Keith Ripp Tries to Take Credit for Dairy Credits in Stimulus Bill He Voted Against

Ripp Voted Against Stimulus Bill,
Tries to Take Credit for Stimulus Bill

MADISON – State Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) voted against the State Economic Stimulus bill last month, and now he’s trying to take credit for the Dairy Tax Credits included in the very same stimulus package he voted down.

“Keith Ripp has reached the peak of hypocrisy,” said Joe Wineke, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Ripp voted against the stimulus bill to please his Republican Party bosses, and now he’s posing for holy pictures and trying to take credit for the dairy provisions in the same bill he opposed.”

During one of the worst economic crisis in state history, Keith Ripp and the Republicans voted against the state stimulus bill, including millions of dollars for projects to jumpstart the economy and put thousands of people back to work immediately.

Now Ripp is trying to take credit for the same stimulus bill he voted against, telling a local paper the legislation will help farmers with Dairy Tax Credits, adding, “We’re going to jump-start some construction with this.” (Source: Hometown News Group, Ripp Pushes Dairy Tax Credit Bill)

“Wisconsin families expect honesty from their State Legislators,” said Wineke. “Unfortunately Keith Ripp votes one way in Madison and then comes back to the district and tells a completely different story.”

Unlike Keith Ripp and the Republicans, Democrats took action and supported the State Economic Stimulus package, which Governor Doyle signed into law. In Wisconsin, the state stimulus will deliver immediate, tangible impacts, including:

* $300 million to put people to work right away repairing and building bridges and roads.
* $2.6 million in worker training to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
* Protections for Wisconsin homeowners and renters facing home foreclosures.
* Tax credits for critical Wisconsin industries like agriculture, high-tech and manufacturing.