Op-Eds and Blogs

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."
Op-eds 05/31/2012
Politico: Unlike Obama, Scott Walker delivers
<b>Originally printed in Politico, May 31st, 2012</b> Starting Wednesday, most of the folks I know in Wisconsin will be looking forward to a well-earned respite from what seems like a permanent campaign. Instead of taking a break from politics between elections, Wisconsin has for months been dealing with fugitive legislators, ugly protests, legal challenges and a series of recall contests allegedly aimed at overturning Gov. Scott Walker’s legislative agenda. There’s virtually no possibility that his successful reforms will be overturned, so one has to wonder: What exactly is the point of Tuesday’s recall vote?
In the News: Blog 05/7/2012
Kenosha News: Senator’s staff to be in Paddock Lake
In the News: Blog 05/2/2012
Wisconsin Ag Connection: Sen. Johnson Announces Staff Farm Bill Listening Sessions
Wisconsin's newly elected U.S. Senator wants to hear from you about your thoughts on a proposed federal farm bill. U.S. Senator Ron Johnson announced on Tuesday that his staff would be available for listening sessions in the coming weeks. The Oshkosh Republican says there's debate on whether there will even be a new farm bill drafted, but wants the public to have their input in the process. The dates and locations of the listening sessions are:
Op-eds 04/30/2012
CNN: Obama, Democrats not serious about passing budget
<b>Originally printed on CNN.com, April 30th, 2012</b> The U.S. government is the largest financial entity in the world. Nothing else comes close. On Sunday, April 29, it will be exactly three years since the U.S. Senate passed a budget. If you own or work for a small business that has a loan from a bank, I'm quite sure your business has a budget -- and a rather detailed budget at that. Every year around tax time, many American families sit down to fill out tax forms, estimate their income, and set spending priorities for the upcoming year. It's the responsible thing to do.
In the News: Blog 04/30/2012
Congressional Quarterly: For the Record Goes Against the Grain
Senate appropriators have only just begun to mark up their fiscal 2013 spending bills, but Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson has made it clear he’s not buying into the clubby traditions of the Appropriations Committee. Johnson, a plastics company owner who had not held elective office before winning his Senate seat in 2010, is sticking with the tea party-backed ideology that helped him win. That now includes demanding roll call committee votes instead of the voice votes that have expedited work in years past. The tactic forces colleagues to take positions on spending details they might just as soon not have on the record.
In the News: Blog 04/29/2012
Washington Free Beacon: A Mournful Milestone
Sunday, April 29, 2012, is an anniversary unprecedented in the history of American politics, marking three years since the Democratic-led Senate last complied with federal law by passing a budget. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 stipulates that Congress must approve a budget resolution by April 15 of each year. In the Senate, only 51 votes are needed to pass a budget, as budgets are one of the few pieces of legislation invulnerable to a filibuster. Democrats currently control 53 seats. Democratic lawmakers have offered myriad excuses for their refusal to offer a budget, none of which hold up to scrutiny, critics say.
In the News: Blog 04/26/2012
The Washington Times: Clipping the lame duck
As President Obama crisscrosses the country to win back his base’s support for reelection, congressional Republicans fear what he might do in a lame-duck session. The president blew off House Speaker John A. Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who sought a gentleman’s agreement that the White House would not ram through economically significant regulations after Sept. 30. On Wednesday, freshman Sen. Ron Johnson introduced the Midnight Rule Relief Act to force the issue, which he thinks is critical to the recovery. “It’s not a mystery to me that our economy is stalled because of what is coming out of Washington,” the Wisconsin Republican told The Washington Times in an interview. “This is an important signal for job creators that some relief is on the way, and at least some in Washington on one side of the aisle understand the crushing burden of regulations.” Already, $1.75 trillion worth of dictates apply to small businesses. A moratorium would be welcome.