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Reps in the News: Kitchens Applauds Additional $600 Million for Schools

Representative Joel Kitchens

Rep. Kitchens released the following statement on the Joint Committee on Finance’s action on the K-12 education budget:  “Yesterday the Joint Committee on Finance approved the K-12 education package for the 2017-19 biennial budget. This budget makes historic investments in our classrooms. I am proud to say that this budget gives our great educators and children an additional $600 million. This money will go directly into the classroom and have an immediate impact on the lives of children and educators. In addition to an increase of $200 per student in each of the next two years in all school districts, this budget puts money toward increasing the revenue limit in low-spending districts. This is an important step in assuring that all students in Wisconsin receive a great education. As vice chair of the Assembly Committee on Education, chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families, and former school board president I know firsthand the challenges schools can face. Providing our children with a top-notch education should be priority number one and I am confident to say that this budget does just that. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to provide our children the education they deserve.”

Source:  Kitchens press release

 

Governor Scott Walker

Signaling his support for a new fee on electric and hybrid vehicles, Gov. Walker said charging more for those cars was a matter of fairness. “If they put wear and tear on the roads like any other vehicle, they should probably have a part in paying for the system,” he said. His comments add support to a plan pushed by some of his fellow Republicans to put a new annual fee on electric and hybrid vehicles. Backers of the idea hope it can help wrap up work on a state budget that is two months late. “Parity is the word,” Walker said. “If the Assembly and Senate put something in place – parity between vehicles that use gasoline, and therefore pay a gas tax, and vehicles that do not, parity makes sense to me.”

Source:  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Rep. Gallagher released the following statement after Hurricane Harvey:  “As Texas recovers from the most devastating disaster in its history, we are witnessing the best of our country as Americans of all backgrounds – including members of our own community in Northeast Wisconsin – work tirelessly to help save lives. These first responders and everyday heroes are embodying the spirit that Secretary Mattis described last week as they show us what it means to ‘hold the line.’ Their courage and compassion offer a better path forward, and we should follow their example. In light of National Preparedness Month, Hurricane Harvey, and the floods and tornados in Wisconsin this summer, now is an appropriate time to remind everyone to develop a plan of action before disaster strikes. In case of an emergency, it’s important to have a designated place to take shelter at home, work, or school; a family meeting spot to ensure everyone is safe and accounted for; and alternative methods of communications in case phone service is not available. These are just a few of many steps families should take to enhance their readiness in case of an emergency. When a crisis hits, every minute counts, and having a plan of action in place could mean the difference between life and death.”

Source:  Gallagher press release

 

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Baldwin released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that he will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:  “Putting the DACA program in place was the right thing to do and it has worked for the past five years. President Trump’s decision ends this protection and breaks a promise we have made to nearly 800,000 young people who are either students, serving in our military, or are working in a job contributing to communities across America. This move by the President is wrong. It tears families apart and prevents Dreamers from reaching their full potential. It is now more important than ever for Congress to take action and do right by Dreamers, who have only known America as their home and built their lives here. I support bipartisan legislation, the Dream Act, introduced by Senators Graham and Durbin to protect these young people and allow them the opportunity to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship. We must right this wrong and provide Dreamers a chance to continue helping us build a stronger country.”

The Dream Act would allow immigrant students who grew up in the United States to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship.

Source:  Baldwin press release

 

Senator Ron Johnson

Sen. Johnson said President Donald Trump has “given Congress six months to get our act together” to protect young immigrants who were brought into the country as children. Trump on Tuesday began dismantling the government program known as DACA. Johnson said he looks forward to passing bipartisan legislation to “fix” the immigration system, end incentives for illegal entry, secure the border and “lawfully protect the Dreamers.” That is a term for participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Source:  The Associated Press

 

President Donald Trump

On a sleepy Saturday morning back in March, Donald Trump dropped this bombshell on the political world:  “Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” Turns out, he was lying. That’s the conclusion the Justice Department reached in a court filing; “Both FBI and NSD (National Security Division) confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets,” the filing read. This affirms what former FBI Director James Comey told Congress about Trump’s allegations in the spring and what former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has repeatedly said as well. Trump, for his part, has offered zero evidence to back up his initial claim because, as we now know conclusively, there was no evidence.

To sum up: The current President of the United States flat-out lied about the then-sitting president issuing a wiretap of his campaign headquarters.

Source:  CNN

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