Reps in the News: Dec. 4 – 10

Governor Scott Walker

Walker’s office announced the 2015 holiday tour schedule for the Executive Residence. Holiday tours allow guests to view the Executive Residence’s beautiful decorations and festive scenery. The unique decorations found throughout the main rooms on the first floor are crafted by Wisconsinites from all over the state.

“The decorations are incredible this year,” said Governor Walker. “The Executive Residence belongs to the people of Wisconsin and we are excited to welcome them inside for holiday tours once again to share in the festive decorations.”

The Walkers have partnered with Second Harvest Foodbank and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Big Bundle Up Campaign again this year to promote the generous spirit of the holiday season. Non-perishable food items and warm weather items, including new or gently used mittens, hats, scarves, coats, sweaters, jackets and snowpants are happily accepted at the residence before and after the tours and will be donated to those in need.

2015 Holiday Open House Schedule: Dec. 4, Noon – 2 pm; Dec. 5, 9 am. – Noon; Dec. 9, Noon – 2 pm; Dec. 10, Noon – 2 pm; Dec. 12, 9 am – Noon.

The Executive Residence is located at 99 Cambridge Road on Madison’s northeast side in the Village of Maple Bluff. Tours are free of charge, and cameras are allowed. Parties of 20 or more are asked to make a reservation by calling 608.246.5501. The Executive Residence is handicapped accessible, and handicapped parking is available upon request at the time of arrival.

Source: Walker press release 

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who led the group of 24 senators, in calling on President Barack Obama to investigate and pursue all possible options under his executive authority to reduce gun violence. In a letter to the President, the senators especially urged him to eliminate a loophole that currently allows individuals without a federal license to conduct high volumes of gun sales at gun shows, over the internet, and elsewhere, all without conducting background checks. U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, sent a similar letter signed by 114 of his colleagues in the House.

“We stand with you determined to take action to reduce the terrible epidemic of gun violence plaguing this nation. All across the country, communities are ravaged and lives are senselessly cut short by gun violence. Following yet another horrific mass shooting in Roseburg, Oregon, it is unthinkable that our country can continue to turn a blind eye to these tragedies,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to address an aspect of the high-volume gun seller loophole that allows guns to be sold without a background check by eliminating the ambiguity surrounding the term ‘engaged in the business’ as it pertains to federally licensed firearms dealers.”

Source: Baldwin press release

Sen. Ron Johnson

Johnson joined Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kelly Ayotte (D-N.H.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) this week in calling for flexibility for America’s dairy farmers in the recently-passed Surface Transportation bill. The senators sent a letter to bipartisan leaders on the conference committee asking that the final bill allow bulk milk trucks to carry milk without being forced to offload portions, which increases food safety risks for consumers and costs for dairy farmers.

“Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards.”

Source: Johnson press release

President Barack Obama

Combating climate change will prove to be a rebuttal of terrorist efforts, Obama declared at the opening of a major climate summit in Paris. “What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it,” Obama said Monday at the COP21 conference, being held at a highly secured site outside the French capital two weeks after ISIS terrorists carried out a bloody rampage in the French capital.

Obama interspersed his climate message with meetings on fighting ISIS during his stay in Paris, which began with a midnight tribute outside the Bataclan nightclub, where 90 people died during the Nov. 13 attacks.

In words directed to developing countries, many of which balk at demands to reduce carbon output, Obama said the United States recognizes its own role in contributing to climate change.

“I’ve come here personally as the leader of the world’s largest economy and the second largest emitter, to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it,” Obama said.

Source: CNN