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Reps in the News: Evers Signs First Bill into Law

Governor Tony Evers Signs First Bill into Law

The phrase “mental retardation” has been stripped from state regulations under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Tony Evers. The law replaces the term with “intellectual disability” in rules written by state government. It was the first piece of legislation signed by the new Democratic governor.

“Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity and empathy and respect every day, and that includes making sure our laws and codes that govern our state reflect those values,” Evers said.

Fifteen-year-old Abigail Kaiser, a Madison resident with Down syndrome, introduced the governor at the bill-signing event at the state Capitol. She outlined her interests at school, including acting and science, and said she’s looking forward to getting her first paid job this summer and exploring career options.

“People with disabilities deserve opportunities to have real jobs,” she said.

Abigail’s mother, Danielle Kaiser, said replacing the “hurtful” language is important to her daughter and her peers with disabilities. “That old language left people with preconceived notions of limits,” she said.

The bill had bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled state Legislature. Last month, the governor signed an executive order making a similar change to state rules.

Source: WPR

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Rep. Gallagher released the following statement after President Trump’s rally in Green Bay on April 27: “I’m glad that President Trump chose to come to Green Bay over the White House Correspondents Dinner. Our community is a shining example of how real economic growth comes from the bottom up, not from Washington, D.C.

“Whether it’s finding ways to strengthen our military, invest in our infrastructure or provide transparency in health care, there’s more to be done. Now it’s time for Congress to get back to work and build on this momentum.”

Source: Gallagher press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Baldwin announced $3 million in federal grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (WADRC) at UW-Madison. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Baldwin helped secure federal investments in ongoing research to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s in Wisconsin and around the nation.

“Alzheimer’s continues to put enormous demands on our health-care system and the Wisconsinites who care for those with the disease,” Baldwin said. “This federal funding will enhance the work of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center so they can continue their innovative research on preventative treatment options to help slow, and eventually stop, the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

More than five million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is projected to grow by millions in the next decade. This devastating disease also places huge demands on caregivers and the health-care system. This federal funding will help Wisconsin continue to be a leader in accelerating groundbreaking research on Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Source: Baldwin press release

Senator Ron Johnson

Sen. Johnson said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that although he does not believe President Trump’s campaign accepted help from Russia, he remains “concerned” about Russian election interference.

“I am every bit as concerned about Russian interference as any Democratic senator,” said Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Johnson also dismissed the idea that Russian agents could actively change vote totals, calling it “almost impossible” due to local control of elections. He noted that voter files could be more at risk but said the Department of Homeland Security has successfully consulted with state and local authorities to prevent such breaches.

“Let’s be vigilant. Let’s be concerned about it. But let’s not blow it out of proportion either,” Johnson said.

Source: thehill.com

President Donald Trump

Still seething over a major firefighters union’s endorsement of former Vice President Joe Biden, President Trump retweeted nearly five dozen tweets on Wednesday rebuffing Biden’s claim to support from firefighters.

The 58 retweets before 6:30 am sought to make the case that although the firefighters union’s leadership supports Biden, many firefighters support Trump. Although the retweets – which included a parody account – did not conclusively make that case, the spree belied Trump’s public claims that he is not concerned about the prospect of facing Biden in the 2020 general election.

The tweets also marked the latest instance of the president rejecting the advice he has gotten in recent weeks: to avoid taking on any top Democratic candidate one-on-one at the risk of boosting his or her chances of securing the Democratic nomination.

Source: CNN