U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Wisconsin’s Redistricting Case, Trump’s Budget And Rural Wisconsin, Mass Global Tragedy

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U.S Representative Ron Kind of La Crosse says that President Trump’s proposed federal budget will take a toll on rural Wisconsin. He’s with us to discuss his concerns. We also talk with two foreign policy experts who say Americans have forgotten the costs of global tragedies like World War Two, and that strong international leadership is needed to prevent another. Plus, WPR’s Capitol Bureau Chief talks about the news that the U.S. Supreme Court will take up Wisconsin’s redistricting case.

Featured in this Show

  • U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Wisconsin's Redistricting Case

    The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will take up Wisconsin’s redistricting case. The Court also granted a stay requested by Attorney General Brad Schimel, so the state doesn’t have to redraw maps while the case is being considered. We get the details with WPR’s Capitol Bureau Chief.

  • U.S. Representative Ron Kind Says President Trump's Budget Will Hurt Rural Wisconsin

    U.S. Representative Ron Kind of La Crosse says President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget will hurt rural Wisconsin.

  • Rep. Ron Kind Argues Rural Wisconsin Loses In Trump's Budget

    President Donald Trump’s latest budget has gotten criticism from both sides of the aisle, and could entail major cuts in federal assistance for rural communities, according to multiple reports.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture would see a 21 percent funding cut. Two of the key services the agency provides to rural Americans are expected to be affected by the cuts in particular: the Utilities Service, which is charged with keeping phones, power lines and internet working in rural areas; and the Rural Housing Service.

    For U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, who represents Wisconsin’s third district, says the Trump administration’s budget fails some of the president’s key supporters — rural Americans.

    “Given where his political support came from last year, you’d think that his budget would be more sensitive to the needs of rural Wisconsin, rural America. But by looking at it, it’s almost a declaration of war against rural America,” Kind said.

    Kind wasn’t just critical of moves he said would affect the infrastructure of communities, he was also critical of efforts that would impact rural economies.

    He said low-interest operating loans are crucial to family farmers who often have to take out loans to maintain their business, and Trump’s plan would reduce those dramatically.

    “If anyone knows how family farms have to operate, their business is capital intensive, they’ve got to take revolving or operating loans throughout the year to make ends meet,” Kind said. “(If) you eliminate those low-interest programs on them, it’s going to make the cost of doing business much greater at a time when commodity prices and milk prices are really low.”

    Kind and other Democrats aren’t the only ones concerned about how Trump’s proposed budget would affect rural economies. Republicans such as Mike Conway, of Texas, who also serves as the House Agricultural Chairman, has expressed concern over how the budget could hamper progress for the already-struggling agricultural sector.

    The controversial budget released by the Trump administration still hasn’t entered its final stages, and many officials have described it as a wish list rather than a finalized plan of federal spending for 2018. Kind described the budget in its current form as one that would get opposition from both sides of the aisle.

    “Fortunately, even a lot of my Republican friends said that not only was this budget dead on arrival, it was dead before arrival, because it was so unrealistic in its spending expectations and cuts and where they were primarily applying the cuts,” Kind said.

    He added that he sees plenty of work needing to be done on the budget in order for it to benefit rural areas.

    “There’s a long ways that I think the president’s plan needs to go in order to address the unique challenges and the special needs that we do have here in rural Wisconsin,” Kind said.

  • The Return Of Tragedy On A Global Scale?

    In the seven decades since World War II, Americans have forgotten the risks of massive global calamity–and we may soon be reminded. That’s according to two foreign policy experts, who say the country needs to provide global leadership, or risk a dangerous collapse of international politics.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Amanda Magnus Producer
  • Rob Ferrett Producer
  • Shawn Johnson Guest
  • Representative Ron Kind Guest
  • Charles Edel Guest
  • Hal Brands Guest