It was a great week back in the district
I started the week in the western part of the district for a Joint Offices, Businesses, and Schools (J.O.B.S) Roundtable. Here, local business leaders, educators, and chamber of commerce members, as well as State Senator Romaine Quinn and State Representative Dave Armstrong, joined me for a great conversation on the workforce, employee recruitment, education, commercial driver's license regulations, childcare, and more.
On the topic of employee recruitment, I heard from many local stakeholders about the need to increase affordable housing in order for workers to be able to move to the area and purchase starter homes. Affordable housing is a critical issue in the Seventh District, and we must make sure that local zoning restrictions aren’t an impediment to adequate housing.
Many of our local planning and zoning committees hold the key to unlocking affordable housing, and I would urge you to contact them to make your voice heard.
I followed up my Barron J.O.B.S Roundtable with an Economic Development Roundtable in Wausau with local business leaders. We discussed a variety of topics ranging from energy production in Northcentral Wisconsin to the rising costs of homes in the area and the House Republicans’ Limit, Save, Grow Act.
In last week’s Telegram, I mentioned how House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act to save $4.8 trillion over the next ten years while also ensuring we pay our nation’s bills on time. One of the important things included in this bill were welfare work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, which nearly 80% of Wisconsinites agreed with in the last election. This will help more Americans earn a paycheck, learn new skills, and reduce childhood poverty, as well as help local employers find enough talent to fill their open positions.
There is also a plan included in the Limit, Save, Grow Act to bring down rising energy costs by unleashing baseload energy production. As we move to an all-of-the-above energy approach, Congress must make sure that we are prioritizing affordability and reliability, over cost burdens that will be passed on to customers and local businesses.
Thank you to all the local area leaders who joined me for these important discussions. I will continue to fight for pro-worker, pro-business policies in Washington.
It looks like there will be some spring weather this weekend, especially on Sunday. I hope you can get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Wishing all our anglers good luck during opening weekend!
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Great Update
Affordable housing is badly needed, and yes local and state regulations are excessive. I am in the process of building a house for my wife and me, and the fees are very high and the Zoning and Inspections are full of harsh mandates. I have no problem with most of this oversight, but when a private citizen wants to build a home on their own land, that does not cause distress to neighbors, they should be left alone.
When I worked for State Senator Ron Brown, I helped initiate leaving the Amish community alone, as they did not have a need for lots of mandated demands for them on their land. Property rights protect the landowners on their land, but many are forced to do excessive mandates that are a direct violation of their rights.
Affordable housing is not a government obligation..... period. But the government has made it very expensive and unaffordable.
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