Wisconsin SGP

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Comment by Tom Winscher on November 23, 2009 at 1:59am

The link to the HC bill is a dead link Paul ...

Comment by Tom Winscher on October 30, 2009 at 5:17pm

From Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ...

I felt truly privileged to be part of history being made this week in our nation's capital.

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the health care reform bill that melds the proposals offered by three House committees, including my own, Energy and Commerce. The bill's introduction is but one more step in the decades-long quest for health care for all in this country, but it is a momentous step that brings us closer to our goal. You may read more about the bill below.

Also this week, I was proud to attend a ceremony at the National Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA in which Evansville Marine Corporal Jacob Janes was honored. Cpl. Janes lost both legs below the knee after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in April 2009, two weeks before his tour of duty there was to end.

At the ceremony, the Segs4Vets program, a charitable organization, presented Cpl. Janes and the other servicemembers with a Segway PT, a two-wheeled, electric, personal mobility vehicle that will allow them to be more independent. Segs4Vets is a non-profit, grass-roots organization that, since 2006, has awarded 356 Segways to veterans who were severely injured or permanently disabled while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Corporal Janes and his family have made tremendous sacrifices on behalf of our nation. The Segs4Vets program provides a great service to him and others who deserve our gratitude and our support as they continue their recovery.


Corporal Janes of Evansville receives a Segway
from the Segs4Vets progam

I also participated in a compelling hearing in the Judiciary Committee on the NFL's response to brain trauma incurred by players. Former Green Bay Packer and Hall-of-Famer Willie Wood, who now suffers from dementia, was in attendance. You may read my opening statement by clicking here.


Hall-of-Famer Willie Wood attends a Judiciary
Committee hearing on head trauma in the NFL

Finally, in a ceremony at the White House, President Obama signed legislation that included the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This is the nation’s first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to become law.

The hate crimes provision adds the categories of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to existing protections for bias crimes based on race, color, religion, and national origin. This law was long overdue and something that I’ve worked on ever since I came to the Congress. To hear my comments after the bill signing, click here:

It's not often that so many powerful events occur in the same week. This was one to remember.

Sincerely,

BaldwinSignature.jpg

Tammy Baldwin
Your Member of Congress

THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi unveiled the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) that emerged from the proposals offered by three committees: Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means. The bill offers affordable choices for health care coverage while fulfilling our promise of holding down costs, improving quality and efficiencies, and not increasing the federal deficit.

You will find details about the legislation and the full text of the bill by clicking here.

Also this week, the House passed the Small Business Financing and Investment Act (H.R. 3854) which will allow for more lending and investment for small businesses and entrepreneurs who have suffered because of the recession. The legislation will help to save or create 1.3 million jobs annually.

IN COMMITTEE

ENERGY and COMMERCE

The Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Consumer Protection Agency Act (H.R. 3126). The legislation creates a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) that will be responsible for consumer protection across the entire financial marketplace. The bill is just one component of a broad plan for financial regulatory reform.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on legislation to protect our nation's electric power grid from cyber and other malicious attacks.

JUDICIARY

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legal issues surrounding football head injuries. Over the past several years, a significant number of retired pro-football players have developed memory and cognitive disorders. Yet because the NFL does not currently acknowledge the connection between concussions on the field and health issues later in life, many former players do not receive proper medical care.

My concern extends not just to the active and retired professional players, but to all of the college, high school, and youth football players – and, indeed, all young athletes – for whom the NFL sets an example.

Willie Wood, a former Green Bay Packer and Hall-of-Famer, who played on Vince Lombardi's championship teams attended the hearing.

