A Press Conference with U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin
A lot on Obama’s plate
A lot on Obama’s plate
when he is sworn in tomorrow, the sheer number of children who will look at that and say ‘I can be anything I want to be. I can do anything I want to do in this
country of opportunity’ is the symbolic part. It isn’t even the substance of what he is going to do.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is the legislation containing the Obama Administration’s stimulus plan. And as a member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Baldwin was in the thick of considering the energy and health care related components of the stimulus plan. Even in the
stimulus bill, Obama is committed to the “greening” of America.
“There is a huge section that is focused on renewable energy, efficiency — including building efficiency — and including, particularly, looking at our
public housing and looking at ways that rapidly we can do weatherization and other upgrades,” Baldwin said. “It’s a win-win situation because the people who
reside in affordable housing have their energy bills going down as a consumer, but also weatherization programs can put, for example, carpenters and others
with skills to work pretty rapidly. As we move forward beyond just this package, which is intended to stimulate our economy, we’re going to do a lot more work on
this. And ultimately, as we combat climate change, if you are going to try to not only reduce the increase of energy consumption and carbon release, but also
curtail it dramatically over the next four decades, we have to use every tool available. That would certainly include all of our existing housing stock as well as
commercial and rentals.”
And as the nation turns to a more “green” economy, it is important to Baldwin to make sure no one is left behind. “As we talk about sort of pivoting toward a
“green” economy, there is focus on making sure that doesn’t just mean great jobs for engineers and scientists and laboratories coming up with wonderful ideas,
but also means putting to work huge sections of the American economy that have suffered because of the loss manufacturing and other jobs,” Baldwin said. “I
know that there is a lot of dialogue going on between people who are proficient at jobs creation, making sure the new ‘green’ economy involves all
socioeconomic groups in the United States. Some of the programs are trying to focus on making sure there are jobs in inner-cities and rural areas as we make the
transition to a ‘green’ economy. There are a lot of job development possibilities there because it really is something that is going to involve everyone. There are
a couple of model programs across the country that are really outstanding. They have addressed the question of ‘How do I talk to people in my urban
neighborhood about their role in fighting climate change when the immediate question is how they are going to put food on the table tomorrow night.’ They
have come up with incredible ideas that involve employment sustainability and redoing a lot of structures in the community.”
Another large section of the ARRA deals with the fundamental life issues that are overwhelming the states’ ability to cope with them and are ballooning
state budget deficits. “I really think a lot of it, for example, is going to help states with their Medicaid program,” Baldwin said. “As the economy worsens, you need
a safety net program. You need health care for people. You need food for people. You need housing for people. A lot of the large dollars here are going from
the federal government to the states to make sure people will have a roof over their heads, food on their tables and the basic necessities.”
While the country and the economy are facing multiple problems, in Baldwin’s estimation, the stimulus package will prop up what is in terms of the
economy before the Obama Administration really has a chance to shape the future. “A lot of the stimulus is dealing with what happens when you lose a job,”
Baldwin said. “There will be infrastructure, educational investments, middle class tax cuts, increased unemployment benefits and job training, help for people to
keep their health insurance if they lose their jobs and keep that benefit.”
Next issue: Looking to the future
country of opportunity’ is the symbolic part. It isn’t even the substance of what he is going to do.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is the legislation containing the Obama Administration’s stimulus plan. And as a member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Baldwin was in the thick of considering the energy and health care related components of the stimulus plan. Even in the
stimulus bill, Obama is committed to the “greening” of America.
“There is a huge section that is focused on renewable energy, efficiency — including building efficiency — and including, particularly, looking at our
public housing and looking at ways that rapidly we can do weatherization and other upgrades,” Baldwin said. “It’s a win-win situation because the people who
reside in affordable housing have their energy bills going down as a consumer, but also weatherization programs can put, for example, carpenters and others
with skills to work pretty rapidly. As we move forward beyond just this package, which is intended to stimulate our economy, we’re going to do a lot more work on
this. And ultimately, as we combat climate change, if you are going to try to not only reduce the increase of energy consumption and carbon release, but also
curtail it dramatically over the next four decades, we have to use every tool available. That would certainly include all of our existing housing stock as well as
commercial and rentals.”
