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Quotes of the week
RFK, Jr. is Making America Sick Again.
– U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
He is doing a fantastic job. You know that is true because of all the leftists throwing hate.
– U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, voicing support for Kennedy.
This week’s news
— U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil declined to say whether he backs sending the National Guard to Milwaukee as President Donald Trump weighs sending troops to other cities besides Washington, D.C., to combat crime.
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The Janesville Republican spoke at a WisPolitics luncheon in the nation’s capital Wednesday on a range of topics such as trade, immigration and the possibility of a government shutdown.
Steil didn’t say whether he supports sending the National Guard to Milwaukee. Still, he said he’s heard from people in Washington, D.C., that they feel safer in the city and said it’s “absolutely appropriate” to provide resources that help communities maintain public safety.
“Crime, in many ways, operates … like a disease, and so you need to attack it, you need to get it under control. And as you do that, you actually, then, in the future, will need fewer resources to maintain that lower level of crime,” Steil argued.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson was in attendance at the event. During the audience question portion, the Milwaukee mayor noted he disagrees with the Trump administration on the deployment of National Guard troops, but said there are “a whole host” of programs the city has worked with the federal government on, including those related to public safety.
“I would love to work with the president’s administration to continue those sort of programs,” Johnson said, pointing to collaboration between the Milwaukee Police Department and FBI and housing programs as examples.
Steil also said he’s hopeful Congress will avert a government shutdown on Sept. 30, saying the spending process in Washington, D.C., is “absolutely broken.” He said Congress will likely sign off on another continuing resolution to keep funding at current levels.
“I don’t like the situation, but I’d rather have that than a shutdown. Although … the brinksmanship that plays out is frustrating for everybody,” he said.
Steil also said he will continue to push the Trump administration and FEMA to move as quickly as possible after leading Wisconsin congressional members in urging a federal disaster declaration to address flood damage in the Milwaukee area. The declaration would open the door to federal funding for recovery efforts.
Steil said he hopes Trump will make the disaster declaration before the preliminary damage assessment of flooding is completed, but noted the process takes time.
— U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald says he doesn’t support the idea of the Trump administration sending National Guard troops to Milwaukee to address violence, but does back the president’s push targeting Chicago.
“Right now Milwaukee’s a different situation,” the Juneau Republican said on WISN’s “UpFront,” produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “We’ve actually got some good numbers out of Milwaukee over the last couple of years, about time that’s leveled off or been reduced, so I’m not sure it’s something the White House would really consider. When you look at the long list of other communities that have issues, as a result of crime and homelessness and some other urban, very urban areas that it doesn’t seem to exist right now in Milwaukee.”
The comments come after Vice President JD Vance said during a stop in La Crosse Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson needs to “get some common sense” adding, “We would love to actually help cut down on the crime in this community.”
“The 10th Amendment is very clear, that there are specific things that the executive branch has purview over,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s oversight from Congress that comes into place after 48 hours. So I think there’ll be some discussion and debate about that if the president continues to expand that to other states throughout the nation, but I’m comfortable where we’re at right now.”
— Gov. Tony Evers is urging Wisconsin’s congressional members to oppose cuts to “critical, effective, common-sense” programs under President Donald Trump’s federal budget.
Evers in a Friday letter to members argued the proposed cuts mean Wisconsinites will be less protected from harmful chemicals in drinking water and less prepared for disasters like the recent historic flooding in the Milwaukee area.
“These programs are illustrative of just a portion of what is at stake as you consider the next federal appropriations package,” Evers said. “I urge you to ensure continuation of these vital programs and look forward to continuing to work together on these and other issues throughout the federal budget process.”
Evers highlighted numerous cuts he said would hurt the state. That includes reducing the state’s allocation of Clean Water State Revolving Funds by more than 90% and reducing Drinking Water State Revolving Funds by 87%. Evers said the programs are “the support backbone” of safe drinking water and wastewater treatment in the state.
“If enacted, these cuts would dramatically narrow the financing available to municipalities, lengthen timelines for critical projects, risk missed compliance deadlines, and threaten the health of Wisconsin’s valuable natural resources,” Evers said.
The budget would also eliminate EPA categorical grants in the State and Tribal Assistance Grants account, which Evers said would slash more than $16 million that funds about 143 Department of Natural Resources positions related to water and air quality.
Evers also noted the budget leaves Cooperating Technical Partners program funding for states “uncertain.” The program helps communities maintain up-to-date flood hazard maps. DNR relies on about $1.1 million through the partnership, according to Evers.
Several Wisconsin congressional Republicans did not return requests for comment on the letter.
Posts of the week
ICYMI
Spectrum News 1: Rep. Steil tours flood damage at Journeys Lutheran School
WPR: Pocan-Van Orden feud escalates as others call for an end to bitter political attacks
WSAW: Van Orden disagrees with new DHS report on ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
WPR: US Rep. Gwen Moore warns of ‘tyranny’ in Trump administration’s actions
Fox 11: Rep. Tony Wied says he’ll run again in 2026 after 2 Democrats recently declared candidacy
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: JD Vance says it’s unlikely the Trump administration will dispatch National Guard troops to Milwaukee
