Contact: Jonathan Barry, Executive Secretary (608) 266-8369 Madison, Wisconsin — The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) today approved nearly $15 million in State Trust Fund Loans to support fourteen community projects in Wisconsin.  Board Chair Brad Schimel and Commissioner Doug La Follette voted in favor of the loans with Commissioner Matt Adamczyk voting against them. The BCPL approved the following loans: Baraboo School District, Columbia and Sauk Counties / Finance high school renovation and construction / $1,960,000 Town of Chimney Rock, Trempealeau County / Finance 2016 and 2017 floor repairs, $300,000 Clark County / Finance road construction / $1,800,000 City of

Contact: Rep. Kremer (608) 266-9175  Madison, Wisconsin – A few bi-partisan rural health bills, authored by Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum), were signed into law by Governor Walker after receiving strong support in both the Assembly and Senate. These bills, all part of Rep. Kremer’s “Rural Fire & EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Reforms” package, came from a 2016 Legislative Council Study Committee on Rural Fire & EMS Shortages Vice Chaired by Rep. Kremer. This committee, comprised of legislative and civilian members, identified, addressed and vetted a series of reforms that the state could provide our rural public safety agencies. Upon the Governor’s signature of

Contact: Rebecca Lynch 262-676-2587 Racine, Wisconsin — Wisconsin Working Families Party today endorsed Racine Alderman John Tate II in the special election for the 66th Assembly District seat vacated by newly-elected Racine mayor Cory Mason. The primary election is on December 19 with a general election scheduled on January 16th, 2018. The politically potent Working Families Party, which was critical to Mason’s recent mayoral victory, will support Tate’s candidacy by engaging grassroots volunteers in canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts. “Alderman John Tate II is a proven problem solver who’ll be ready on day one to take on Scott Walker and his big money interests. He’ll

Contact: Kate Constalie kate.constalie@legis.wi.gov 608-266-5490 Madison, Wisconsin — Another dismal jobs report brings bad news for families already feeling the pinch this holiday season. The national ‘Gold Standard’ jobs report released this week marks the 6th straight year Wisconsin has trailed the nation in job creation and represents one of the longest periods of economic stagnation in Wisconsin history. Gov. Walker’s policies have slowed Wisconsin’s economy over the past six years and resulted in 110,000 fewer jobs than what would have been created had the state kept pace with the national average. “Wisconsin working families are paying the price for Gov.

Contact: Christopher Krepich 202-225-5101 Washington, D.C.— Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) announced that Christopher Krepich will serve as his Press Secretary following the departure of former Communications Director Nicole Tieman. Tieman, who had been a part of Sensenbrenner’s staff for more than two years, is now the Press Secretary for Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Krepich joins the Sensenbrenner office following two and a half years as a member of Congressman Keith Rothfus’ (R-PA) staff, most recently serving as Deputy Press Secretary. He got his start on Capitol Hill in 2015 working as an intern for Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI). # # #

Contact: Rep. David Bowen (608) 266-7671 Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement concerning allegations of unwanted sexual advances by Rep. Josh Zepnick: “Representative Zepnick’s comments and lack of sincere apology to the two brave women who came forward to report unwanted advances towards them is woefully inadequate. Blaming victims for a delay in coming forward when they fear personal and professional retribution is out of line. “While I am sympathetic to Rep. Zepnick’s struggle with addiction and applaud his commitment to sobriety, that is no excuse for his actions toward women and staffers for the

Contact: Melanie Conklin 608-260-2409 Madison, Wisconsin — Today’s release of the quarterly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that under Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin has been among the bottom half of states on job creation for six straight years. The job numbers Walker has cited as the “gold standard” show that Wisconsin has lagged behind the nation on jobs ever since Walker implemented his first budget and opened the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). “Six years of Republican budgets and priorities have stalled our Wisconsin economy,” said Martha Laning, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Continually being

Contact: Sen. Hansen 608-266-5670 Madison, Wisconsin — State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) announced today that he will be introducing legislation to require gas station owners to use separate, unique locks and keys on their pumps.  The announcement comes after recent reports of card skimming in the Green Bay area. “There is a simple common sense solution to stopping or drastically reducing the risk of card skimming at gas pumps.  That is to require all gas station owners to use unique locks and keys on each of their pumps,” said Hansen. In the summer and fall of 2016 areas of

Contact: Melanie Conklin, 608-260-2409 MADISON — The Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning is calling on Gov. Scott Walker and Speaker Paul Ryan to immediately denounce President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee for supporting Senate candidate Roy Moore. “Scott Walker and Paul Ryan must immediately condemn Trump and the RNC in the strongest possible terms because anything less is an unprecedented display of cowardice,” said Laning. “It shows the people of Wisconsin that they tacitly approve of sexual harassment so long as it benefits them politically.” In the wake of numerous, highly credible and corroborated allegations of