In The Spotlight Blog

In the News: Blog 06/22/2012
Wisconsin Ag Connection: Kohl Votes 'Yea,' Johnson 'Nay' on Senate Farm Bill
Just one day after Wisconsin's Ron Johnson proposed a failed amendment to separate the Senate's version of the farm bill into two separate measures--one for agricultural related policies and the other for food stamps and social programs--the freshman lawmaker said he could not bring himself to vote for the entire package on Thursday. The Oshkosh Republican has been critical of how massive and broad the spending package has gotten to be in recent weeks, and says he has a problem with only 20-percent of the funds going toward things like crop insurance, commodities and conservation. "The farm bill is a great example of what's wrong in Washington," Johnson said. "Decades ago someone realized that combining food stamps and agriculture programs together in one bill is a great way to pass both with a minimum of debate and controversy. That's the only reason these unrelated provisions are linked today."
In the News: Blog 06/20/2012
The Daily Caller: Sen. Johnson moves to isolate food stamp spending from farm bill
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson has introduced a motion to send the Agriculture, Reform, Food and Jobs Act back to committee and divide it into two separate bills to be considered in two separate votes. The move comes in part as a response to the fact that about 80 percent of spending in the current farm bill is set to go to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food stamps. Crop insurance, commodities and conservation represents the remaining 20 percent of spending. Johnson’s motion would divide the legislation into one bill that includes food assistance and another focused on the agricultural provisions.
In the News: Blog 06/18/2012
Roll Call: School Vouchers Fight Crosses Party Lines
Senate Democrats on the Appropriations Committee broke with the Obama administration today to provide additional funding for a controversial school voucher program in the District of Columbia. Republicans pushed for more money to be spent on the initiative during the committee’s markup of its fiscal 2013 spending bill for financial services and general government, which contains D.C.’s budget. It sets up an interesting dynamic surrounding an issue that does not break neatly along party, or chamber, lines.
In the News: Blog 06/14/2012
The Hill: Senate Democrats beat back attempts to defund healthcare reform
Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday beat back attempts by Republicans to use the 2013 Labor, Health and Human Services bill to defund President Obama’s healthcare reform. The bill was reported out to the Senate on a party line 16 to 14 vote, a break from the normally bipartisan nature of the spending panel. The skirmishes came days before the Supreme Court is set to rule on whether the Obama health reform law is unconstitutional due to its requirement that all adults obtain health insurance.
In the News: Blog 06/13/2012
Superior Telegraph: Senator’s staff holds mobile office hours in Poplar
In the News: Blog 06/12/2012
USA Today: Republicans: Senate Democrats should offer budget
Republicans in Congress criticized President Obama and Senate Democrats on Saturday morning for failing to produce a realistic federal budget. In their weekly radio address, Republicans trotted out freshman Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who lamented his servitude in "Sen. Harry Reid's do nothing Senate." The reference to the Senate Democratic leader from Nevada called attention to something the Senate hasn't done in three years: pass a budget blueprint. Johnson also claimed that Obama's more detailed budget was defeated in a 99-0 vote; it actually was a procedural motion to consider the budget.
In the News: Blog 06/11/2012
Wisconsin Ag Connection: State Lawmakers to Serve on National Cranberry Caucus
Democrat and Republican Congressional leaders from Wisconsin and Massachusetts are joining together to create a legislative panel dedicated to supporting the nation's cranberry industry. Known as the Congressional Cranberry Caucus, the group will work to address issues facing the industry, while educating other members of Congress about cranberry production, processing and marketing.
In the News: Blog 06/11/2012
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: Wisconsin congressmen join in cranberry caucus
Growers and processors of Wisconsin's largest fruit crop hope a new bipartisan congressional panel fosters discussion and collaboration within the industry. The Congressional Cranberry Caucus, which held its inaugural meeting last week in Washington, D.C., will serve as a platform for addressing issues and concerns within the industry and will educate members of Congress about cranberry production, processing and marketing, organizers said.
In the News: Blog 06/8/2012
Fond du Lac Reporter: Petri blasts cranberry rule
WASHINGTON — Congressman Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, called proposed USDA cranberry regulations "stupid" as he joined with Sen. Ron Johnson, Congressmen Reid Ribble, Sean Duffy and others Wednesday to launch the Congressional Cranberry Caucus. The proposed regulations would characterize cranberry products as "unhealthy" because sugar is added to them to make them palatable. "That's just stupid," Petri said in a press release. "Cranberries have a low level of natural sugar and have to be sweetened to make them appealing, but even with added sugar, they have less total sugar than many other fruits that are considered to be healthy."
In the News: Blog 05/7/2012
Kenosha News: Senator’s staff to be in Paddock Lake