Your Representatives in the News

State Assembly Representative Garey Bies

Bies recently issued a statement in which he called for the state to use some of the additional revenue found in the state’s budget projections (more than $500 million during the next two years) to support K-12 schools.

“Providing additional funding for K-12 education and increasing the per pupil amount to all students regardless of where they live, should be one of our top priorities,” said Bies.

Source: Bies’ Assembly website (legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/bies)

State Senator Frank Lasee

Lasee is supporting a bill in the Wisconsin legislature that would standardize the state’s rules for landlord/tenant relationships. While Lasee and other supporters say the bill will clarify and update the state’s rental laws, the opposition says the bill will unnecessarily circumvent local laws that do a better job of comprehensively protecting tenants.

Source: BadgerHerald.com

Governor Scott Walker

Walker’s administration reported on May 16 that Wisconsin has added more than 62,000 private sector jobs during the first two years of his term. The Department of Workforce Development released the figures before their official publication date by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, so the number of jobs created in Wisconsin cannot yet be compared to other states. Walker promised to create 250,000 jobs by 2015.

Source: Associated Press

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

Johnson joined a group of senators calling for new Senate hearings on what happened during the Sept. attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

“Press reports indicate that whistleblowers who were on the ground have substantial information that can bring clarity to what happened in Benghazi for the American people,” said Johnson. “There are also news reports that some people feel intimidated by the Administration to remain silent.”

Sources: Johnson’s Senate website (ronjohnson.senate.gov), 620WTMJ.com

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin is co-sponsoring an addition to the 2013 Farm Bill that would encourage the growth of agricultural energy technology.

The added provision, which was authored by Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Al Franken of Minnesota, would help agriculture producers and businesses in rural areas invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects as well as assist in the development of new biofuels.

Source: WisconsinAgConnection.com

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble

Ribble recently introduced a bill that would establish a biennial budget cycle for the U.S. government. Budget resolutions and appropriations would be completed in the first year of each Congress, while oversight and review of the budget would be conducted in the second year.

“As one of government’s most basic tasks, passing a budget prioritizes spending depending on the needs and values of our nation,” said Ribble. “The failure to do so is simply irresponsible and it’s time to fix the problem.”

Congress hasn’t passed a federal budget in the last four years.

Sources: Reid Ribble’s website (ribble.house.gov), CNN.com

President Barack Obama

Obama fired acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller on May 15 in the wake of news about the agency targeting conservative groups like the Tea Party for special scrutiny.

“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable,” said Obama. “Americans are right to be angry about it, and I am angry about it.”

Source:  Reuters.com