discrimination in employment based on Civil Air Patrol membership.

Twenty-two Wing members and several supportive legislators were on hand to witness AB 132 become 2009 Wisconsin Act 56.

Wisconsin Wing’s first legislative attempt was introduced as Assembly Bill 914 in early March 2008 with five sponsors and a single co-sponsor. It died in committee just 16 days later, but that was before the Sauk County flood in June. By February 2009, Wing members across the state were urging their legislators to support the new initiative, pointing to the 5000 man-hours of disaster relief the Wing had provided to the citizens of Sauk County and the hours lost because some CAP members were refused leave from work.

In early March, AB 132 was introduced with much broader legislative support - 13 sponsors and four co-sponsors. During the ensuing months public hearings and committee hearings were held before the bill was passed by both the Assembly, in May, and the Senate, in September.

Special recognition goes to Lt Col Ron Houser of LaCrosse Composite Squadron, whose initiative, support and tenacity in working with State Senator Dan Kapanke and Representative Michael Huebsch got AB 132 introduced.

Other members of LaCrosse Composite Squadron in attendance at the signing included Lt Col Harold Moe, Lt Col Bill Sorenson, Maj John Clark, Capt Ron Asfoor, C/TSgt Laree Johnsrud, and C/2d Lt Mark Classen. Lt Col Jeff Wiswell, WI Legislative Squadron, coordinated the Wing’s efforts in Madison.

From Wisconsin Wing Headquarters: Col Don Haffner, Lt Col Clarence Peters, Lt Col Larry Ochowski, Lt Col Jeff Thomas, and Capt Rose Kienholz.

Also in attendance were Lt Col Steve Michaels and C/Lt Col Niko Ruud of Milwaukee Squadron 5; Capt Dave Vriezen, C/A1C Edward Skaife, and C/SMSgt Alex Lengyel of 153rd Madison Composite Squadron; Maj Robert Thomas, 1st Lt David Walsh, 1st Lt Pamela Thomas, and C/1st Lt Jon Walsh of Walco Composite Squadron, and C/CMSgt Dan Turkal of Timmerman Composite Squadron.

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