Political Quotes

“I rise on behalf of the more than 25,000 workers and retirees in Wisconsin who have paid into the Central States Pension Fund. If Washington does not act, workers and retirees face massive cuts to the pensions they have earned over decades of work. If Washington does not act, small businesses will be on the hook for a pension liability they cannot afford. I have been proud to work side by side with Wisconsin workers and retirees and with Senator Brown, who introduced the Butch Lewis Act, and I have been proud to work with Senator Donnelly and others to organize this afternoon's opportunity to share the stories of the hard- working people and retirees we represent. The bill--the Butch Lewis Act--will put failing multiemployer pension plans, including Central States, back on solid ground, and it does so without cutting a single cent from the pension retirees have earned. I have also introduced legislation to help shore up the government's insurance plan for these pensions. Earlier this year, I shared the stories of Wisconsin retirees who stand to lose more than 50 percent of their pensions if Washington does not act. Since then, nothing has been done. I am here once again to remind my colleagues that this is about a promise that must be kept. This is about a promise made to Gary, from Marshfield, WI. Gary told me: We recently got custody of our great grandson, and raising an 8 year old is expensive, more expensive than when our kids were young.…”