MADISON WEEKLY

Medical marijuana

The Wisconsin Nurses Association testified in support of a medical
marijuana bill sponsored by Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, at an
Assembly committee hearing Tuesday.

Assembly Bill 740 provides a "medical necessity defense" for
marijuana-related prosecutions and property seizures.

"It is difficult for nurses to remain silent when seriously ill
patients are denied access to an effective medical treatment," said
Gina Dennik-Champion, executive director of the nurses association.
"We support this legislation because there is medical research that
indicates that marijuana can serve as a form of medical treatment for
specific health problems such as nausea, vomiting, pain, and glaucoma
when other treatments fail."

Energy plan

If the Capitol feels cooler these days, it's not for a lack of hot
air. It's part of an executive order to reduce state energy usage
recently signed by Gov. Jim Doyle.

"Faced with huge increases in heating bills, many Wisconsin families
are looking at their thermostats and making the difficult decision to
turn it down a notch or two - especially when they're not home,"
Doyle said. "This executive order directs state agencies to take the
same common sense steps as Wisconsin families are taking."

One first step: the heat will be turned down in the Capitol from 72
to 68 degrees. State agencies are also directed to turn their
thermostats down, if they haven't already, and look for other ways to
reduce energy.

Capitol ornament

People who want to support the state Capitol, and get something for
the Christmas tree, can purchase one of the 2005 commemorative state
Capitol ornaments. The ornaments, which were recently unveiled,
feature a replica of the gilded female statue that tops the Capitol.
The ornaments, which raise money for the State Capitol Restoration
Fund, retail for $17 and are available online at www.wisconsin history.org.

Former state treasurer and revenue secretary Cate Zeuske helped
spearhead the effort and called the ornaments "a keepsake that can be
passed on from one generation to the next."

Bird flu

Doyle recently outlined plans for the possible event of a bird flu pandemic.

State plans include tactics to isolate patients to prevent spread of
the virus, agreements that will allow hospitals to assist each other,
and testing of people who may have been exposed to the virus and are
hospitalized with symptoms.

"There has been a lot said and written about bird flu lately - some
of it factual, and some exaggerated," Doyle said. "But either way you
look at it, a possible pandemic is a frightening thing. And I want
the people of Wisconsin to know that we're doing everything that we
possibly can to prepare for an outbreak of bird flu here, should it occur."

What's happening Wednesday

The State Elections Board will be meeting at Brookfield City Hall,
Common Council Chambers, 2000 N. Calhoun Road, Brookfield.

The meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday

Oil executives will be answering questions about high oil and gas
prices in Wisconsin.

Gov. Jim Doyle subpoenaed executives of five major companies to
answer questions about the rising cost of home heating and surging gas prices.

Executives subpoenaed include David O'Reilly, chairman and chief
executive officer of Chevron Corp.; Lee Raymond, chairman and CEO of
ExxonMobil Corp.; James Mulva, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips
Co.; Ross Pillari, chairman and CEO of BP America Inc.; and John
Hofmeister, president and U.S. country chair of Shell Oil Co.

The hearing will be held at 1 p.m. at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education facility, 161 W.
Wisconsin Ave., Room 7970, Milwaukee.