Representatives in the News
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Governor Scott Walker
A new survey of conservative activists shows many in the movement see Walker as the strongest Republican to take on Hillary Clinton in 2016. The survey wasn’t scientific, but conservative activist group ForAmerica surveyed almost 10,000 of its Facebook members and more than 32 percent said Walker has the “best shot at beating Hillary Clinton” in the field, according to results shared first with National Journal. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon who has never held elected office, finished in second, with nearly 25 percent of the vote. Sen. Ted Cruz (14 percent), Sen. Rand Paul (6.6 percent) and Jeb Bush (3.9 percent) rounded out the top five. Bush, who is expected to blow past his potential presidential rivals in fundraising this quarter, also finished fifth in the recent Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll. The ForAmerica survey included eight candidates (the others were Rick Perry, who finished with 3.3 percent, and Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie at 1.9 percent apiece). Members could also pencil in others, and Mike Huckabee led the write-in category, receiving pulling in 1.3 percent.
Source: National Journal
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Representative Reid Ribble Ribble and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) reintroduced two bills that would stop the secretive practice of gerrymandering by letting the public participate in the Congressional redistricting process. “Ending gerrymandering is a good government measure that is long overdue,” Ribble said. “Gerrymandering pads districts with extra votes for incumbents and can disenfranchise millions of American voters. Making districts so heavily liberal or conservative that the only competition for a seat occurs during the primary election is dishonest, and these two bills will help bring the practice to an end.” “Gerrymandering is a dirty secret no one wants you to know about. Voters used to choose their leaders, but now politicians choose their voters,” Cooper said. “These reforms will shed much-needed sunlight on our shady elections process. And sunlight is the best disinfectant.” A longtime advocate for transparency in redistricting, Ribble is sponsoring the bills as political division paralyzes Congress. Only 20 percent of House districts are considered competitive by the Cook Political Report’s Partisan Voting Index, and the number of “swing seats” has fallen to a record low of 90 out of 435. Meanwhile, an all-time high of almost 60 percent of House districts are considered extremely lopsided and partisan. The John Tanner Fairness in Redistricting Act takes politics and partisanship out of the congressional redistricting process. Each state would be required to establish an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission to redraw congressional district lines once every 10 years that reflect contiguous communities rather than carved-out, gerrymandered districts that protect political parties. The Redistricting Transparency Act of 2015 would require states to post redistricting information online, including the data used in the process, details of the process, proposed maps and public hearing dates. It would also require that the public be allowed to comment before maps are approved. Source: Ribble press release |
Senator Tammy Baldwin
Baldwin and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Family Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act, a bill that would open the VA Family Caregivers Program to all eligible veterans who were severely injured while serving our country. The Family Caregivers Program provides home health training, peer support, and a small financial stipend to caregivers of severely injured veterans. The caregivers also have access to mental health support and enrollment in the VA’s Civilian Health and Medical Program, if they are not already eligible. Enacted in 2010, the original Family Caregivers Program was limited to post-9/11 veterans. This bill would allow eligible veterans from all wars to apply for the VA Family Caregivers Program. The VA has estimated that at least 70,000 more veterans would be eligible under the expansion of the Family Caregivers Program. “Senator Baldwin’s introduction of the Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act of 2015 is greatly appreciated by DAV Wisconsin. This legislation is badly needed. Many seriously injured Wisconsin veterans and their families have communicated to us eligibility concerns with the current law. This legislation addresses these concerns. It treats all severely injured veterans requiring caregiver services equitably,” said Al Labelle, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Wisconsin Legislative Director.
Source: Baldwin press release
President Barack Obama
Obama marked the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., with comments celebrating the courage and tenacity of the activists. “In one afternoon 50 years ago, so much of our turbulent history – the stain of slavery and anguish of civil war; the yoke of segregation and tyranny of Jim Crow; the death of four little girls in Birmingham; and the dream of a Baptist preacher – all that history met on this bridge.
It was not a clash of armies, but a clash of wills; a contest to determine the true meaning of America. And because of men and women like John Lewis, Joseph Lowery, Hosea Williams, Amelia Boynton, Diane Nash, Ralph Abernathy, C.T. Vivian, Andrew Young, Fred Shuttlesworth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and so many others, the idea of a just America and a fair America, an inclusive America, and a generous America – that idea ultimately triumphed.
“As is true across the landscape of American history, we cannot examine this moment in isolation. The march on Selma was part of a broader campaign that spanned generations; the leaders that day part of a long line of heroes.
“We gather here to celebrate them. We gather here to honor the courage of ordinary Americans willing to endure billy clubs and the chastening rod; tear gas and the trampling hoof; men and women who despite the gush of blood and splintered bone would stay true to their North Star and keep marching towards justice.”
Source: White House press release