Reps in the News: Walker Gives Favor to Schimel Despite Other Candidates

Governor Scott Walker

Gov. Walker passed over more than a dozen candidates to appoint outgoing Attorney General Brad Schimel to a Waukesha County judgeship, according to records released by the governor’s administration. Walker handed Schimel the job on Nov. 20, a day after the Republican attorney general conceded defeat to Democrat Josh Kaul. Schimel replaces Judge Patrick Haughney, who officially resigned on Election Day after announcing earlier this year he would step down.

The governor’s office released application documents for the position late Friday in response to an open records request. The materials show 13 people applied for Haughney’s job in addition to Schimel.

Source: madison.com

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Regarding the government shutdown called by President Trump in order to find support for his proposed $5 billion southern border wall, Rep. Gallagher said if he could get a few folks from northeastern Wisconsin – no matter which side of the aisle – to spend 10 minutes looking at maps, they could fix the problem, whereas two years of discussion has led to the current dismal situation in Washington D.C.

Source: wbay.com

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Baldwin’s legislation to combat fraudulent organic imports that unfairly undercut American farmers and mislead consumers recently passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. The legislation now heads to the President to be signed into law.

“Wisconsin is home to more than 1,200 organic farms, and they are a strong driver of our state’s agricultural economy,” Baldwin said. “Our farmers work extremely hard to make sure their products meet the strict requirements of USDA organic standards, and we must make sure that all organic products sold in the U.S. meet those same rigorous standards. This reform will level the playing field for American farmers and make sure that American consumers get the high quality, organic food products they expect. I look forward to seeing the President sign this important legislation into law.”

In a May 2017 article, the Washington Post reported on substantial fraud in imported grain from Turkey destined to be sold as organic in the United States. Fraudulent organic imports have the potential to seriously and unfairly damage the strong reputation of American organic products and undercut their sales, posing a threat to U.S. farmers and consumers alike. Baldwin’s Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act will take on these unfair trading practices by giving officials new and better tools to guard against fraud. The legislation works to ensure that all organic products admitted at ports of entry in the United States are authentic and prohibit entry of products labeled as organic that do not meet National Organic Program standards.

“The National Organic Coalition is grateful to Senator Baldwin for her incredible leadership in the Farm Bill process to strengthen oversight of organic imports by introducing and successfully championing the Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act. There has been an urgent need to modernize and strengthen USDA’s infrastructure to prevent fraud,” said Abby Youngblood, executive director of the National Organic Coalition.  

Source: Baldwin press release

Senator Ron Johnson

Sen. Johnson, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the following regarding the retirement of Defense Secretary James Mattis:  “General Mattis is a fine man who has spent his career serving our country with great distinction. His perspective on military matters and foreign affairs will be missed.”

Source: Johnson press release

President Donald Trump

The daughters of a Queens foot doctor say their late father diagnosed President Donald Trump with bone spurs to help him avoid the Vietnam War draft as a “favor” to his father, Fred Trump, according to a new report Wednesday. Dr. Larry Braunstein, a podiatrist who died in 2007, often told the story of providing Donald Trump with the diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels so he could be exempt from military service, his two daughters – Dr. Elysa Braunstein and Sharon Kessel – told the New York Times.
“It was family lore,” Elysa Braunstein said, adding that the story was “something we would always discuss” among family and friends.
The White House did not return the Times’ request for an interview with the President nor respond to questions about his service record.

Dr. Braunstein rented his office in Jamaica, Queens, from Fred Trump in the 1960s. His daughters said their father provided the diagnosis of bone spurs as a courtesy to the elder Trump.

“I know it was a favor,” Elysa Braunstein told the newspaper, who added that the “small favor” got her father “access” to Fred Trump.

Source: The New York Times