For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Moody, 920-499-4000
brandonm@ribbleforcongress.com

Representative-Elect Reid Ribble Announces Committee Assignments and New Staff Hires
-Assigned to Budget and Agriculture Committees; Chief of Staff, District Chief of Staff And Communications Positions Filled -

Green Bay – The transition office for Wisconsin-8 Representative-Elect Reid Ribble today released three staff hires for the official office as well as the incoming member’s committee assignments for the next legislative session.

Representative-elect Ribble will serve on the Budget Committee and the Agriculture Committee when he takes office on January 5^th 2011.

“Given the needs of our district and nation at this moment, I can’t think of two better committees on which to serve,” said Ribble. “The Agriculture Committee allows me to assist our diverse farming, timber and dairy base here in the district. And, of course, the Budget Committee provides the unique opportunity and challenge to get our massive spending under control at this critical time in our nation’s history.”

Representative-elect Ribble also announced the hiring of three senior staff members for his official office.

McKay Daniels will serve as the Washington, DC Chief of Staff, Rick Sense as the District Chief of Staff and Brandon Moody will serve as Communications Director.

“I’m excited about each of these three hires. Each brings a unique perspective and wealth of talent to our team,” Ribble said. “We’re ready to get to work for the people of Wisconsin.”

Short bios of each hire can be found below.

Additional Information on the Budget Committee can be found here: http://budget.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=1797

Additional Information on the Agriculture Committee can be found here: http://agriculture.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=25&LSBID=23|64|65

Chief of Staff, McKay Daniels – With nearly fifteen years of managerial, political, and public policy experience McKay Daniels brings a diverse background to the position of Chief of Staff.  Currently a partner with Ryan Erwin and Associates — a political and government affairs firm — McKay oversaw the 2010 Ribble election campaign. Prior to joining Ryan Erwin and Associates, McKay served as Executive Director of both the Nevada and California Republican Parties where he supervised all aspects of the organizations’ activities. Previously he also served as Director of Operations for the

California Republican Party where he was responsible for the twenty-five-person organization’s day-to-day operations and management of the annual budget exceeding $30 million.

Throughout his career McKay has also been engaged in public policy efforts. In 2007 McKay served as Senior Policy Advisor to Nevada Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki where he focused on economic development, renewable energy, and business issues.

District Chief of Staff, Rick Sense. Rick Sense brings to the District Chief of Staff position local knowledge and wide experience. Sense has spent the last three years at Community First Credit Union, headquartered in Appleton as Senior Vice President of Planning, Government and Community Relations.  During his nearly 20 years with Community First he served in many capacities from communications to public policy.  A native of Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District, Sense has also served as the Director of Development at Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin.

Brandon Moody, Communications Director. Brandon served as Campaign Manager for Ribble for Congress, 2010. He is formerly a Vice President in the domestic division of Marsh Copsey + Associates, a political media and communications firm based in Washington, DC. Moody has worked directly as a staff member, manager and consultant on dozens of campaigns at the legislative, congressional, and statewide level for a decade. He brings a wide-array of communications-related experience to the job. In addition to his domestic work, he spent several months in the Middle East in 2008, working on communications and democracy-building projects for clients.

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Congressman Kagen recently aired a misleading television commercial attacking me on Social Security, implying that I want to end it and have retirees suffer. This is a ridiculous claim.

1. Factcheck.org

The non-partisan watchdog organization that examines a politicians commercial for accuracy, Factcheck.org, called Congressman Kagen’s attack “senior scare.” Analysts at Factcheck concluded that Congressman Kagen’s advertisement could “mislead retirees into thinking their benefits could be at risk and to suggest Ribble would phase out the program without replacing it with a new plan.”

Read the full report: http://www.factcheck.org/2010/09/social-security-mostly-in-their-own-words/

2. Politifact.com “Pants on Fire”

Politifact.com is a national independent organization that rates political commercials. Politifact gave Kagen’s ad a “Pants on Fire” rating.

Below is an excerpt from Politifact’s website:
“Ribble did speak the 14 words in question — and many more than that. The video actually cuts him off mid-sentence. Here is what Ribble actually said, based on a longer video of the same statement posted on YouTube. We’ll highlight where the new words pick up. ’Somehow we have to establish a phase-out of the current Social Security system to a new system. And that will have to happen over time. It could happen in a single generation.’”
For more information about Politifact’s “Pants on Fire” rating, please visit:
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2010/sep/27/steve-kagen/us-rep-steve-kagen-says-opponent-reid-ribble-wants/

3. “Thumbs Down” from the Appleton Post-Crescent

The recent Appleton Post-Crescent Editorial gave Congressman Kagen a “thumbs down” for his recent Social Security ad that attacks my position. Below is an excerpt:

4. NPR

NPR brought Politifact’s Bill Adair on the air to discuss Congressman Kagen’s attack ad. He discusses how Kagen took Reid’s statement’s out of context. Below is an excerpt:

“First of all, it refers to Reid Ribble as a politician, but he’s not. He’s actually never run for office before, so that part is false. What’s really misleading about it is this idea that seniors would have to fend for themselves.”

