Your Representatives in the News

Governor Scott Walker

On June 21, Walker signed two bills relating to all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles.

Senate Bill 29 created an off-road vehicle council in the Department of Natural Resources to be made of all-terrain or utility terrain vehicle users who understand natural resources issues. The council must meet once a year.

Senate Bill 32 changed the age restrictions on driving all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles. Now children 12 and under are able to ride in a vehicle on land if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Those under 18 can operate the vehicles at closed course demonstration events if wearing a helmet and accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Source:  Scott Walker press release

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

Johnson shared three pieces of advice at a Senate Budget Committee Hearing.

“The first of those is really make sure you graduate from high school,” Johnson said.

“At least, you know, get as much education beyond that is going to dramatically increase your chances at being successful in life. And then of course, don’t do drugs. And don’t have a baby out of wedlock, you know, get married first. Just basically, follow those three rules, you have a very high probability of leading a successful life.”

Source:  Roll Call

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin circulated an email asking people to sign a petition supporting military justice reform, which would transfer the prosecution of military sexual assault crimes to military prosecutors instead of commanding officers who may be involved in the cases.

“Last year alone, the Defense Department estimates that there were as many as 26,000 cases of sexual assault in our military – and as the law is written now, senior military commanders have the power to overturn a jury’s conviction, or dismiss a case without saying why,” Baldwin said. 
“This means that military victims of sexual assault are being denied justice.”

Source:  Baldwin email

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble

Ribble said he was disappointed the Federal Agricultural Reform and Risk Management Bill, or Farm Bill, failed to pass the U.S. House of Representatives on June 20.

“While far from perfect, this measure would have been a step in the right direction. The Farm Bill has a vast impact, not only on Wisconsin, but the entire country, and Congress owes it to the American people to get the job done.”

The Farm Bill failed to pass with a vote of 195-234. Twenty-one democrats voted for the bill, but many rejected it because of the $2 million cuts to nutrition programs. More than 60 conservative Republicans rejected the bill because of the cost of those programs.

Source:  ABC Action 2 News, PBS, USA Today

President Barack Obama

Obama released his climate action plan on June 25 outlining ways to cut carbon pollution, prepare for the consequences of climate change and lead international efforts to address climate change.

Some highlights from the climate action plan:

• Make loans available for projects that cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Expand the Better Buildings Challenge program, which helps organizations cut energy use in commercial and industrial buildings and multifamily housing.

• Establish a goal that the federal government will get 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and improve energy efficiency.

• Invest in climate preparedness so communities can deal with the effects of climate change such as flooding and powerful storms.

• Increase the use of natural gas, nuclear power and “clean” coal.

Source:  The President’s Climate Action Plan

Bill to Watch

AB 147, a bill that would increase the amount of tax relief given to private developers fixing up historic buildings, was unanimously approved by the Committee on Tourism and was referred to the Joint Finance Committee on June 24.

Increasing the historic tax credit could help Sturgeon Bay sell the granary as part of its West Waterfront Redevelopment Project.