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Wisconsin Republican Leaders Work to Rally Party Faithful

Gov. Walker
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Wisconsin Republicans rallied near Wausau over the weekend - during their annual convention.

Among the comments main speakers made:

Gov. Scott Walker:

-- Republicans "care about the everyday people of this state and country" and need to do a better job conveying that message

-- touted the changes he's proposed in the state's Medicaid program - allowing in poor, childless adults, pushing households from 100-130% of the poverty level into the marketplace

-- urged party member to support his proposed income tax cut

-- urged party members to support his plan to expand private school Choice or voucher program beyond Milwaukee and Racine

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan:

-- criticized Pres. Obama's health care reform law, saying it gives the GOP a chance to benefit politically by offering an alternative

-- supported bipartisan immigration reform proposal, saying the country needs to ease immigrant path toward legal status, strengthen border security and create a system to electronically verify an individual's identity

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner:

-- criticized bipartisan immigration reform proposal, saying it would give people living in the country illegally a head start over immigrants who have followed the law

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald:

-- praised GOP passage of mining law changes, saying a mine in northern Wisconsin will leader to hundreds of new jobs for generations

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos:

-- told delegates the Legislature will expand Wisconsin's school Choice or voucher program, cut income taxes and limit both property tax increases and tuition increases for UW System students

Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus:

-- urged party members to work year-round on campaigns and attracting people to the Republican Party, if they want most Wisconsin voters to select a GOP president. Republicans have not won a Wisconsin presidential race in 24 years, even losing in 2012 with Congressman Ryan on the ticket