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130302967

5. Charlie Sykes Radio Program: Politicrap

Well known Milwaukee radio host Charlie Sykes rated Congressman Kagen’s attack ad “Total Crap” on his radio program. While researching the advertisement, Sykes reported that the Kagen ad cut off the only sentence it features, omitted nearly all of my statement, and deleted the sentence where I state that a promise has been made to our current retirees.

Read the full report: http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/103548634.html

The following is an excerpt from the show:

“Here are the facts. It goes on to use a partial-sentence quote from Ribble made at a candidate forum.” What [Kagen] has done, has to take a quote completely out of context… The parts that were omitted by the Kagen campaign prove the lie.”

Listen to the audio of the program here: http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/charlie_sykes_podcast/103724824.html?video=pop&t=a

6. Watch the actual recording by The Appleton Post-Crescent

Click here to watch the complete answer to the question: (The segment begins at 1:33:00) http://livestre.am/mNqX

7. Another Example… Straight from Reid Ribble

Reid has spoken about the need to protect Social Security for both current retirees and future generations dozens of times on the campaign trail. This is a link to a candidate forum that happened during the Primary Election campaign, well before Reid was even the nominee.

Watch Reid talk about protecting Social Security: http://wn.com/reid_ribble_on_social_security_at_gop_forum_in_appleton,_wi

8. Blogs

A number of bloggers have discovered the truth about Congressman Kagen’s misleading ad and have commented on it. Here are a few pages that feature Reid Ribble’s position on Social Security.

A. http://www.scottcrevier.com/blog/2010-09-21/reid-ribbles-real-position-on-social-security/

B. http://rhymeswithclown.blogspot.com/2010/09/fact-checking-reid-ribble-on-social.html

As your Congressman, I pledge to protect the promise our government made to our seniors. America’s seniors have spent a lifetime assuming and planning Social Security would be there for them. It would be wrong to rob them of their Social Security benefits and it’s wrong of Congressman Kagen to mislead northern Wisconsin seniors about my position on this important issue.  Especially when Congressman Kagen’s out-of-control spending has lead him to raid the Social Security Trust Fund for years.  That’s the kind of hypocrisy and double-talk that’s got to stop.  It’s time to clean house in Washington. –Reid Ribble.

In a recent television advertisement – entitled “Appleton Paper” – Congressman Kagen states, “he represents Wisconsin workers and Wisconsin jobs, not the corporations who’ve stolen our jobs overseas.”

Nice campaign rhetoric, but if that’s the case why did Congressman Kagen allow manufacturing job tax credits from his “stimulus” package go to foreign companies based overseas?

1. Since Congressman Kagen’s “stimulus” was passed, nearly $2.3 billion in manufacturing job tax credits have been awarded to companies based in foreign countries like China and South Korea. The Department of Energy estimates that 82,000 jobs were created in foreign countries. According to the Obama Administration, the stimulus spent more than $350 million in the 8th district, creating 285 jobs. Given these totals, Congressman Kagen created more jobs in other countries than here in 8th district.

View the article here:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/9/green-jobs-no-longer-golden-in-stimulus/

To view the ‘stimulus’ numbers in the 8th District, click here:
Wisconsin 8th Stimulus Numbers

2. A number of news organizations have recently reported that the stimulus package gave tax breaks to foreign-based companies, particularly for “clean energy” jobs. According to a report from Politico, nearly 80 percent of those grants went to foreign corporations.

Click here to view the Politico report:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33847.html

3. Furthermore, if Congressman Kagen’s “Cap-and-Trade” bill became law (a bill he voted for and supports) it would make it harder for Wisconsin manufacturers to compete.  According to the National Association of Manufacturers, “cap-and-trade” could results in as many as 56,000 manufacturing jobs lost in Wisconsin. In essence, Congressman Kagen’s vote would have made it easier for Chinese manufacturers to produce goods than manufacturers right here in the 8th District.

For more information about the economic impact of cap-and-trade on Wisconsin:
http://www.accf.org/publications/126/accf-nam-study

“Looks like his “Make It In America” statement is just another example of the Congressman saying one thing in Wisconsin and doing another in Washington D.C.” – Reid Ribble

In Congressman Kagen’s recent television ads and mailers, he refers to me as “Politician Reid Ribble.” Statements like these just make me laugh. Congressman Kagen’s an incumbent who’s trying to hide from his own incumbency, by trying to present me – a 30-year small business owner – as a politician.

For the past three decades, I have worked as roofing contractor. I have owned Security and Luebke Roofing based in Kaukauna, Wisconsin since 1981.

Putting a new roof on a building is about as far from ‘politician’ as you can get…

• Roofers actually create things – politicians today just talk about it.
• Roofers actually fix problems – politicians today often ignore them.
• Roofers work for a living – politicians regulate those who work for a living.
• Roofers hire people and create jobs – politicians raise job-killing taxes.

