Reps in the News: Walker Signs Conservation Grants for Farmers

Representative Joel Kitchens

Rep. Kitchens released the following statement after Governor Walker signed the Producer-Led Watershed Grant Bill into law:  “I am delighted that Governor Walker has signed my Producer-Led Watershed Grant Bill, which I authored with Senator Rob Cowles (R- Green Bay). This important bill will increase the amount available for Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants given out by DATCP by $500,000 each year in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 fiscal years. Farmers are great problem solvers and they will play a vital role in solving our water problems. Grants such as these will allow farmers to explore new technologies and innovative processes available for land and water conservation that they otherwise would not be able to access. I believe this is another step forward in providing producer-led groups the tools needed to have a positive impact on our water quality. This bill is part of my continued effort to bring the agriculture and conservation communities together in working toward the common goal of protecting our ground and surface water. I believe this bill will play a role in changing our approach to these issues it will have an impact throughout our great state.”

Source:  Kitchens press release

Governor Scott Walker

After conservative state Supreme Court candidate Michael Screnock went down in flames on election day, Gov. Walker must have had visions of his own political demise when he tweeted:  “we are at risk of a #BlueWave in WI. Big government special interests flooded Wisconsin with distorted facts & misinformation. Next, they’ll target me and work to undo our bold reforms.” The Governor does not elucidate on what those distorted facts and misinformation are, nor does he mention that candidate Screnock – described by some as an ideological extremist because he has been arrested twice while protesting against abortion – had his own outside influences at work, as well as support from the National Rifle Association. With the election of the more experienced Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the conservatives are down to a razor-thin majority of one. Dallet will be sworn in Aug. 1.

Source:  Compiled from various media reports

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Baldwin visited ACE Marine in Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s North Coast Marine and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Marinette to highlight bipartisan legislation she authored with Sen. John Cornyn that helps address the critical need for trained workers in Wisconsin’s maritime industry. Baldwin toured ACE Marine and the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Training Center to discuss her Domestic Maritime Centers of Excellence Act that authorizes the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to designate community and technical colleges with maritime training programs as centers of excellence, and provide technical assistance and other support to these institutions as they train the domestic maritime workforce. The North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) are strong supporters of Baldwin’s legislation. “Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is at the forefront of maritime and marine education and training. I will continue doing everything I can to make Wisconsin home to a Center of Excellence,” Sen. Baldwin said. “We must train the next generation of highly-skilled workers supporting Wisconsin’s shipbuilding industry, and ensure the future viability of our maritime workforce.” Earlier this month, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao recommending that NWTC be considered for designation as a Domestic Maritime Center of Excellence under the new law. Baldwin was joined by Dr. Jeff Rafn, President of NWTC, Ann Franz, Director of North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance, and Jeff Frank, Production Manager at ACE Marine, in Green Bay. The Senator was then joined by Dr. Rafn and Jan Allman, CEO of Marinette-Marine, in Marinette.

Source:  Baldwin press release

Senator Ron Johnson

Sen. Johnson chided President Donald Trump for using Twitter to announce the ouster of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, adding that such a cavalier approach might make it more difficult for the president to find future nominees.

“It’s not the way I’d do it,” Johnson told Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd. Johnson said he did not necessarily disagree with Trump’s decision to get rid of Shulkin, who reportedly had policy disagreements with the president and was also the subject of headlines about his use of federal funds for private matters. “I think the president does need to understand the effect it has on attracting other people,” Johnson said. The White House has claimed Shulkin resigned, but the former secretary has said publicly that he was forced out.

Source:  politico.com

President Donald Trump

President Trump talked to embattled Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt on Monday evening, the White House says, following reports that the EPA chief is under review for paying cheap rent for a Washington apartment linked to an energy lobbyist. Asked on Tuesday whether he supports Pruitt, Trump said, “I hope he’s going to be great.” The White House is looking into Pruitt’s activities following revelations that he rented a condominium on Capitol Hill owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist at Williams & Jensen, multiple news sources reported. The owner charged Pruitt just $50 a night, and only for the nights he slept there, Bloomberg reported. Pruitt has led Trump’s campaign to roll back President Barack Obama‘s policies to fight climate change and protect the environment. The EPA has stood with the president on issues that have divided the administration, such as pulling the United States out of the Paris climate agreement.

Source:  cnbc.com