Your Representatives in the News

State Assembly Representative Garey Bies

Bies co-wrote, along with eight other rural legislators, a guest column in the Baraboo News Republic defending the state budget bill. The legislators said rural Wisconsin needs more school funding, reliable internet and transportation services and tax relief.

On Wednesday, June 19 the Assembly passed the budget 55-42. At press time, the Senate had not voted on the state budget.

Source:  Baraboo News Republic

State Senator Frank Lasee

Lasee co-sponsored a bill that would provide modest increases in jobless payments for laid-off workers, such as increasing the maximum jobless benefit by $7 a week, while adding restrictions on who can receive the benefits, such as inmates in work-release programs.

The bill passed the Senate 17-15.

“Voting for it is the right vote,” Lasee said.

Source:  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Governor Scott Walker

Walker withdrew his nomination of University of Wisconsin – Platteville student Joshua Inglett to the UW System’s Board of Regents after finding out Inglett signed the recall petition.

Inglett said he was told the nomination was withdrawn because it would be too difficult to get through the Senate. Republican senator Dale Schultz, of Richland Center, said Inglett would have been unanimously approved.

Source:  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

Johnson said the Obama administration’s decision to send military aid to the Syrian rebels is “too little, too late” after it confirmed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s military used chemical weapons against his opposition.

“This administration has once again led from behind,” Johnson said. “They have not provided leadership. They didn’t start providing the support that might have made a difference early on. I hope it’s not too late. But possibly better late than never but I’m afraid it may be too little, too late.”

Johnson said he supports a no-fly zone over the Syrian/Jordanian border.

Source:  MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin offered amendments to the Strengthening America’s Schools Act, two of which passed the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.

The Career and Technical Education Amendment would help students and parents see what technical education programs are available locally by aligning the options with postsecondary preparation programs, similar to Advanced Placement tests. The amendment would also require high schools to report on students’ career readiness.

Another amendment identifies agricultural education programs as part of a list of other programs – such as arts, physical education and foreign language – eligible to receive grants that allow low-income students access to well-rounded education.

Source:  Tammy Baldwin Press Release

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble

Ribble introduced a bill that would allow currently operating trucks more than 80,000 pounds to continue using Highway 41 when the road becomes an interstate highway. Federal law prohibits trucks above that weight limit to operate on interstate highways.

“As an interstate, 41 will remain essential for transporting goods across the state and country, and this legislation will ensure our trucks will have continued access to it,” Ribble said. “Wisconsin manufacturers and farmers rely on our roadways, and it’s important that they continue to have the means to deliver their products and materials to consumers.”

Source:  Congressman Reid Ribble press release

President Barack Obama

Obama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Northern Ireland on Monday, June 17, to discuss the fighting in Syria.

Both agreed they have different perspectives on the problem – Putin supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and is providing arms to the Syrian government, while the U.S. is one of eight countries supporting the Syrian rebels.

Source:  The New York Times