Neumann touts budget plan in Superior

Mark Neumann, a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl, made a stop in Superior Tuesday. The Wisconsin home builder and former Congress man touted his own budget plan, which lists 150 specific line items to cut or trim. Neumann said his detailed business plan would balance the federal budget in five years by cutting $1.5 trillion in spending and eliminating Obamacare and pay off the federal deficit over a 30-year period.

The candidate does not support the Buffet Rule or any increase in taxes.

“Washington has a spending problem,” he said. “Not a revenue problem.” The way to grow jobs, he said, is to keep money in the pockets of the American people.

The candidate has signed the Americans for Tax Reform “No New Taxes” pledge, according to his website, and was considered Wisconsin’s most conservative Congressman in the last 30 years.

A homebuilder for 25 years who lives in Nashotah, Wis., Neumann said he came to Superior because he’s very concerned about economic development in Northwestern Wisconsin.

“And I want the folks in Superior to know that you matter; you count,” he said. “You’re very important to the state of Wisconsin and to me and my family.”

Along with his business background, Neumann served in Congress from 1994-98. During his stint in the U.S. House of Representatives, he said, he spent most of his time working on budget matters. When he entered Congress, they were facing tough economic times and they turned it around, Neumann said. He would like to do the same in the Senate.

Although they come from opposite sides of the political divide, Neumann said he admires the retiring Sen. Kohl for “treating everybody with a wide variety of ideas with respect.” But, he added, “We are very different in terms of where we think America should go.”

While visiting the Republican Party Victory Center in Superior, Neumann stressed the importance of backing Gov. Scott Walker during the current recall efforts.

“I’ve twice told people today, ‘If you’re going to donate, donate to Scott Walker,’” he said.

Neumann is one of five Republican candidates seeking to replace Kohl, who is retiring. The others are former governor Tommy Thompson, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, businessman Eric Hovde and Kip Smith, a Rhinelander physical therapist. For more information on Neumann’s campaign, including the list of budget items to cut or trim, look up his website at http://neumann2012.com/.

Tags: news, money, politics, travel, business