Door County Representatives in the News

State Representative Garey Bies

Bies introduced a bill that would require the state to appoint a team of investigators to prepare a report for each death involving a law enforcement officer, require law enforcement agencies to have written policies and create a five-member state board. The bill had a public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 12.

“The law enforcement officer(s) involved should have peace of mind that all questions were answered leaving no cloud of suspicion,” Bies said. “The victim’s family should have the assurance the investigation was complete and accurate. And the public should have the confidence that the investigation was handled properly and without bias.”

Source: The Green Bay Press Gazette

Governor Scott Walker

Walker mentioned an interest in state tax overhauls in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, such as eliminating or flattening the income tax and dropping technical colleges from state tax rolls. He hasn’t committed to any changes, and said he plans to engage business leaders and the public before deciding on an initiative.

“I don’t have any preconceived notion on this,” Walker said. “It’s not like I have one goal. The only goal is I want the overall tax burden to go down every year I’m in office…What we’re trying to do is have these early discussions that aren’t threatening.”

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble

A CNN/ORC International poll says 67 percent of the country disapproves of this Congress, and 73 percent said it’s done nothing to fix the nation’s problems. Ribble agreed.

“They feel like Congress isn’t working,” Ribble said. “I can tell you, as someone who’s been on the inside, trying to fix some of the process things that cause Congress not to work, I’ve been equally disappointed…I think that people will make a determination as to whether I’m part of the problem or I’m part of the solution. I think that’s a fair question that they need to ask.”

Source: Fox 11 News

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

An extended federal unemployment benefit program expired on Dec. 28, causing an estimated 24,000 Wisconsinites to lose benefits.

“These extended unemployment benefits are very important, in light of how deep our recent recession was and how many people were displaced from good paying jobs and have not been able to get back on their feet,” Baldwin said.

Congress is expected to vote on further extending the benefits in January.

Source: WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

Johnson, who voted against the debt deal in October, was one of 11 Republicans to vote for ending the debate on the recent Congressional budget deal so it could move to a vote. All Democrats support the deal, but some Republicans, like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, don’t.

“Funding the federal government through successive continuing resolutions is a bad idea that only results in greater inefficiencies, waste and economic uncertainty,” Johnson said in a statement. “It is a practice that should end. The budget deal struck by Paul Ryan and Patty Murray is no ‘grand bargain,’ but I credit Paul with understanding that a grand bargain is not possible at this point in time.”

Source: The Capital Times

President Barack Obama

Obama signed a bill that outlines the federal budget through 2015, called the Bipartisan Budget Act. The act would restore $63 billion to the Defense Department and some domestic agencies, but still reduces the deficit by $85 billion. Congress still needs to approve a bill to authorize spending through the end of the fiscal year.

Source: Politico