Reps in the News: Walker Receiving Criticism from Former Secretaries

Governor Scott Walker

A fourth former secretary for Gov. Walker has come forward to criticize the Republican governor after resigning from his job leading Madison’s economic development agency in order to speak more freely.

Paul Jadin, the first CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and former mayor of Green Bay (1995-2003), informed the board of the Madison Region Economic Partnership on Oct. 17 that he was resigning from his $208,000-a-year job. He said the resignation was necessary to avoid entangling the agency with his political activity.

On Oct. 18, Jadin released an open letter, co-signed by former Corrections Secretary Ed Wall and former Financial Institutions Secretary Peter Bildsten, slamming Walker and endorsing Walker’s Democratic opponent, state Superintendent Tony Evers. Both Wall and Bildsten have recorded videos for Evers’ campaign.

Another ex-Cabinet official, former Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb, has also come out against Walker in recent months, saying the governor hasn’t been telling the truth about road funding. Gottlieb didn’t sign the letter and hasn’t endorsed Evers.

In their letter, the three former secretaries say they joined his administration with a “fervent belief” that Walker shared their desire to improve the state. But they said “it became clear that his focus was not on meeting his obligations to the public but to advancing his own political career at a tremendous cost to taxpayers and families.”

Source:  Wisconsin State Journal

Congressman Mike Gallagher

It doesn’t look like Rep. Gallagher will debate Democrat Beau Liegeois before Election Day. Gallagher, R-Green Bay, is seeking a second term representing the 8th Congressional District in northeast Wisconsin. He’ll face off against Liegeois, an an assistant district attorney in the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, in the Nov. 6 midterm election. Liegeois requested two debates with Gallagher earlier this month, saying there are “significant issues” that need to be discussed before the election, but said he hadn’t heard from the congressman. “I thought we were running a campaign of mutual respect between two former military officers, but apparently I was mistaken,” Ligeois said. But Madison Wiberg, a spokeswoman for Gallagher’s campaign, dubbed Liegeois’ request an “October surprise,” one that was rolled out after the Democrat had been mostly silent for the past year. Given the last-minute demand and Gallagher’s full campaign schedule, she said, a debate “does not appear possible” at this stage.

Source:  Green Bay Press Gazette

Senator Tammy Baldwin

President Trump signed into law bipartisan water infrastructure legislation that includes a requirement pushed by Sen. Baldwin that federally funded water infrastructure projects use American-made iron and steel. Baldwin has long championed stronger Buy America standards and her Made in America Water Infrastructure Act requires that 100 percent American-made iron and steel is used in water infrastructure projects funded by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) signed by Trump includes a five-year extension of Buy America requirements for water infrastructure projects funded by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

“A five-year Buy America standard is better than the status quo and President Trump has taken an important step forward on our shared goal of making sure taxpayer money is not spent supporting foreign workers,” Baldwin said. “I will continue fighting for a permanent Buy America commitment from Washington that rewards our Made in Wisconsin workers and manufacturers.”

“As we invest in our nation’s water infrastructure, American taxpayers expect – now more than ever – that the iron and steel products incorporated into these taxpayer-financed projects will be melted, molded and made in America by American workers and the foundries and mills that employ them,” said Neenah Foundry’s Municipal Products Group Vice President Scott Hoffman. “On behalf of Neenah Enterprises of Neenah, Wisconsin, our deep appreciation goes to Senator Baldwin for her leadership in securing a five-year extension of the procurement preference for American-made iron and steel products for drinking water infrastructure. Senator Baldwin has been a leader on a multitude of Buy America efforts to ensure that taxpayer-financed public infrastructure uses castings produced in American foundries like Neenah.”

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is a federal-state partnership that acts as an infrastructure bank to help ensure safe drinking water in all 50 states and territories. Baldwin’s reform would require all of these projects to use American-made iron and steel. Eligible projects include improving drinking water treatment; fixing or replacing old pipes; improving the source of the water supply; replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks; or any other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health.

Source:  Baldwin press release

President Donald Trump

At his rallies, President Trump argues that the midterm elections are about one person – Donald Trump. “Get out in 2018,” Trump told a crowd in Missouri last month, “because you’re voting for me!” Privately, the president says the exact opposite. According to two people familiar with the conversations, Trump is distancing himself from a potential Republican thumping on Election Day. He’s telling confidants that he doesn’t see the midterms as a referendum on himself, describing his 2020 reelection bid as “the real election.” And he says he holds House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responsible for protecting their majorities in Congress. According to one person with knowledge of these talks, Trump has said of Ryan and McConnell: “These are their elections … and if they screw it up, it’s not my fault.” Other sources said Trump is sure to lash out at perhaps his favorite bogeyman of all – the media – for allegedly opposing him.

Source:  politico.com