NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release – Jan. 25, 2010
Contact: (414) 475-2975

AFP-Wisconsin State Director Mark Block to Respond to State of the Union

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin – For all State of the Union coverage this week, pre- and post-speech, AFP-Wisconsin State Director Mark Block is available for response interviews.

“Wisconsinites will expect the president to talk about job creation, and not the fake kind that was supposed to come from the ’stimulus,’” Block said. “We don’t need more reports of jobs in zip codes and Congressional districts that don’t exist. We need real solutions that actually empower the private sector to create new jobs.”

“Wisconsinites, like their counterparts across the country, are quite concerned about the level and direction of government spending and debt. Many believe that our indebtedness is not only irresponsible and unsustainable, it’s downright dangerous to our national security.”

“Last, and definitely not least, will he signal any willingness to scrap his increasingly unpopular government takeover of health care? Wisconsinites want less government and more health care choices. Even some who were originally supportive of the congressional plans have been deeply offended by the buyoffs of our own Senator Nelson and the new ‘Louisiana Purchase.’ And state budgets can’t afford a crushing mandate to expand Medicaid — that’s not a sensible solution.”

Mark Block: Bio

Mark Block is the State Director of the Wisconsin Chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

Mark has been involved in the political arena for over 30 years having served as the campaign manager for former Governor Tommy Thompson, George H.W. Bush, Supreme Court Justices Janine Geske and Jon Wilcox. In addition he has managed over six statewide campaigns for State Superintendent for Public Education, initiative referendums, along with numerous congressional races.

He began his political career having been elected as the first 18 year old in Wisconsin in 1974 as a Winnebago County Board Supervisor and legislative assistant to the late Congressman Bill Stieger.

Mr. Block’s private sector experience includes 12 years as the Midwest director of NCR Corporation, and founder of Telecommunications Group, LLC and GeoMarketing, Inc.

As the State Director of Americans for Prosperity he directs the organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels. The grassroots members of AFP advocate for public policies that champion the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint. He has grown the Wisconsin Chapter from 250 to 53,000 in less than 4 years.

Mr. Block serves on the Board of Directors of the MacIver Institute for Public Policy, First Freedoms Foundation, and advisor to American Majority and is a member of the Wisconsin Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 900,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates. More than 55,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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