Press Release
MADISON, WI – The State Assembly voted to uphold Wisconsin residents’ rights under the Second Amendment and to join 25 other states that have ended their participation in the federal supplemental unemployment programs. State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) cosponsored both proposals and voted for them on the Assembly floor.
“I’ve heard from a number of constituents who have concerns that the Biden Administration will attempt to curtail Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms,” Representative Armstrong said. “Assembly Bill 293 protects Wisconsin residents’ rights in a number of ways, including prohibiting the enforcement of new federal firearm-related laws or regulations that exceed Wisconsin’s own laws and regulations. While I certainly wish that the federal government could be trusted to respect the people’s constitutional rights and that bills like AB 293 weren’t necessary, that trust simply isn’t there right now, at least with regard to the Second Amendment, which is why I supported this proposal.”
The Assembly also approved Assembly Bill 336, which restores Wisconsin unemployment benefits to pre-COVID levels by ending the state’s participation in several federal supplemental programs, including PUA, PEUC, FPUC, and MEUC.
“While these federal programs played an important role in the early months of the pandemic, when many businesses limited operations or closed down with no idea when life would return to normal, things have changed for the better, and now businesses are desperate for employees,” Representative Armstrong said. “Unemployment Insurance is meant to tide people over until they find work, and the jobs are out there – I’m aware of 600 jobs in Barron County alone that are going unfilled. In the situation we find ourselves in right now, the federal supplements are no longer necessary and instead are acting as a disincentive to work. It’s time to restore unemployment benefits to a level that reflects current reality.”
AB 293 will go to the Senate for further consideration. The Senate concurred in AB 336 shortly after the Assembly vote, so that bill go to Governor Evers for his review.
Last Update: Jun 10, 2021 12:06 pm CDT
