MONROE — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D WI-2) made stops in Green County on Aug. 11, meeting constituents and local officials to discuss local projects and funding.
Among those Pocan met with were Monroe Mayor Donna Douglas and City Administrator David Lothspeich, as well as the New Glarus Village officials, like President Roger Truttman.
“We talked about the courthouse remodeling project, the purchase of the ladder fire truck, and discussed the earmark process,” Pocan said of his trip to Monroe.
In New Glarus, Pocan talked about allocating $1 million to the village for a new water tower — something that could lead to 40-50 years of growth for the community.
Local governments are finalizing allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Pocan said he wants to make sure his constituents have access to the funds they need to grow the community.
“I want to make sure no one loses funds,” he said. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) is also working on allocating earmark funds for Wisconsin communities.
Pocan serves on the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for passing bills with its Senate counterpart, of which Baldwin is a part of. The bills the committees pass regulate the spending of money by the government. The committees are regarded as among the most powerful in Congress. There are 60 members of the House Committee — 33 Democrats and 27 Republicans. Pocan is Wisconsin’s lone Representative in the committee. He serves on three subcommittees within the Committee on Appropriations: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; and Labor Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
In the Senate Committee, there is an even 15 Democrats and Republicans. Baldwin is the chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee. She also serves in Committee of Appropriations subcommittees of Defense; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.
Pocan said the committee overall is actually quite nice compared to the some of the stereotypes that surround Washington D.C. While certain politicians seek attention and TV sound bites, those in the committee work together still, instead of drawing lines in the sand based on ideology.
This past term alone three major bills have passed through the committee, which Pocan said is unprecedented.
“Three in one session — normally they’d be the largest in that session,” he said.
Pocan was headed back to Washington D.C. to vote to finalize the most recent bill — dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill passed the Senate on a strictly party-line vote, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote.
The bill makes the largest investment in U.S. history to battle climate change. It also gives Medicare the power to negotiate certain prescription drugs prices for the first time in history, as well as cap the out-of-pocket expenses for seniors. Lastly, it reduces the deficit based on a new 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a 1% tax on stock buybacks. In all, it will raise $700 billion in government revenue over 10 years, spend $430 billion to reduce carbon emissions and extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. The rest of the revenue will go toward reducing the deficit.
“It had to happen,” Pocan said of the bill. “Inflation isn’t just an American problem — it’s all over the world. Every country across the globe came out of COVID at once. That equals inflation, which is based on supply and demand. It’s Economics 101.”
After the Aug. 11 vote, Pocan will return to Wisconsin. He plans to make stops in Lafayette, Rock and Iowa counties next. In September, he will return to Washington D.C. before coming back to Wisconsin in October. Congress typically recesses in October of election years for candidates to campaign.
“Inflation is a concern of a lot of people this election — as well as the recent Supreme Court ruling on Roe,” he said.
Pocan said he is looking to schedule time to see the public and talk about the issues, but that certain events, like town halls, are still difficult because of COVID-19.
“In Washington, everyone comes in from everywhere around the country. It’s a hotbed for COVID,” Pocan said, noting that at any given time over the past two years, a handful or more House members are absent while sick with the virus.”
Pocan’s Republican challenger this midterm is currently unknown, as Erik Olsen held an 73-vote lead against Charity Barry with 99% of the vote tallied from the Aug. 9 primary. More than 43,000 Republican votes were cast in the race.
“As the final results of Tuesday’s Primary Election continue to develop for my race for the 2nd Congressional District of Wisconsin Republican Nomination, I want to make it clear that I have NOT CONCEDED the race,” Barry said in a press release Aug. 11. “This may be one of the closest races the State of Wisconsin has ever seen. In the next several days and into next week each of the six County Board of Canvassers will be reviewing the ballots. I want to thank all of you for your continued support and prayers. I will keep you informed of developments as they happen in this race. Thank you.”
Independent Douglas Alexander will also be on the ballot in the November Midterm election.
Read the bill
H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5376