Penny Bernard Schaber

Penny Bernard Schaber is a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 57th Assembly District since her election in 2008.

Early life and education

Schaber was raised in Mundelein, Illinois and remained in Illinois to complete her Associate and Bachelor’s of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. After graduation she volunteered for the Peace Corps working at a hospital in Campino Grande, Brazil. When she returned to the United States, she attended Northwestern University in Chicago where she received a degree in physical therapy. Penny Bernard Schaber's career in healthcare brought her to Wisconsin where she started working in hospitals in Milwaukee and moved to the Fox Valley in 1984.^[1]

Before entering politics, Bernard Schaber worked as a physical therapist in local hospitals, community nursing homes, in private practice, and in schools. With a passion for the environment she was active in the Fox River Cleanup Plan. In order to obtain a better understanding of environmental issues, Bernard Schaber returned to school in 1985 to complete an Associate Degree in Natural Resources at Fox Valley Technical College. As a member of the Fox Valley Sierra Group and as Chairperson for Wisconsin’s John Muir Chapter for the Sierra Club, she has been very active in local and statewide natural resources.^[2]

Legislation

Some of the legislation that Rep. Bernard Schaber has worked on and co-authored this past session that were passed and signed into law as Wisconsin Acts include:

• AB 266: If a Business is closing or having mass layoff, the employer is required to provide contact information to the local workforce development board and support services information to affected employees.
• SB 107: The E-Waste law requires manufacturers to collect and recycle certain electronic devices, including computers, TV’s and printers, and establishes recycling targets for manufacturers based on their sales.
• AB 111 This Bill allows people who are denied by one insurer to enroll in a HISRP, whereas before they needed denials from two insurers before enrolling.
• AB 112: This Bill ends the statutory lifetime limit on benefits under HIRSPs.
• AB 275: This Bill creates a separate Physical Therapy Examining Board, which is separate from the Medical Examining Board.
• AB 308: It allows police officers to safely escort vehicles through red lights and stop signs.
• SB 379: The school board of school's closing or reopening schools must notify the Department of Public Instruction.
• AB 261: The Check Scam Protection Act prohibits this practice of sending out seemingly normal checks that commit people or businesses to a contract they did not intend to sign up for.^[3]

Committees

In the 2011-2012 Legislative Session, Rep. Bernard Schaber will serve on the Jobs, Economy and Small Business Committee, the Transportation Committee,^[4] and will be the minority ranking member on the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.

In the 2009-2010 Legislative Session, Bernard Schaber was a member of the Health and Health Care Reform Committee, the Public Health Committee, the Transportation Committee and was Vice-Chair of the Jobs, the Economy, and Small Business Committee.^[5]

Elections

In 2008 Bernard Schaber was elected into the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 57th District after defeating Jo Egelhoff 15,383 - 11,560 in the November general election.^[6] Bernard Schaber won re-election November 2, 2010 defeating Republican challenger Chris Hanson 10,415 - 9,419.^[7]

References

External links

• Wisconsin Assembly - Representative Penny Bernard Schaber official government website

• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Follow the Money - Penny Bernard Schaber
  • 2008 2006 campaign contributions
• Penny Bernard Schaber campaign contributions at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign