STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — UW-Stevens Point students got the chance to meet and discuss with their U.S. Representative, Ron Kind, on Thursday.
Kind’s district includes portions of Wisconsin affected by large amounts of flooding. The damage is being totaled, and Kind saya it’s possible that there’s been enough to trigger federal aid dollars for repair.
Kind said, “We have to find out what private insurance will cover and what it won’t cover, and whether or not we hit that threshold so we ca get people and businesses back on their feet as quickly as possible, including many family farmers whose fields have been flooded out… just at the time when they’re trying to get the crop off the fields.”
Kind also spoke at an event advocating for different solutions around opioid abuse Thursday night. From has perspective and experience as a lawyer, he doesn’t believe its something that can be fought with stricter criminal punishment.
He said, “We need a public health response to what’s taking place out there. Exploring alternative, complimentary forms of pain management techniques, and establishing programs from the ground up in order to get out ahead of this epidemic before it overwhelms all of us.”
Kind brought plenty of Hillary Clinton campaign material with him. His choice for President hasn’t been faring as well with millennials as she’d like, and Kind believes that it’s because of the image constructed over many years of public service.
“I think that image has developed around her personality, which I think is not justified. It’s just going to take a while for people to really get to understand what she’s about and what she’s offering our country today.”
Kind was one of the few Congress members to vote against overriding President Obama’s veto of the bill allowing 9/11 victims to pursue legal action against the Saudi Arabian government. Kind believes this could set a precedent that U.S. could come to regret.
“Once we open up the door by allowing this legislation to go forward against a country like Saudi Arabia, I’m confident that it could be used against the United States in the future, especially against our military personnel.”
Kind is running unopposed from the Republican side, all but guaranteeing him another term in the House. In the next two years, he hopes that he can help approve bills to improve the nation’s economy.
“We’ve got to stay focused on the economy. It’s still not working for all Americans. We’re still leaving too many people behind, and nothing solves more problems better than a growing economy with good paying jobs that people can support and raise a family on. That’s going to require the concerted effort at all levels.”
Our full conversation with Representative Kind is available for download as a Newsmakers Podcast.
