Agriculture
La Crosse-area Rep. Tara Johnson holds roundtable about federal money with area business people and residents
The freezing of federal money intended for local programs around the U.S. has led to proposed action in Wisconsin.
La Crosse area state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby) is promoting a plan called the Frozen Federal Funds Emergency Act, designed to release money that has been promised to farmers and businesses.
Johnson sat down Monday in Westby with area farmers, food producers and government officials, to find out how funding shortages and freezing money from Washington, D.C., may be affecting them.
Johnson views the federal government as a business, in some ways.
“I think the business has plenty of money,” Johnson said. “I think how they are deciding to operate as the federal government is really irresponsible right now.”
Travis Forgues is a sheep farmer, who co-owns the Hidden Springs Creamery in the Westby area. He wants the government to keep its end of the funding bargain.
“What I’m strongly advocating for is if we have programs in place, that people have been committed to, and have contracts with the federal government, the federal government comes through on their end and pays them back for what they put out there,” Forgues said.
Others participating in the roundtable included Couleecap executive director Hetti Brown, La Crosse school superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, and Westby superintendent Steve Michaels.
During the discussion, Michaels pointed out that his district is still making budget cuts, despite the recent passage of a school referendum.
Speakers also told Johnson that they’re dealing with rising costs for products and service, and they worry that they may not be able to make payroll in some cases.
Sarge
March 11, 2025 at 5:56 am
Tara Johnson lost any credibility she might hold when she said ” the business (referring to the federal gov’t) has plenty of money”. The Federal government is under water. The current national debt is over 36.5 trillion dollars! Cuts have to be made and it isn’t going to be comfortable. Ask anyone that has been greatly overweight that needed to slim down for their health. It wasn’t easy cutting calories. Depriving ourselves for a future good doesn’t come easy. everyone does better when they live within their means and that goes for our government too!
walden
March 11, 2025 at 3:19 pm
WisPolitics (March 4) explains the Wisconsin “Frozen Funds Emergency Act” is being introduced at the state level by Wisconsin Dems to steal from the Wisconsin surplus to pay what the Fed have frozen. The proposal was introduced by Angelina Cruz (D-Racine) and other Dems. This is an attempt to circumvenet the federal level savings and it will go no-where in the WI legislature. A worthless Dog and Pony show.
This article is at best lazy reporting. The article needs to be edited adding relevant factual information.
Bob N.
March 11, 2025 at 4:56 pm
It didn’t take much time for Tara to get on the Wisconsin Dems email chain to receive marching orders on dead-end liberal legislation. She could be using that time learning how to be an effective Assemblywoman to serve constituents of both parties. After all, she ran the “non-partisan” La Crosse County Board for 10 years..(har-har). Instead, she’s getting the scoop on being a Democrat operative in Madison.
nick
March 11, 2025 at 6:39 am
Waste of time.
Something has to be done about the deficit but putting a man like Musk in charge is the biggest mistake ever.
Make no mistake about it, HE WANTS SOCIAL SECURITY GONE.
I say the Republicans better wake up or next year will be a bloodbath for them.
The Wisconsin Republicans in the House are slowly cutting their own throat by not speaking up
walden
March 11, 2025 at 10:20 am
Trump has already said he will not cut social security benefits except where there is fraud and waste. The Democrats are peddling a fake story line.
Dylan
March 11, 2025 at 11:03 am
He’s a serial liar, there’s countless examples of him saying one thing, then doing another. There’s no fake story line to be peddling. Social security is bankrupting this nation, needs re-form, including cuts.
walden
March 11, 2025 at 3:23 pm
OK, I won’t debate with your emotions. If Trump does cut benefits for bona fide social security recipients please get back to us.
Roy
March 11, 2025 at 10:57 am
I hope Trump cuts the Social Security for the 300 year-old man the President cited in his State of the Union address.
With all the corrupt Covid spending we’ve witnessed in the past 4 years, do you really think there aren’t some long-dead SS recipients whose crooked relatives haven’t been enjoying that (your) money?
Bob N.
March 11, 2025 at 8:57 am
Liberals like Johnson prey on people who think she can increase their income. Johnson has more than she can handle in the Assembly, much less influencing Federal spending. As for the Superintendents being there, they have plenty of local problems they need to be spending time on, not attending Tara’s pow-wow.
“The federal government has plenty of money”? So thought Joe Biden when he opened the doors to the Treasury for free Covid dollars and nearly bankrupted us. Keep an eye on that little Shelby Democrat operative.
Jim
March 12, 2025 at 3:43 pm
Trump spent more money on covid than Biden go look it up. It was all passed bipartisan.
walden
March 11, 2025 at 10:17 am
Johnson “views the federal government as a business, in some ways.” If the federal government was a business it would have gone bankrupt years ago. Instead they print more money which creates the inflation Trump is trying to address by cutting back the deficit.
These folks should have a “roundtable” on basic economics.
The government should pay the goat farmer his $80,000 spent on equipment to produce goat cheese, as promised. The government should then fire the government employee that made that deal with the farmer, and then fire that person’s supervisor. Taxpayers should not be paying for this crap. Goat cheese…are you kidding me?
Jim
March 12, 2025 at 12:03 am
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS SUPPOSE AS MY UNDERSTANDING HAVE FUNDS FOR FARMERS. IMPROVEMENTS, CONSERVATION ETC. SOME PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE MONEY OUT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD HONOR THE MONEY.
HOW ARE THE TARRIFFS GOING ANYWAY? 1 DAY GOING 10 MINUTES LATER NOT. NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE THE 3AM EMOTIONAL NAME CALLING TARRIFF LADEN COMMENTS IN A TWEEET FROM TRUMP. REAGANOMICS TRICKLE DOWN SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS, HISTORY SHOWS ADDS TO THE DEFICIT. Isolationist, tariffs, go look at Smoot Hawley act.
Bill
March 14, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Can always tell the thinking of a good union man. Anyone we know?