| Cooperatives Thank Senator Kohl for Years of Dedicated Service |
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MADISON, Wis. (May 13, 2011) – Wisconsin’s cooperative trade organization thanked Senator Herb Kohl today for many years of dedicated service, as he announced he is not seeking re-election. Cooperative Network recognized that Kohl has been a strong and consistent supporter of Wisconsin’s large and diverse cooperative business community.
“We will greatly miss Senator Kohl’s voice for Wisconsin in Washington, D.C. because he was always much more interested in creating sound public policy than fighting partisan battles and this is consistent with the cooperative philosophy of individuals putting differences aside to work for the common good,” said Cooperative Network President & CEO Bill Oemichen. “A very good example was Kohl’s strong stewardship of the development of the Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin, a cooperative that is providing affordable, quality health insurance to Wisconsin agriculture.”
Kohl and his staff were always available to meet with Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association representatives in Wisconsin or in Washington, D.C. Their most recent session with Kohl came in the first week of May, when a 60-member WECA delegation met with the Senator during a national electric co-op legislative conference.
Kohl was the recipient in 2006 of one of two special ACE (Ally of Cooperative Electrification) awards ever presented to a non-WECA member. The ACE Award is the organization’s highest honor, given annually to recognize outstanding service to electric cooperatives. Kohl received his for being consistently in the co-ops’ corner on federal issues relating to the cost and availability of reliable electric service for rural Wisconsin residents.
He was also instrumental in many dairy policy battles in Washington, D.C. and was a strong and tireless advocate for the Wisconsin dairy producer. “Senator Kohl shepherded the MILC program which has been so important in providing a financial safety net in difficult financial times to Wisconsin’s critically important $26 billion dairy industry,” said Oemichen. “He was an opponent of harmful policies, such as the Northeast Dairy Compact.” |
