Elected Representatives in the News

Governor Scott Walker

Walker tried to put a positive spin on the one-two punch of lackluster jobs numbers and a drop in tax collections that will likely put the budget in the red next year. Walker’s administration reported Aug. 28 that tax collections were $281 million less than anticipated for the fiscal year that ended in June. That puts the two-year budget on pace to be at a $115 million shortfall by June 30.

Adding to the bad news, the state Department of Workforce Development reported that private-sector jobs grew just 1.3 percent during the 12-month period ending in March. State-by-state comparisons won’t be available until Sept. 18, but the slow growth is on par with Wisconsin’s last quarterly report when the state ranked 37th nationwide for 2013. The weak economic news came on the heels of a Marquette University Law School poll on Wednesday that showed Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke in a dead heat. It was the third Marquette poll since May showing the race as essentially tied. Walker downplayed the scope of the disappointing tax collections in an interview on conservative talk radio WTMJ-AM. “We believe going into next year healthier things will happen in the economy and we will continue to grow,” Walker said.

Source:  Associated Press

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin, D-Wis., was named co-chair of Democrats for Public Education, a new tax-exempt advocacy group, also known as a “527 group,” composed of Democrats throughout the country advocating for “access to strong, safe neighborhood schools with well-prepared and supported teachers.” She joins a group that includes U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.

“I have spent my career in public service working to invest in education, because we know that strong public schools can help us build a strong middle-class in America,” Baldwin said in a statement. “I’m proud to join a coalition that is committed to giving a voice to the importance of high-quality public education and our shared responsibility to work together to lift every child up to their dreams.” The group’s purpose is rooted in the idea that Democrats can rally around a set of core beliefs when it comes to educating children. Pocan and Baldwin have both worked on student loan debt reform legislation at the higher education level. This effort will focus on the K-12 system. Learn more at democratsforpubliceducation.com.

Source:  The Capital Times

Senator Ron Johnson

Johnson says the Islamic State extremists reported to have beheaded a second American journalist are evil barbarians who must be defeated. The Islamic State group released a video on Sept. 2 that appears to show the beheading of Steven Sotloff. If confirmed, it would be the second such video in two weeks after the killing of journalist James Foley. Johnson says the video highlights the need for the U.S. to intervene in the Middle East to stamp out the terrorist group.

Source:  Associated Press

President Barack Obama

Obama told a large union audience at a Labor Day event in Milwaukee that while “Republicans in Congress love to say no,” he is the one who “placed a bet on America’s workers.” Obama outlined what many Democrats are using as a midterm platform, highlighting hopes to raise the minimum wage and pass immigration reform. Obama also used the speech to portray Republicans as obstructionists who are holding the country back.

The President told the receptive audience that “most of the policies I am talking about have two things in common. They are going to help more families get ahead. And Republicans who run our Congress oppose almost all of them.” When the crowd broke out in a chorus of boos, Obama reflexively turned to a now oft-used line: “Don’t boo, vote. Don’t boo, vote. It is easy to boo, I want you to vote.”

Source:  CNN