Our Reps: Gov. Walker Visits Sevastopol Schools to Discuss K-12 Budget Proposal

Governor Scott Walker

Gov. Walker traveled to Institute on May 30 to discuss the historic K-12 and rural school investments included in his biennial budget proposal with Sevastopol School District students, teachers and staff. The governor’s proposal lifts K-12 investment to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high and includes $649 million in new state aids for all K-12 schools in the state. “It’s great to be here today in the Sevastopol School District to discuss the positive impact our K-12 budget proposal will have on the community,” Walker said. The Sevastopol School District is estimated to receive more than $1.3 million in funding from the state under Governor Walker’s biennial budget, including: An increase of $341,864 in Per Pupil Aid and an increase of $128,866 in Sparsity Aid. Sparsity Aid provides $300 per pupil of additional funding to small rural districts that have less than 745 pupils and a population density of fewer than 10 pupils per square mile of district attendance. The Sevastopol School District may also be eligible for further funding under Governor Walker’s budget proposal, such as mental health grants, energy efficiency incentives, and special needs grants.

Source: Walker press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Baldwin introduced legislation to address challenges faced by Wisconsin businesses when shipping by rail. The Rail Shipper Fairness Act aims to reduce costs and improve service problems faced by a broad coalition of Wisconsin rail shippers, including farmers, manufacturers and utilities. “Our Wisconsin businesses need a quality and responsive railroad system to effectively get their goods to market,” Baldwin said. “In order to continue building a strong Made in Wisconsin economy that is fair to farmers, manufacturers, and consumers, we need to give these shippers a seat at the table. This legislation will address the challenges faced by local businesses and help drive our Wisconsin economy forward.” In Wisconsin, businesses from across the state have come together as the Wisconsin Freight Rail Customer Alliance (FRCA) to support the legislation.

Source: Baldwin press release

Senator Ron Johnson

Sen. Johnson issued the following statement regarding the president’s budget proposal: “America faces enormous challenges, including our massive $20 trillion debt and $129 trillion projected 30 year deficit. There are no easy solutions, but at the very least, the president’s budget recognizes that for far too long we as a country have spent beyond our means. I stand ready to work with anyone who is serious about prioritizing spending on the core functions of the federal government to develop a budget that is in the best interests of both our state and our nation.”

Source: Johnson press release

President Donald Trump

Germans, long opposed to many of President Trump’s campaign promises, are irritated and concerned by his criticism of their country. They wonder why the leader of Germany’s most influential international ally seems more willing to criticize their country than nations with questionable human rights records. “Europeans think they are now being treated worse by Trump than countries like Russia or Saudi Arabia,” said Stephan Bierling, an expert on transatlantic relations at the University of Regensburg in Germany. Confronted with Trump’s verbal attacks on Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel – who is known for her cautious choice of words – appears to be increasingly outspoken about the ongoing decline of German-U.S. relations. Although she was never a supporter of Trump, she initially expressed a willingness to collaborate with him if he respected values such as “the dignity of each and every person.” Her conditional offer of support, made the day after Trump’s election, was meant as both an invitation to work together and a subtle warning. But after contentious meetings with Trump last week, Merkel indicated changes in the U.S.-German equation, saying Sunday that Europe “really must take our fate into our own hands” and emphasizing that the days when her continent could rely on others was “over to a certain extent. This is what I have experienced in the last few days.”

Source: The Washington Post