Empower Wisconsin | July 17, 2020

By M.D. Kittle

MADISON — U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman said he saw so much damage wrought from state and federal decisionmakers in the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic that he had to do something.

So the Glenbeulah Republican said he donated his April paycheck to the food pantries in his 6th Congressional District. That amounts to about $14,500 of the $174,000 annual salary U.S. representatives draw.

“I did it in part because I felt guilty that I was not affected by this at all, as are some of the other people who are making decisions that are ruining small businesses,” Grothman told Empower Wisconsin last week on the Vicki McKenna Show. “It’s frustrating to see very well-paid bureaucrats, while losing nothing, causing small businesses, particularly bars and restaurants to go out of business.”

At the same time, Grothman said the $2 trillion-plus congress spent on pandemic relief was higher than it needed to be as the U.S. debt climbs to $26.5 trillion. He said another spending bill would be irresponsible.

“Although I wouldn’t be shocked if one comes out,” he said. “To be honest, when I sit on conference calls with other Republicans, until recently, a lot of these congressman just had ideas on how to spend more money,” Grothman said.

Congressman Grothman is our guest on this edition of PowerUp, Empower Wisconsin’s podcast.