In the News

By Ashley LuthernCongresswoman Gwen Moore and Sen. Tammy Baldwin have sent a letter expressing concern about the slow pace of the federal review into the fatal officer-involved shooting death of Dontre Hamilton to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.The letter comes one week after Hamilton's family publicly expressed the same frustration.Hamilton, 31, was shot on April 30, 2014, during a struggle with officer Christopher Manney, a 13-year department veteran who was fired in October after an inte... Read more

By Vicki NeedhamFour House Democrats on Monday urged the Obama administration to ensure that a pending Asia-Pacific trade deal includes strong capital controls that would help minimize the damaging effects of financial crises.The lawmakers want the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to give governments more flexibility to protect the stability of their financial systems by stemming the flow of speculative capital."Policies promoting full and free movement of capital — without any controls on, for i... Read more

By Benjamin SiegelAt least two members of Congress are calling on equal pay for female soccer players following the US Women's National Team's commanding World Cup win Sunday night.Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) penned a letter to FIFA President Joseph Blatter Monday calling on the embattled FIFA leader to raise payouts for female soccer players.Despite the 5-2 victory of Japan -– the most-watched soccer match in U.S. television history -— the winners will be paid just $2 million, four times less t... Read more

By Zoe ElfenbeinWomen around the world are making a difference in politics every day – and many are letting it known on social media all the time. Here’s what caught our eye on Twitter this week:1. Debbie Wasserman Schultz New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s slogan might be “Telling it like it is,” but congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz was the one being candid when she outlined all the reasons why Christie should not be president in a statement.2. Lupita... Read more

by Gwen MooreIt is vital for us to understand and spread awareness about the risk of infant mortality and what we can do to prevent it, for the infant mortality rate of any community is a reflection of the health, strength, and vitality of its people. The surest way to combat infant mortality is by ensuring that women receive adequate essential healthcare services before, between, and beyond pregnancy. The death of an infant leaves behind an imprint of devastation and tragedy, not only for the b... Read more

By Gwen MooreThe life of a man with schizophrenia, 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton, ended after he was struck by 14 bullets from a Milwaukee police officer’s handgun on 30 April 2014. The lethal confrontation sparked a firestorm in my city, resulting in several massive protests and the notification of the National Guard. A year later, many of my constituents still ask what is being done to address concerns about police reform and how we can fill the gaps in our mental health safety net. According to... Read more

By Tribune staffU.S. Rep. Ron Kind is calling on state lawmakers to preserve the “Wisconsin Idea” as a key part of the University of Wisconsin system. The La Crosse Democrat introduced a resolution Wednesday — cosponsored by fellow House Democrats Marc Pocan and Gwen Moore — recognizing the importance of the university’s mission statement, which Gov. Scott Walker proposed removing from state law. “The Wisconsin Idea has been part of the fabric of our state for over 100 years,” Kind said in a new... Read more

By Katie Delong and Jenn SachsMILWAUKEE — Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin) wants the federal government to help pay for more mental health training for police officers, and her efforts have already found some success. The effort began in downtown Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park. That’s where 31-year-old Dontre Hamilton was shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney in April 2014. Dontre Hamilton and Christopher Manney Just over one year later, Congresswoman Moore has ... Read more

By Gwen Moore When you're trying to feed your family and stretch a dollar, steaks and short ribs don't make it to your grocery list. As one of nine siblings in a low-income household in Wisconsin, I saw my mother make a habit of buying inexpensive stewing meat for us. These tough cuts of beef came in handy when shopping on a budget, but if Missouri lawmakers have their way, stewing meat will be off the menu for the working class. Republican state representatives have recently introduced legislat... Read more

By Jon Swaine and Oliver LaughlandWashington lawmakers have credited a Guardian investigation to count killings by police with building momentum on long-stalled law-enforcement reform and renewed efforts to force the US government to establish a comprehensive database of officers’ lethal use of force. As members of Congress sought to turn a patchwork of proposals into a progressive agenda for action, authors of Democratic proposals in both the Senate and House to demand an official US record of ... Read more