Representatives in the News

Rep. Garey Bies

A special study committee charged with reviewing the effectiveness of the 50-plus specialty courts operating in Wisconsin released its final recommendations. Bies (R- Sister Bay) and Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) serve as chair and co-chair of the special study committee. “We had a strong coalition of committee members who brought forward new ideas building upon the overwhelming success we’ve seen with our specialty courts,” said Bies. “Using evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism is good for the participant and the correctional system as a whole.” Final recommendations of the committee include:  allowing programs to accept offenders with a prior violent offense; creating a grant program to establish family treatment courts to help parents who have problems related to mental illness or substance abuse; and, reducing the minimum waiting period for an occupational license for a participant in a treatment court. The recommendations had overwhelming bipartisan support from the 16 members of the committee, which included legislators, judges, prosecutors, treatment providers and mental health advocates. The recommendations will be forwarded to the full Legislature for consideration next legislative session, which begins in January. All committee materials and complete drafts of the recommendations can be found on the Wisconsin Legislative Council website, legis.wisconsin.gov/lc/. “We’d like to thank the committee members, the Legislative Council staff, and all those who presented before the committee and provided critical information for the committee to consider,” expressed Rep. Bies and Goyke. “The final recommendations can have a large impact on improving our criminal system and reducing recidivism. We’re hopeful the full legislature will consider these changes next session.”

Source:  Bies press release

Congressman Reid Ribble

On Dec. 10, Ribble stood with a coalition of House conservatives in offering legislation to stop the President’s immigration executive order. The amendment bans any government funding from being used to provide waivers for illegal immigrants to remain in the United States. “The Constitution provides Congress the authority to write and pass laws. The President is tasked with implementing and enforcing those laws. Any President – regardless of political party – is required to enforce all existing laws, not simply pick and choose which laws they want to follow. That is why I worked with a handful of House Republicans to offer this amendment today and stop the President from taking this action.”

Source:  Ribble press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin announced on Dec. 11 that a transportation bill she introduced is included in the Omnibus Appropriations legislation moving through Congress. Baldwin’s measure, which has broad support from Wisconsin’s business and agriculture community, will allow trucks currently operating on Hwy. 41 in Wisconsin to continue to use the highway once it is converted to a federal Interstate. “Our Wisconsin businesses and employers need a quality transportation system to get their goods to market. This is a great step in continuing to build a strong ‘Made in Wisconsin’ economy,” said Baldwin. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this important bill passed and I especially want to thank Representatives Petri and Ribble for their hard work in the House of Representatives. This effort will help drive Wisconsin’s economy forward.” “This is great news for future economic growth in Wisconsin and we are especially grateful for Senator Baldwin getting the job done,” said President and CEO of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce John Casper. “The Hwy. 41 corridor is home to 50 percent of all international companies operating in Wisconsin and we are hopeful that this federal interstate designation will help create more economic growth for the Fox Valley and our state.” Federal law currently limits interstate roadways to a gross vehicle weight limit of 80,000 pounds, which is a lower weight limit than Wisconsin’s state law permits. Baldwin’s efforts would allow the heavier trucks to continue to operate on a stretch of interstate highway between Green Bay and Milwaukee. A similar provision was previously enacted for I-39 in Wisconsin.

Source:  Baldwin press release

Sen. Ron Johnson

Johnson made these remarks on the passage of H.R. 3979, the bill to authorize the nation’s defense:  “The finest among us are currently fighting to defend America against enemies allied with those who attacked us on 9-11. Those enemies urge the destruction of America and carry out the slaughter of Americans and other innocent people. Defending America and Americans is the first priority of the federal government. It is imperative that Congress provide our forces with the resources needed to carry out their duties. I voted to do just that.”

Source:  Johnson press release