On Wisconsin

After hosting a roundtable with Wisconsin business owners to discuss trade and tariffs on Monday, Senator Johnson sent a letter to President Trump expressing concerns with the recently implemented of tariffs.

For a summary of the roundtable, check out this article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and watch our video here.

On the Hill

Trump Administration Protects Medicaid from Simming by Unions

Senator Johnson applauded the Trump administration on Tuesday after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it would rein in potential abuses of Medicaid funds. Recently, Senator Johnson sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma exposingthe abusive practice of union "dues skimming" from home health care Medicaid payments. After the announcement, Senator Johnson said, "Union dues skimming diverts Medicaid funds from the very people whom the program is supposed to help. I applaud the Trump administration for taking the first steps to rein in this abuse. My committee will continue to conduct oversight of CMS's stewardship of Medicaid funds so that American taxpayers can have confidence the funds flow to those in need."

Supreme Court Nominee

Earlier this month, President Trump nominated federal Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. After the announcement, Senator Johnson said, "A Supreme Court justice ought to be a judge, not a superlegislator - applying the Constitution as written, not altering it to reach a result. President Trump nominated a person who fit that description in Justice Neil Gorsuch last year, and to my understanding Judge Brett Kavanaugh fits it as well. I look forward to meeting with Judge Kavanaugh and the Senate moving expeditiously through the confirmation process."

U.S. - Russia Relationship

With the U.S.-Russia relationship dominating the news, Senator Johnson said, "Our deteriorating relationship with Russia has but one cause: Russia's bad behavior. The list is long: the invasion of Georgia and eastern Ukraine, the illegal annexation of Crimea, political assassinations, the downing of MH17, Russia's complicity in the slaughter in Syria, and Russian meddling in our elections and the politics of other nations, to name just a few. As much as I would prefer a better relationship with Russia, it can only happen as the result of improved Russian behavior. U.S. foreign policy should be uniformly directed to achieve that objective. I urge President Trump to forcefully and repeatedly demand that the Putin regime dramatically improve its behavior."

Coming Up

The Senate continues to focus on executive nominations, including nominations for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the United States Circuit Court. After nominations, the Senate will turn its attention to water infrastructure and appropriations bills.

Media Round-Up

• Senator Johnson on "Cat's Roundtable" discussing trade, NATO and U.S-Russian relations
• Senator Johnson on "The John Muir Show" discussing trade, FBI email investigation and U.S.-Russia relations
• Senator Johnson on "Fresh Take with Josh Dukelow" discussing trade and U.S.-Russia relations
• Senator Johnson on "Morning Focus with Bob Burnell" discussing Supreme Court nominee, Russia and trade