From Jerry Albrecht
Monroe
To the editor:
In a March 14, 2016, article in The Monroe Times, our state Sen. Howard Marklein called for expansion of rural broadband. He made the case that it would benefit small businesses, farms, schools, and personal communications. In fact, he blames the lack of connectivity as a reason that young people are not returning to rural communities in Wisconsin. He went on to say that "...as your state senator, I will continue to work with my colleagues, our communities, and telecommunications companies to insure investment in technology is meeting rural needs."
Why then, as a member of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, did he and his fellow Republicans reject a Democratic Party amendment to increase investments in broadband internet expansion as part of the 2015-2017 state biennial budget? Why also was he part of the GOP "lock-step-majority" when they turned down $23 million in federal stimulus money in 2011? That money was supposed to be used to improve broadband connections for 380 Wisconsin communities including 385 libraries and 82 schools.
In addition, that money could have been used to support police, fire, and hospital communications in rural areas, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Howard Marklein has voted with his GOP buddies 99.3 percent of the time.
In contrast to his refusing broadband money, Howard Marklein is the beneficiary of large corporate donations such as receiving $96,000 in contributions from agricultural interests. Simply put, that money buys his votes.
In the March 14 article, Sen. Marklein stated that he lives on a dead-end road in rural Spring Green. How appropriate, as a dead-end road is exactly where he and his GOP buddies continue to lead a state that ranks 36th in job growth and 50th (dead last) in small business start-ups.
Monroe
To the editor:
In a March 14, 2016, article in The Monroe Times, our state Sen. Howard Marklein called for expansion of rural broadband. He made the case that it would benefit small businesses, farms, schools, and personal communications. In fact, he blames the lack of connectivity as a reason that young people are not returning to rural communities in Wisconsin. He went on to say that "...as your state senator, I will continue to work with my colleagues, our communities, and telecommunications companies to insure investment in technology is meeting rural needs."
Why then, as a member of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, did he and his fellow Republicans reject a Democratic Party amendment to increase investments in broadband internet expansion as part of the 2015-2017 state biennial budget? Why also was he part of the GOP "lock-step-majority" when they turned down $23 million in federal stimulus money in 2011? That money was supposed to be used to improve broadband connections for 380 Wisconsin communities including 385 libraries and 82 schools.
In addition, that money could have been used to support police, fire, and hospital communications in rural areas, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Howard Marklein has voted with his GOP buddies 99.3 percent of the time.
In contrast to his refusing broadband money, Howard Marklein is the beneficiary of large corporate donations such as receiving $96,000 in contributions from agricultural interests. Simply put, that money buys his votes.
In the March 14 article, Sen. Marklein stated that he lives on a dead-end road in rural Spring Green. How appropriate, as a dead-end road is exactly where he and his GOP buddies continue to lead a state that ranks 36th in job growth and 50th (dead last) in small business start-ups.