I have never held elected office, nor have I ever even run for public office until this campaign. I am an outsider running for Congress to change the “politics as usual” mentality that is leading our country down the wrong track.

“Having served in Congress and voted for trillions in tax increases, thousands of pages of new regulations, failed ‘stimulus’, and the largest budget deficit in the history of mankind it’s no wonder why Congressman Steve Kagen is trying to hide from his record and distort mine…that’s what a politician does and it’s what I am working to end.” – Reid Ribble.

For Immediate Release:
July 12, 2010
Contact: Kerry Niemcek (920) 499-4000

Ribble Raises More Than $152,000 in Second Quarter
Highest Amount Raised Since Beginning of Campaign

Eighth District Congressional Candidate Reid Ribble announced today that the campaign raised more than $152,000 in the second quarter of this year. Including the latest numbers, the campaign has raised just under $400,000 since Ribble entered the congressional race.

“My latest FEC report shows voters are fed up with Washington ‘politics as usual’ and my message of common-sense conservative principles is resonating, “ Ribble stated.

Ribble is a former Kaukauna area roofing company owner who has created jobs and balanced budgets. He is running against Steve Kagen.

“I have a common-sense plan for victory this fall, and residents from around the district have rallied around me. This was my best fundraising quarter yet. I was recently endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life, former State Senator Joe Leean of Waupaca, and businessman and community leader Bob Keller of Kaukauna. It is clear that my business and community experience, as well as my message of fiscal responsibility and job creation resonates with Northeastern Wisconsin voters, “ Ribble concluded.

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My first radio advertisement started today! Listen for it on any number of news talk radio stations throughout the 8th district. Attached below is a link to an mp3 version of my ad! Enjoy!

REID RIBBLE RADIO AD #1

I need 2,000 signatures to get my name on the ballot to defeat Steve Kagen in November. Please print off this form to help me reach my goal. To sign, you must be eligible to vote and live in the 8th district. The deadline for nomination papers is July 7th. Please help my reach my goal of 2000 signatures by printing out the nomination form and filling it out. Please ask any friends and family if they can sign the form as well. We need as many signatures as we can collect! Once you are finished with the form, even if it is not fully completed, please mail it to us at:

PO Box 7200
Appleton, WI 54912

or drop it off at our campaign headquarters in Green Bay:

2865 W. Mason Street
Green Bay, WI 54303

Your help collecting signatures is greatly appreciated. Please note that if you have signed a nomination form for another person running for this office, you are not eligible to sign another form. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my campaign office at (920) 499-4000. Below is a pdf version of the nomination paper.

Nomination papers

Denver and the Mile High Orchestra will put on a FREE concert at Appleton Memorial Park on July 8th at 6:30 PM.

Come CELEBRATE AMERICA with us on this night.

Bring a blanket for the lawn and bring a picnic dinner if you want. It will be fun for the whole family!

Contact Krystal if you have questions:
920.724.1134
krystalt@ribbleforcongress.com

What: The Ribble for Congress Headquarters Grand Opening
Where: 2685 W. Mason Street, Suite A, Green Bay
When: Tonight, June 14th 6-8 p.m.
Contact: Kerry Niemcek (920) 499-4000

Anybody is welcome to attend the event. Come meet Reid and Team Ribble!

I wanted to take a moment today and thank the families of the many men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Memorial Day helps us to pause and focus on the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines that have so faithfully served our nation. I wanted to take a moment and speak of three.

When I think of veterans I am reminded of Tom Day a wonderful veteran who founded Bugles across America. Tom wanted our veterans to have Taps played at their funerals by a real musician. So he started an organization to provide families with musicians to play the 24 note Taps. Together with an army of over 6,000 volunteer musicians, they have provided a special service to the families of veterans who have passed away. In the last 10 years Day’s organization has played Taps at over 200,000 veteran funerals. You can learn more of Bugles across America by going to their website http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org I encourage you to learn more and make a donation as well.

On Friday this week I honor a family member who is returning from duty in Iraq. Col. Mike Herchmer U.S. Army reserve Appleton has served two tours of duty each over one year in length. He comes back to Appleton on Friday. Thanks Mike for your service!

Finally, I remember my own father. A U.S. Marine who was…proud to be a Marine. As my father grew old he suffered from Parkinson’s disease which stole his mind from him and eight years ago this summer, his broken heart failed him, and he went home to be reunited with my mother who passed away 11 months prior. My father represented the best of what being a Marine exemplified. He lived a life of honor, integrity and he loved this country more than anything. He rarely spoke of his service but when he did it was usually to tell me about the great men he served with. SEMPER FIDELIS is the motto of the Marine Corp. It means Always Faithful. That was my dad. He was faithful to my mom, his children, his God and country. He was a giant among men and I remember him this Memorial Day.