SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL) -- Former US Senator Russ Feingold made a stop in Sheboygan on Sunday for a local fundraising event.
The event was hosted by the Sheboygan County Democratic Party, and several dozen local party members were on hand to meet with Feingold. Feingold says he spent the day touring eastern Wisconsin because there are some very real concerns that need to be addressed. "We've been talking a lot about issues like economic development. We had a chance to go to Wigwam here and hear their concerns about TPP, The Trans-Pacific partnership. They're worried about jobs getting shipped overseas." Feingold says he opposes the trade deal but that his opponent Senator Ron Johnson hasn't said how he'll decide on the issue.
Feingold also says that the issues on groundwater quality and availability are key. "I was just up in Kewaunee County a few minutes ago, and they're telling me about severe groundwater problems they're having there." The county has been dealing with widespread well contamination over the past several years.
The concerns Feingold has been hearing at events like this are pretty much the same. "Working class and middle families are saying even though there's been an economic recovery, people at the top are doing real well, but the middle class and working families are having a very hard time paying their bills." He says that disparity in income is making it very hard for people to get the sorts of service they need to get ahead in society. "People are concerned about increasing the minimum wage, family leave if you have a child, paid family leave, and especially the cost of college and higher education."
Feingold says this is one of the stops he's making as he travels to all 72 counties in Wisconsin leading up the the November elections.