2. Officials

“The unemployment numbers released today are better than expected. If they hold over the next several months, it will mean that we could be at the turning point for job creation. There is still a long way to go, but these numbers mean that we have gone from 700,000 jobs lost per month at the end of the Bush Administration, to 111,000 jobs lost last month, to only 11,000 jobs lost this month."

     
Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI), the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman John Larson (D-CT), the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, and eight other Democratic Members introduced legislation today that would end the practice of paying for the war in Afghanistan with borrowed money by imposing a war surtax beginning in 2011.

     
Senator Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Milroy (D-Superior) jointly praised the Department of Natural Resources final ballast water permit that creates new rules to reduce the spread of invasive species. The two Lake Superior lawmakers have been working with the DNR since March to set higher ballast water standards that will protect Great Lakes waters while enabling Wisconsin harbors to compete for commercial shipping.

     Governor Doyle signed two bills today authored by Senator Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Sherman (D-Port Wing) that will protect Ashland taxpayers and support a local Iron River business. The Legislation will establish a surcharge to recover cost of after hours ferry transport of arrested individuals and the second will allow a local golf course to be issued a liquor license to enable it to grow its business.

     
“Sweeping reforms in child welfare and child care signed into law today by Governor Doyle will enable Wisconsin to better serve children and help root out fraud," State Senator Bob Jauch (D.Poplar) said. Jauch, the Senate author of the bills, called the occasion the "culmination of a year's work to shine a light on needed changes to programs that serve families."

     As we celebrate Veterans’ Day this year, it’s important to remember that while we may be divided on where we stand on the war, this nation must be united in seeing that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are welcomed home with all the compassion this grateful nation can muster. Supporting our troops is a mandate – not a slogan. This Congress has taken many steps to help our troops, our veterans and their families during this economic crisis.

     
Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI), the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, tonight made the following statement about the House passing the

Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009:

     This is a landmark day in the history of our country – this legislation can open the door to health coverage to over 35 million Americans and begin to make healthcare more affordable for virtually everyone. It’s been seventy years in coming.

     
Today the State Legislature adopted major reform aimed at eliminating fraud and abuse and restoring integrity in the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and State Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee), authors of the legislation, praised their colleagues for approving strong and effective legislation aimed at targeting abuse and improving regulation of child care providers.

     
Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) yesterday voted for passage of legislation to speed up implementation of the Credit CARD Act, which was enacted earlier this year.

“If we are interested in achieving sustained job growth,
we need to do more to put people back to work”

    

     Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, made the following statement after the announcement that US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 3.5% in the third quarter of 2009: