Senator Baldwin Addresses 'Superior Days' Delegates

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin addressed more than 200 Superior Days delegates, including 65 high school students, before they began their lobbying efforts in Madison Wednesday.

Though Sen. Baldwin has attended Superior Days as a state legislator, this is her first time attending as a representative of the entire state of Wisconsin.

“I’m finishing up my sixth week in my job serving as a U.S. Senator and I am now really humbled by the opportunity to represent the whole state of Wisconsin,” said. Sen. Baldwin.

The final day of Superior Days is the most influential day and was kicked-off with a group breakfast. Sen. Baldwin and Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen spoke about the importance of Superior Days for the north’s young people. Other northern lawmakers, such as Rep. Nick Milroy, Rep. Janet Bewley, and Sen. Bob Jauch, were also in attendance.

With the rolling-out of Governor Walker’s budget the same day, there was some last minute lobbying preparation. School District of Superior Superintendent, Janna Stevens, said the students needed to lobby for more K-12 funding, because the proposed budget does not give any new money to schools.

“The proposal on the table is that there is going to be a freeze on the revenue cap,” said Stevens.

Rep. Nick Milroy of South Range, also addressed the students lobbying for his bill, Windchill’s Law. The bill focuses on closing loopholes in current statutes that have made it hard in the past for law enforcement and prosecuting attorney’s to punish those that neglect or abuse animals. Animal neglect and abuse is one of this year’s legislative issues.

Fellow northern lawmaker, Sen. Bob Jauch, said he hopes lobbying efforts for another legislative issue, mining legislation, will start productive discussion.

“I hope that the legislature, which seems to only be listening to one voice and that’s the company, will listen to the people,” said Sen. Jauch.

Mining legislation is the most popular topic on this Superior Days’ agenda, but with no clear answer to sound mining legislation in sight, the issue is not likely to go away anytime soon.