Your Representatives in the News

Check out what Door County’s political representatives have been doing in Madison and Washington:

State Assembly Representative Garey Bies:

Bies is circulating a proposal that would protect vulnerable highway users such as pedestrians, horseback riders and cyclists. The bill would create stiffer penalties for drivers who hurt or kill vulnerable users and would require driver education classes to cover safety strategies regarding vulnerable highway users.

Source:  Bies office’s e-update

State Senator Frank Lasee:

Lasee drafted Senate Bill 71, which would allow municipalities to restrict wind energy systems beyond Wisconsin’s wind-siting rule restrictions. Municipalities could also deny wind energy suppliers access to land if the land is slated for residential or commercial development. Currently, municipalities can only restrict installation or use of a wind energy system to protect public safety, maintain the energy grid’s efficiency or allow a similarly efficient system to take its place.

Source:  Senate Bill 71

Governor Scott Walker:

Walker is writing a book, Unintimidated, about his life and political career. The book is co-authored by Mark Thiessen, former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and is expected to be released this fall.

A representative from the publisher, Sentinel, said “Governor Walker will share the inside story of how the battle for Wisconsin was won – the reforms he enacted, the mistakes he made, the lessons he learned, and how those lessons can help conservatives win the battle for America.”

Source:  The Washington Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

In March, Johnson announced he would run for re-election in 2016 because his goal of reducing government spending and debt isn’t complete. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel poll of Wisconsin voters, published in March, found 30 percent viewed Johnson favorably, 25 percent viewed him unfavorably and 45 percent had no opinion.

Source: UW Badger Herald, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin attended the U.S. Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, March 27, when the court heard arguments regarding the Defense of Marriage Act.

“This is a historic week in the U.S. Supreme Court, where they will hear two important cases on marriage equality,” Baldwin said in a press release. “Our country has made great progress since I first entered public service and was elected to political office in 1986. Over time, we have all seen with clarity that our nation is moving forward on issues of equal opportunity and fairness with a growing number of Americans supporting marriage equality.”

Baldwin is the first openly gay senator to serve in the United States Senate.

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble

Ribble introduced a congressional bill, H.R. 1228, that would rename the Green Bay post office on Packerland Dr. in honor of Corporal Justin Ross, a local man who was killed on March 26, 2011 while serving in Afghanistan.

Source:  WBAY 2 – Green Bay

President Barack Obama

Obama announced a $100 million investment in The Brain Initiative, a brain-mapping research project that will attempt to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and effects of traumatic brain injury. Obama asked companies, universities, foundations and philanthropists to invest in the project as well.

Source:  The Guardian