COMING UP

The full House will take up the health care reform bill (H.R. 3962) with hopes of bringing it to a vote before Veterans' Day. We will also vote to amend the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act to provide for more consumer protections in the financial industry

Comment by tinal on October 20, 2009 at 3:13pm

This was posted on another site. Thot some here would be interested as well:

Posted by A Heintz on October 20, 2009 at 11:02am in Wisconsin Moms

Governor Doyle is trying for a 5 Billion dollar stimulus grant for the The Race to the Top Fund. I understand that this will program will lengthen both school days and years. Here we go again spending more money than what we have. What happens when the 5 billion runs out? This already overburdened state will have to take on even more taxes to pay for the lengthened time. While some of the goals in this plan sound like good ideas, I think we can increase quality education in our schools without adding time. How about cutting out some of the junk and focusing on the basics and maybe actually teaching about our history and founding fathers? I call foul on this. Is anyone else with me? I sent an e-mail of protest to Governor Doyle. If anyone can read through all the legal mumbo jumbo, the criteria for state's eligibily can be found at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2009-3/072909d.html

Comment by tinal on October 16, 2009 at 3:34pm

I've written to our senators to respectfully request that they not support S.510. I have concerns about how this will affect the small farms and organic farms in our great state.

http://www.ftcldf.org/aa/aa-12aug2009.html

They have us so focused on health care and cap-n-trade that stuff like this is slipping through the cracks.

Comment by diam on October 5, 2009 at 3:49pm

Anyone in the 8th congressional district? I read this editorial in the Appleton Post Crescent and sure was interested in the possibility that Terri McCormick would throw her hat in the ring! She is a candidate of the people, diciplined and unwavering in her limited government principles. Anyone know her - thoughts?

Comment by tinal on October 5, 2009 at 11:14am

Assembly
INFORMATIONAL HEARING
Committee on Elections and Campaign Reform
The committee will hold an informational hearing on the following item at the time specified below:
Thursday, October 15, 2009
1:00 PM
County Board Room
Eau Claire County Building
721 Oxford Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Clean Elections Tour
The Elections and Campaign Reform Committee will seek testimony and input from the public on campaign finance reform.


Representative Jeff Smith
Chair

Comment by US Web Talk Radio on September 27, 2009 at 1:59pm

We are based in Asheville NC & we offer free 56min taped radio shows...100% free!!




Also co-founder of

Comment by Tom Winscher on September 18, 2009 at 11:39pm

This from Tammy Baldwin. She is supposed to be representing us ...

We are starting to see very small signs of improvement in our state and national economy, but we still have a long way to go. As you know, I believe that one of the most important things we can do to improve our economy is to reform our health care system.

Though we passed health care form legislation (H.R. 3200) in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, our committee work is not yet complete. We meet next week to resolve a few outstanding issues with the bill. Once we do, the three House committees that have passed bills must reconcile and produce one version to bring to the floor for full consideration by the House. I am eager to move forward quickly and get a strong bill out of the House of Representatives.

This week marked another step forward in my effort to end the unnecessary and harmful antitrust exemptions now enjoyed by freight railroads to the detriment of consumers everywhere.

Due to dramatic consolidation, currently only four major Class 1 railroads carry 90% of our nation’s freight, often providing unreliable service at exorbitant fees. My bill will, finally and fairly, place the rail industry under the same antitrust laws that apply to other industries, including telecommunications, energy, trucking, and aviation.

This virtual monopoly hurts consumers by driving up their utility bills, among other things. It is unnecessary, unfair, and unacceptable. It’s time for Congress to apply our antitrust laws more equitably and I’m delighted to see this legislation move down the track toward a vote by the full House.

Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) is sponsoring a companion bill in the Senate (S.146) that is awaiting floor action there.

It's a pleasure to return home each week to Wisconsin as we transition into fall. I hope you're enjoying the delightful weather and local farmers' produce as much as I am.

Sincerely,

BaldwinSignature

Comment by Tom Winscher on September 17, 2009 at 12:15am

I am with you David Martin. While Wilson "acted out", at least he was telling the truth!

Comment by Vicki Peterson on September 16, 2009 at 8:34am

I like the unintended positive consequence that came from Wilson's blurt. I think it's a one-time deal, however. The status quo conservatives in Congress currently do not go after waste, fraud and unconstitutionality issues. I get the idea that they see their power in numbers which they hope will change in 2010. I want to know that they see their power in honesty and true representation of their electorates.

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