Former Wisconsin Congressman Mark Green is now officially the US Ambassador to Tanzania.
Green was sworn-in Thursday evening outside of a farmhouse near De Pere, surrounded by a few hundred supporters.
Green and his family will be in the east African country for about a year-and-a-half. The former Republican gubernatorial candidate was appointed to the position by President Bush.
Two decades ago, Green and his wife spent a year as volunteer teachers in Kenya. Their children have African middle names.
Green says one of his challenges will be to win over the hearts and minds of young Tanzanians.
AUDIO: Mark Green talks about his time as a teacher in Kenya (MP3 :19)
Green sworn in as Ambassador to Tanzania
August 23, 2007 By
Budget conferees kick around taxes
August 23, 2007 By
Taxes were the topic at Thursday's meeting of state budget negotiators. Republicans led by Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch offered a package of tax cuts for consideration by Democrats, as the Budget Conference Committee held the eighth of what have so far been mostly fruitless meetings. Of the Assembly budget process, Huebsch said "it was not enough to simply hold the line," on taxes. "What we recognized is that we wer going to have to reduce taxes." Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson reiterated a familiar Democratic position: that Wisconsin's tax burden has shifted over the years, from corporations and onto homeowners in the form of escalating property taxes, while Huebsch and the GOP continue to maintain the state's overall tax burden is simply more than people can afford.
Governor tours Sauk County flood damage
August 23, 2007 By
The Governor continued a statewide tour on Thursday of areas hit hard by heavy rains and flooding the past week. During a stop in Sauk County, Governor Jim Doyle met with residents of Ironton and Cazenovia. While the damage to some homes in those areas is extensive, Doyle says it's impressive how communities have pulled together.
The Governor says the state will help out in anyway it can. He also maintains that the state will push for federal disaster aid to recover from the flooding.
Restrictions proposed on phosphorus in fertilizer
August 23, 2007 By
Dane County's done it, now statewide restrictions are proposed on phosphorus in fertilizer. A couple of state lawmakers propose a statewide ban on sale and use fertilizers containing phosphorous. Good idea, says Dane County Supervisor Brett Hulsey, who helped institute a county ban in 2004. Excess phosphorus is blamed for encouraging the growth of algae which clouds water and in some cases can make swimmers ill. It can also lead to fish kills and encourage the growth of invasive species. Hulsey says the ban is a small step in the right direction. The bill is proposed by state Sen. Mark Miller , a Dane County Democrat, and Door County Republican Rep. Gary Bies. Minnesota is the only state with a law on phosphorous, restricting its use on lawns and turf.
Legislation helps schools deal with bullies
August 23, 2007 By
Many schools in the state already have policies for dealing with bullies, but those rules often vary from district to district. State Senator Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) is co-sponsoring a bill that allows a statewide approach. It requires the Department of Public Instruction to create a model policy. Districts across the state would then be required to adopt that policy, integrate it into already existing guidelines for dealing with bullies, or they'd have to create their own standards.
Kedzie says bill is intended to end the confusion that often comes from the wide range of standards currently in use. He says bully problems are often passed along at schools, because nobody is clear on how to deal with them. He says a statewide approach would help end those problems.
State Senator Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), who is also a co-sponsor, says schools know bullying is taking place. He's hoping the bill will make it clearer just how widespread the behavior actually is.
The bill is currently being considered by a Senate Committee. Similar legislation was passed in the state Senate last session, but was not acted on in the Assembly.
