U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin: I’m shutting down, too

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON – When it comes to a government shutdown, Wisconsin’s U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin doesn’t mess around.

The Madison Democrat is taking her ball and going home.

Baldwin announced on her U.S. Senate website Tuesday morning that her offices are closed for business.

“Due to a lapse in government funding, federal law and Senate rules require that my website and Senate offices shut down,” Baldwin states.

What does that mean?

• Her offices are closed and phones will not be answered.
• Emails sent to individual staff members will be responded to at the conclusion of the shutdown.
• Letters and emails sent to the senator will receive a response when her office is opened.
• Baldwin’s staff will be unable to assist you during the shutdown.

Interesting, this law and these rules. Her Wisconsin Senate colleague, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, has kept his offices open, although with bare bones staffing. In fact, all of Wisconsin’s congressional delegations have maintained at least limited constituent services on the first day of what really is a partial government shutdown.

“Maybe she is interpreting it slightly different than I am,” Johnson said of Baldwin’s decision to shut down.