Baldwin’s first speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate

United States Senator Tammy Baldwin’s 11-minute speech focuses on the “disappearing middle class,” saying even as the national economy is rebounding, Wisconsin businesses and families remain “stuck in neutral.”

“Wisconsinites have told me that powerful and well-connected seem to still write their own rules, while the concerns and struggles of middle class families go unnoticed here in Washington. They feel like our economic system is tilted toward those at the top.”

The Democrat from Madison says many Wisconsinites tell her the political system protects the wealthy, rather than making sure everyone gets a “fair shot.” Baldwin says too many people are finding that even two jobs aren’t enough to make ends meet, and she says, “those jobs are hard to find and hard to keep.”

Baldwin is optimistic, though, saying she’s already had the pleasure of working with colleagues on both sides of the political aisle. “And I know that neither party has a monopoly on compassion or common sense. There’s nothing liberal or conservative about wanting to help our manufacturers compete and win on the world stage.”

Baldwin spent 14 years in the House of Representatives before winning a seat in the Senate last November. Baldwin opens her speech by pointing out that she occupies the office held for many years by Wisconsin’s “Fighting Bob La Follette,” a proponent of progressivism. (AUDIO: C-span)

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:26

DNR fisheries manager Mike Staggs says the program would greatly increase the number of fish stocked by the state each year. Currently, the state stocks anywhere between 60,000 to 120,000 walleye in Wisconsin waterways each year. Under Walker’s proposal, that number could climb as high as 800,000.

AUDIO: Mike Staggs (:13)

The move is aimed at trying to make multiple regions of the state into fishing destination, which Staggs says could bring a big boost in tourism dollars. Wisconsin currently has a strong walleye fishery in the Lake Winnebago system, so he says the focus would be on other lakes.

Staggs says the overall goal is just to expand the number of walleyes across the state in a variety of waters.

Rick Schuh, WHBY

Starting pitcher Wily Peralta (3-5) never even made it out of the second inning and threw 55-pitches.  He allowed 5-runs in the second inning, but a lethargic and disheartening effort by the defense certainly didn’t help.

AUDIO: Ron Roenicke on Wily Peralta’s rough 2nd inning :24

The Brewers bullpen performed well again, but having to work 7+ innings will wear them out in a hurry.

Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up only a sixth inning home run to Ryan Braun.  He pitched into the 8th and improved to 5-2 with the win.

The Brewers fell to 18-27 on the season and fell to 4-16 in the Month of May.  They’ll take Thursday off and open a weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night at Miller Park.

Kyle Lohse

The Brewers announced today that starting pitcher Kyle Lohse will skip his next start on Saturday because of right elbow irritation.  Mike Fiers is expected to make the start in his place on Saturday against the Pirates.

Administrator Todd Kuckkahn said the child’s death has been hard on everyone. “We certainly request and extend our heartfelt prayers and sympathy to the family, to the friends of Joey, students, faculty and staff at St. Peter’s Middle School. We ask that people respect the privacy of those close to Joey as they deal with their loss.”

Kuckkahn could not comment on a possible cause of death. “Students and staff have been doing as good a job as you can expect people to do, in pulling together and supporting each other.” Joey Miller’s family is in the process of making his funeral arrangements.

WSAU

Nick Desien is President and CEO of Ministry.  “We recognize that a decision to reduce the size of our workforce will impact the lives of many of our friends and colleagues. However, it is necessary to continue our mission of providing the highest quality of care to our patients, especially the poor and vulnerable, without a disruption in services,” Desien said in a press release.

Sequestration has resulted in a $10 million annual reduction in payments to Ministry for Medicare services. Ministry Health officials have declined interview requests. The initial press release did not say how many people will be let go, when that will happen, or if it affects certain departments or types of employees first.

Ministry Health Care operates 15 hospitals and 47 clinics, and currently has more than 12,000 associates including 650 physicians and advanced practice clinicians.

WSAU