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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: JOE LEIBHAM (920) 208-4837
DATE: June 19, 2006
SENATOR JOE LEIBHAM TO SEEK RE-ELECTION
Family, Supporters
Rally at Kick-Off Event
Sheboygan…Touting
his legislative record of accomplishments and detailing his goals and enthusiasm
for the future, incumbent State Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) formally
announced his intent to seek re-election to a second four-year term for
Wisconsin’s 9th State Senate District.
The 9th
District covers the northern half of Sheboygan County (including the City of
Sheboygan), the southern half of Manitowoc County (including the City of
Manitowoc) and eastern Calumet and Fond du Lac counties. The election will be
held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006.
“It has
been a true honor and privilege to represent the residents of the 9th
District over the past four years. I am proud of my extensive record of
legislative accomplishments. We have accomplished a lot together!” Senator
Leibham said. “I look forward to campaigning hard over the next four and a half
months, honestly discussing my record with district residents and detailing my
goals for a productive second term.”
Senator
Leibham was first elected to the State Senate in 2002. “Never did I imagine the
amount of work we would be able to accomplish over the past four years. By
working hard and smart, I have been able to meet and exceed each of the goals I
laid out for the voters back in 2002,” Senator Leibham said. “It has been a
humbling experience to serve as an active leader and voice in the State
Legislature, addressing the issues and concerns of area residents and making the
lakeshore region and Wisconsin a better place to live, work, employ people,
retire and enjoy life.”
Senator
Leibham said his record of accomplishments could be best summarized as working
to:
-
Protect the residents of Wisconsin from higher taxes
-
Control unnecessary and wasteful government spending.
-
Advocate for quality jobs and higher incomes.
- Make
health care more affordable and accessible.
-
Promote strong family values and provide leadership on Pro-life and private
property issues.
- Reform
the state’s election system and require a photo ID to vote.
(For a
detailed listing of Senator Leibham’s legislative accomplishments, please see
below.)
“My top
priorities throughout my first term have been to reduce the tax burden on
Wisconsin’s working families and retirees, control unnecessary and wasteful
government spending, create a better environment for job retention and job
creation, and advance common sense reforms in the areas of healthcare, education
and election law,” Senator Leibham said. ”By setting aside the partisan
politics that often bogs legislators down, I have been able accomplish real
results on the issues that matter most to the residents of the 9th
District.”
Senator
Leibham said his top priority in a new term would be to move Wisconsin out of
the top ten taxed states by reforming state government from top to bottom and
making it more efficient. “We must work aggressively to reduce the tax burden
on Wisconsin’s hard working families and retirees,” Senator Leibham said. “I
pledge to continue to be an advocate for the average taxpayer and continue my
effort to bring our tax burden more in line with our families’ ability to pay.”
In
addition, Senator Leibham said he would seek additional solutions to escalating
healthcare costs. “While I am pleased with what I was able to accomplish in the
area of healthcare costs, more needs to be done,” Senator Leibham said. “I will
explore all options and provide leadership on real solutions to make healthcare
more affordable and accessible.”
Senator
Leibham said he is also proud of the way in which he has conducted himself while
in office. “I have worked hard to make myself available and accessible to the
residents of the district through regular listening sessions, attending many
community events and communicating via a weekly column and monthly radio
shows.” Senator Leibham said. “I like to be everywhere so people can get to
know me and communicate with me.”
“While I am
certain some residents haven’t agreed with some of my votes, I am confident they
recognize my honesty, energy and integrity,” Senator Leibham said. “Above all,
that is what I pledge: to honestly and effectively represent our area in a
professional and dignified manner.”
###
Partial Listing of State Senator Joe Leibham’s Legislative Highlights
State Senator Joe
Leibham’s Record on Reducing Taxes and Creating Jobs:
·
Enacted a
two-year cap on property taxes to reduce the tax burden placed on wisconsin’s
property owners.
·
Eliminated
the state tax on Social Security. Saving Wisconsin’s seniors more than $400 a
year.
·
Permanently
reduced the gas tax by a penny. Saving Wisconsin taxpayers more than $34 million
annually.
·
Stopped the
automatic annual increase in the gas tax. Saving Wisconsin taxpayers more than
$30 million annually.
·
Ended the
jobs tax to keep Wisconsin businesses competitive with neighboring states.
·
Supports
the Taxpayers Bill of Rights—a proposal to place limits on taxes and spending.
Allowing taxpayers to have a vote on excessive tax increase plans.
State Senator Joe
Leibham’s Record on HealthCare:
·
Increased
state support for area nursing homes By $1 million and fully funded our Medical
Assistance programs.
·
Increased
funding for Wisconsin’s SeniorCare Program.
·
Co-Authored
Health Savings Account (HSA’s) legislation to allow Wisconsin citizens to deduct
contributions to HSA’s from state taxes.
·
Created
Co-Op Care to reduce the costs of health insurance by allowing individuals and
businesses to pool their resources to increase their purchasing power.
·
Created a
100 percent income tax deduction for seniors and individuals for health
insurance premiums.
State Senator Joe Leibham’s Record on Family Values and Common Sense Reforms:
·
Supports
defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
·
100 Percent
Pro-Life voting record.
·
Authored
legislation to inform expectant mothers of the life-saving medical benefits of
the donation of umbilical cord blood.
·
Led the
effort to crack down on sex offenders and to increase the maximum penalty for
first degree sexual assault of a child to life imprisonment.
·
Co-Authored
REAL ID legislation to require persons applying for a driver’s License or
taxpayer subsidized programs to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal
status.
·
Authored
legislation requiring a Photo ID to vote or register to vote.
State Senator Joe
Leibham’s Biography:
Senator
Leibham was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in November of 2002.
Prior to that, Senator Leibham served four years in the Wisconsin State
Assembly, from January 1999 thru December 2002 representing the 26th
Assembly District.
Born and
raised in Sheboygan. Married to Heather - a native of Plymouth. Senator Leibham
is the fourth oldest of 13 Leibham children. Attend Sheboygan area public
schools and graduated from Sheboygan Area Lutheran H.S.; B.A. UW-Madison 1991;
attended UW-La Crosse 1987-89 and Ealing College (London, England) 1990. Real
world, private sector experience with Sargento Foods, Inc. and Sheboygan County
Chamber of Commerce.
Community Involvement:
Friends of
Sheboygan Senior Center (vice pres.); Citizen’s Police Academy (graduate); Boy
Scouts of America (Eagle Scout) – Troop 804; American Luther Assn.; Manitowoc
County Vision 2011 Committee. Sheboygan City Council 1993-2000 (pres. 1995-96).
Elder and Usher at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Legislative Committee Assignments:
Senator
Leibham currently serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Finance and the
Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism. Most recently, Senator Leibham
served as the Chair of the WI Legislative Council’s Special Committee on
Election Law Reform and Review. Under Senator Leibham’s leadership, this
bipartisan grassroots committee was successful in getting signed into law the
most comprehensive package of election reform measures since the late 1970’s.
Senator Leibham also serves as a member of the Wisconsin Council on Workforce
Development.
During the
2003-2004 Legislative Session, Senator Leibham served as the Co-Chair of the
Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR), the Chair of the
Senate Transportation Committee and served as a member of the Senate Select
Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development. |
