Wisconsin Farm Bureau Board endorses Thompson

Tommy Thompson has the endorsement of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in his race to become Wisconsin's next U.S. Senator.

The endorsement was made by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's 11-member board of directors. Thompson, a former Wisconsin Governor, is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in the Aug. 14 primary election.

"Farming is in my blood, and it's an important part of our state's heritage," said Thompson. "So, it's with great pride that I've earned the Wisconsin Farm Bureau endorsement for U.S. Senate. Wisconsin's agricultural community has an economic impact that I both understand and respect. It is driven by a work-ethic I share and which I will put to work for our state's farmers and related industries as your next U.S. Senator."

"Tommy Thompson has been a strong advocate for farmers since first serving in the State Assembly," said WFBF President Bill Bruins.

"It was Tommy Thompson that Wisconsin farmers have to thank for use-value assessment of farmland," Bruins said. "It was Governor Thompson who fully implemented it in 2000. Since then, Wisconsin rural landowners have saved nearly $4 billion in property taxes."

"As governor he was a staunch property rights advocate who strengthened the state's Right to Farm law, cut taxes 91 times, eliminated inheritance and gift taxes, and enhanced deer and bear damage claims for farmers," Bruins said.

"In addition to what he's already done for agriculture, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's board of directors felt Tommy Thompson is the type of proven leader who will bring an end to the political polarization that has Washington gridlocked," Bruins said.

When Thompson met with the WFBF Board of Directors he reminded them that he worked with a Democrat-controlled State Legislature to pass historic welfare reform in the 1990s.

He chided the current U.S. Senate for not passing a budget in over 1,100 days, for a mountain of debt and for the federal government's fiscal reliance on China.

Thompson, a long-time Farm Bureau member, owns a herd of purebred Belted Galloway cattle and 700 acres of corn, soybeans and hay.

If he secures the Republican nomination in the Aug. 14 primary, he would face Democrat, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl.

All endorsements for federal races come from the WFBF board of directors. WFBF's political action committee, the Volunteers for Agriculture, only endorses candidates for state races.