By Nicole Duran

 

All eight of Wisconsin's House members voted for a job-training bill last week, sending it to President Barack Obama's desk for signing. When the measure came before the Senate last month, all but three senators, including Oshkosh Republican Ron Johnson supported it. 

 

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act attempts to streamline the workforce development system and bolster training for disabled and young workers. 

 

In explaining his "nay" vote, Johnson said the legislation was ineffective. 

 

"The bill eliminates 15 duplicative job programs, for example -- but about two-thirds of those have not been funded in recent years," Johnson said in a June 25 statement. "Eliminating spending that wasn't taking place does not constitute fiscal restraint. The bill actually authorizes higher federal spending on jobs programs, from $9.1 billion in 2015 to at least $10.1 billion in 2020, and could increase deficits by nearly $4 billion over the next six years." 

 

Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, heralded the measure as a rare example of bipartisanship and action after the House passed it on Wednesday by a vote of 415-6. 

 

"Today this 'Do-Nothing Congress' has done something to bring jobs to the people we represent," she said. "In a rare bipartisan moment, we chose to create significant changes to the way we connect our constituents to the skills they need to thrive. This jobs bill is an example of what can occur when we work together and place our people above our political affiliation." 

 

 

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