If there were a few rays of glimmering hope in the cloudy picture painted by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) Friday about the federal government, they faded fast.

Johnson discussed the nation’s economy, budget and future direction with an audience filling about two-thirds of the board room at Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services in Ellsworth. He was introduced by State Rep. Warren Petryk (R-Eleva), who gave him a gift of cheese curds, and answered questions from the gathering before leaving for more stops on a journey through the western part of the state. The local visit lasted around 45 minutes.

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