Elected Officials React to Osama bin Laden's Death

As news of Osama bin Laden's death after a firefight with U.S. Navy SEALS, elected officials who represent Waukesha responded after learning the terrorist had been killed.

Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima said he would simply say “Thank you” to the families of the men and women who served overseas during the past decade.

“Freedom isn’t free,” Scrima said in response to bin Laden’s death.

"Shortly after the Twin Towers came down on that tragic September day in 2001, President George W. Bush vowed that we would hunt down Osama Bin Laden and bring the terrorists to justice," U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, said in a prepared statement. "Through his work; the efforts of countless intelligence officials; the blood, sweat, and tears of our Armed Forces; and President Obama and his team – freedom truly prevailed yesterday.

"America kept her promise to the thousands of men and women we lost on Sept. 11, and their loved ones who miss them every day. While I understand the fight for freedom continues and our vigilance must remain, I am so thankful this news has finally come."

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, a Democrat, also weighed in on bin Laden's demise.

“We have dealt a big blow to al Qaeda, limiting their ability to cause us any damage in the future," Kohl said. "We should be proud that we have brought an evil man to justice.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, said in a prepared statement that justice was delivered to bin Laden.

"Let us hope and pray that the evil this man spread will begin to fade now that his life and influence have ended," Johnson said. "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to America's finest who carried out the successful operation and to all of those who have sacrificed to preserve our freedom."