Our Representatives in the News

Representative Joel Kitchens

Kitchens issued the following statement in support of the Joint Finance Committee’s (JFC) decision to save SeniorCare – the discount prescription drug program for Wisconsin’s seniors.

“I am very pleased with the JFC’s announcement that they will preserve SeniorCare. A couple of months ago, I wrote a letter to members of the JFC urging them to reject any proposed changes to SeniorCare and to preserve the program in its current form. I am happy to see that they heeded the advice of my letter.

“SeniorCare currently serves about 90,000 Wisconsinites and has helped to save seniors millions of dollars. Ensuring that this program maintained its current level of excellence was a common refrain that I heard from many of my constituents.

“SeniorCare is both wildly popular and successful at keeping the cost of prescription medications affordable. Many of those in the SeniorCare program are living on a small, fixed income. Without SeniorCare, many of them would not be able to afford their medications without sacrificing from a different area of their tight budgets.

“Today’s decision from the JFC to save SeniorCare means that the program’s current level of funding will be maintained. Furthermore, enrollment fees and drug co-pays will be frozen at their current levels. This is great news as it helps to ensure that our state’s most vulnerable population will be able to continue to afford the medications they need.”

Source:  Kitchens press release

Governor Scott Walker

Walker said he may sit out the Florida Republican presidential primary because of the impending showdown between the two Floridian presidential contenders. Speaking to conservative radio host Laura Ingraham, Walker said if he does jump in the 2016 race, “I don’t think there’s a state out there we wouldn’t play in. Other than, maybe, Florida, where Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are…in some of the polls, essentially tied,” he said, naming the former governor and current senator. Walker said Bush currently has the financial advantage in his home state, and Rubio would eat up a huge portion of the state’s donors as well, making it difficult for others to compete in the state’s expensive media market. “Short of (Florida) … I think our message, common-sense conservative reform, could play just about anywhere out there,” Walker said.

Source:  CNN

Representative Reid Ribble

Ribble, Jim Renacci (R-OH), and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 2353, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act. 
“The time for a long-term solution to repair our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is far past due, yet Congress has once again kicked the can down the road. We could not support another short-term funding measure in good conscience as it fails to acknowledge or address the need for a long-term, sustainable solution. Once the Highway and Transportation Funding Act is signed into law, we will have two months to finally get serious about saving our roads and bridges. Let’s get to work.”
 In April, Ribble led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing the Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act, a bill that would provide at least 10 years of funding for the Highway Trust Fund. Starting at passage, it indexes the gasoline and diesel user fees to inflation to sustain the trust fund for nearly two years, and sets up a bipartisan, bicameral Transportation Commission tasked with finding a long-term solution.

Source:  Ribble press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

On May 26 Baldwin was joined by local first responders and concerned citizens to highlight the dangers facing La Crosse and surrounding communities as volatile oil train traffic increases and call for immediate action to increase rail safety in Wisconsin.

Senator Baldwin’s Crude-By-Rail Safety Act would set new standards for crude volatility, take unsafe tank cars off the tracks, and increase fines for violations. In addition, the legislation would authorize funding for first responder training, equipment and emergency preparedness and require comprehensive oil spill response plans for trains carrying oil, petroleum and other hazardous products.

“The danger facing Wisconsin residents living near rail lanes has materialized quickly. Just a few years ago, an oil train in our state was a rare sight. Today, more than 40 oil trains a week pass through Wisconsin,” Baldwin said. “As more and more volatile crude oil moves through Wisconsin by rail, it is critical that appropriate safety measures are in place to reduce the risk of deadly accidents and that our emergency personnel have the training and resources to respond in case of tragedy.”

“Thank you to Senator Baldwin for her efforts at the federal level on these volatile oil trains. The transport of hazardous materials is a community issue that must be dealt with on many levels, such as legislation and grants to provide immediate relief to areas along oil train routes. The public has questions and they deserve answers,” said Gregg Cleveland, City of La Crosse Fire Chief.

Source:  Baldwin press release

President Barack Obama

On Tuesday, June 2, President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to Army Sergeant William Shemin and to Army Private Henry Johnson for conspicuous gallantry during World War I.

Sergeant William Shemin will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions while serving as a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Sergeant Shemin distinguished himself during combat operations in the vicinity of the Vesle River, Bazoches, France, on August 7-9, 1918. Private Henry Johnson will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions while serving as a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Then-Private Johnson distinguished himself during combat operations in the vicinity of the Tourbe and Aisne Rivers, northwest of Saint Menehould, France, on May 15, 1918.

Source:  White House press release