And as the nation turns to a more “green” economy, it is important to Baldwin to make sure no one is left behind. “As we talk about sort of pivoting toward a
“green” economy, there is focus on making sure that doesn’t just mean great jobs for engineers and scientists and laboratories coming up with wonderful ideas,
but also means putting to work huge sections of the American economy that have suffered because of the loss manufacturing and other jobs,” Baldwin said. “I
know that there is a lot of dialogue going on between people who are proficient at jobs creation, making sure the new ‘green’ economy involves all
socioeconomic groups in the United States. Some of the programs are trying to focus on making sure there are jobs in inner-cities and rural areas as we make the
transition to a ‘green’ economy. There are a lot of job development possibilities there because it really is something that is going to involve everyone. There are
a couple of model programs across the country that are really outstanding. They have addressed the question of ‘How do I talk to people in my urban
neighborhood about their role in fighting climate change when the immediate question is how they are going to put food on the table tomorrow night.’ They
have come up with incredible ideas that involve employment sustainability and redoing a lot of structures in the community.”
Another large section of the ARRA deals with the fundamental life issues that are overwhelming the states’ ability to cope with them and are ballooning
state budget deficits. “I really think a lot of it, for example, is going to help states with their Medicaid program,” Baldwin said. “As the economy worsens, you need
a safety net program. You need health care for people. You need food for people. You need housing for people. A lot of the large dollars here are going from
the federal government to the states to make sure people will have a roof over their heads, food on their tables and the basic necessities.”
While the country and the economy are facing multiple problems, in Baldwin’s estimation, the stimulus package will prop up what is in terms of the
economy before the Obama Administration really has a chance to shape the future. “A lot of the stimulus is dealing with what happens when you lose a job,”
Baldwin said. “There will be infrastructure, educational investments, middle class tax cuts, increased unemployment benefits and job training, help for people to
keep their health insurance if they lose their jobs and keep that benefit.”
Next issue: Looking to the future
| U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin, an honorary co-chair of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, in her office at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill |
By Jonathan Gramling
Part 1 of 2
In response to the requests of several Madison media outlets, U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin
held a press conference on January 19 — the King Holiday — at her Rayburn House Office Building
office amidst all of the constituents coming into the office to pick up their swearing-in tickets. While
there is much work to be done during the Obama Administrations first days in office, Baldwin also took
the time to reflect on the significance of what was going to occur the next day.
“I have an enormous amount of emotion around what is going to happen tomorrow,” Baldwin said.
“I get chocked up just thinking about it. I have been so proud of all of us as a democracy and what we
have achieved and certainly very inspired by him. He’s the leader and carrier of the message of change
and hope that motivated us to take that democracy back. Another one of those remarkable things about
democracy is the peaceful transfer of power. The enormity of both the symbolic and substantive
message of swearing-in our first African American president is amazing. In my own small ways as the
first woman to ever represent Wisconsin in Congress and the first out lesbian to serve, as people say if
you have a seat at the table, you can make a difference. But the symbolism is also to a certain extent
that a young girl can say ‘I can grow up to be a member of Congress.’ So now on election night and
Part 1 of 2
In response to the requests of several Madison media outlets, U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin
held a press conference on January 19 — the King Holiday — at her Rayburn House Office Building
office amidst all of the constituents coming into the office to pick up their swearing-in tickets. While
there is much work to be done during the Obama Administrations first days in office, Baldwin also took
the time to reflect on the significance of what was going to occur the next day.
“I have an enormous amount of emotion around what is going to happen tomorrow,” Baldwin said.
“I get chocked up just thinking about it. I have been so proud of all of us as a democracy and what we
have achieved and certainly very inspired by him. He’s the leader and carrier of the message of change
and hope that motivated us to take that democracy back. Another one of those remarkable things about
democracy is the peaceful transfer of power. The enormity of both the symbolic and substantive
message of swearing-in our first African American president is amazing. In my own small ways as the
first woman to ever represent Wisconsin in Congress and the first out lesbian to serve, as people say if
you have a seat at the table, you can make a difference. But the symbolism is also to a certain extent
that a young girl can say ‘I can grow up to be a member of Congress.’ So now on election night and