I would like to thank you for choosing me to serve as your Speaker for a fourth term. It is a great honor and privilege.
Today marks the beginning of a new two-year legislative session, but before we can begin serving our districts, let’s take a moment to thank the people who made us who we are, the people who helped us in our journey to the Assembly.
Our families, in a sense, are drafted to serve right alongside with us. So to the husbands and wives, sons and daughters, parents and grandparents who are here today, on behalf of the Wisconsin State Assembly, thank you for your support.
On a personal note, I want to recognize my family. My wife, Michelle, and my Dad, Tom, are here but my mom is home sick and is watching on WisconsinEye. Thank you for your love and guidance. You all mean the world to me.
In order to serve in this magnificent building, I think it’s important to have a greater appreciation of the building itself and the messages the architects were conveying to future occupants.
Over 100 years ago, our predecessors began the task of planning, financing and constructing this state Capitol building. The Civil War was fresh in their minds and if you take some time to wander around this building, you will find plenty of evidence of their respect for the soldiers who fought slavery and saved the union.
The GAR room on the fourth floor in the North Wing is actually named after the Grand Army of the Republic, of which more than 91 thousand soldiers from Wisconsin fought and over 12 thousand died. GAR was originally used by veterans to hold ceremonies to honor those who were lost in the Civil War.
Over my shoulder is a replica of Old Abe, the mascot in the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War. Old Abe watches over our debate as to never let us forget that many have fought and died to protect the American institution called democracy.
The historical nature of today and the jobs that we hold temporarily cannot be taken lightly. The citizens of Wisconsin have given us the privilege of being their advocates in state government. Each of us represents the voices of roughly 57,000 people.
Today we welcome 15 new members. For them, Inauguration Day is especially meaningful: for the first time they will be called state representative. I would like to especially welcome their family and friends who are joining us for their first inauguration, and possibly their first time in the Assembly. Thank you for being here today.
The 15 newly elected lawmakers are joining 5,071 people who have served in the Assembly since Wisconsin statehood in 1848. As state representatives, we have been afforded an amazing responsibility. In this great historical race, we have been passed the baton to be the leaders of today’s Wisconsin. It’s our time, it is your time, to serve and guide the course of our state’s future until you pass the baton to the next leader.
Before each inauguration day, before I’m sworn into office, I re-read the Wisconsin State Constitution. Can you guess which branch of government is mentioned first in the state Constitution? You guessed right, the branch closest to the people. The Legislature. The Wisconsin constitution states, the legislative power shall be vested in a senate and assembly.
The constitution goes on to say, “The style of all laws of the state shall be the people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in the senate and assembly, do enact as follows: no law shall be enacted except by bill. No law shall be in force until published.”
The constitutional authors clearly gave preference to the legislative branch giving it powers to write the laws, to allocate funds and create the means to generate revenue.
When you get right down to it, while the constitution specifically provides guidance for the powers of each branch of government, it spends significantly more time on the legislative branch.
Of course, I counted the paragraphs. The constitution addresses the governor in 10 sections and the attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer in 1 section each but the legislature was in addressed in 34 sections.
Our state’s founders clearly wanted to give more distinct powers to the branch closest to the people. So what will you do with this great responsibility? How will you help carry the mantle of success that this chamber has been known for?
Over the course of the past 100 years, the people who sat in this chamber, made things happen. Early on in the century, Wisconsin lawmakers created the first unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation programs in the country. Legislators later developed the UW System, world-class tech colleges, the first LGBT protections in the country and helped guarantee Wisconsin’s place as a national innovator.
More recently, our innovations have continued. School choice, voter ID, ACT 10, welfare reform, the HOPE Agenda and juvenile justice reform and many other proposals that continue to improve the lives of our fellow citizens.
We couldn’t have done it without strong and effective leadership. It’s important that we remember the legislators who championed these achievements and the leaders who helped to make them reality.
Today we are fortunate to have many former state Assembly Speakers joining us. I would ask you to hold your applause until I introduce them all. Jeff Fitzgerald served as Speaker from 2011-2012; Mike Sheridan served as Speaker from 2009-2010; Mike Huebsch served as Speaker from 2007-2008; John Gard served as Speaker from 2003-2006; Scott Jensen served as Speaker from 1997-2002; Ben Brancel served as Speaker in 1997; Justice David Prosser served as Speaker from 1995-1996; Former Ambassador to Norway, Tom Loftus, who served as Speaker from 1983-1991. Join me in a round of applause to show our appreciation for their service to our great state.
Former Speakers Norm Anderson, Harold Froehlich and Wally Kunicki were also invited but could not attend and send their best wishes and congratulations as we begin our new session.
Today marks the return of divided government in Wisconsin. For the past eight years, you could say our state has been driving in the right lane of a three lane highway. We accomplished a lot in that right lane.
We created a business climate that has given us the best economy in decades. We cut taxes by more than 8 billion dollars and reduced the tax burden to the lowest level in nearly 50 years. We reformed foster care, made tuition more affordable with our six-year tuition freeze, helped people with opioid addictions, and provided historically high levels of funding to education, just to name a few of our accomplishments.
Unemployment rates are historically low and labor participation rates are hitting record highs. Wages are rising and families are able to enjoy more of the fruits of their labor.
We protected the unborn and the Second Amendment rights of our citizens. We created budget surpluses and the largest rainy day fund in Wisconsin history. Undoubtedly, Republicans moved Wisconsin forward in that right lane.
With the newly elected statewide leaders, some will now claim Wisconsin voters want us to veer into the far left lane.
But government control over our lives doesn’t make us more prosperous. Government spending doesn’t grow the economy and socialism doesn’t make us more free.
I promise you over the next two years we will not let government expand at the expense of our freedoms. But, in order to not wind up broken down on the side of the road and have government gridlock, we will have to work together. The voters told us to work together. So even though the majority might prefer it, we won’t be driving in just the right lane anymore and we certainly won’t be driving in the far left lane. We will find a way to drive in the center lane.
Divided government means a lot more discussion, debate and yes, even arguing. That’s what the voters chose and it’s safe to assume that’s what they may get. There are some who will want us to take a back seat and allow the new Governor to drive the car alone, but that isn’t going to happen. For the foreseeable future, we will have to get to our destination in that center lane.
Luckily, bipartisanship won’t be new to most of us. Working together is in our DNA. It’s why over 90 percent of the bills we passed in the last 8 years got support from both sides of the aisle. In this very room, we have shown we can work in a bipartisan fashion. The Assembly has passed laws like the HOPE Agenda authored by the gentleman from the 89th, Representative John Nygren unanimously. We’ve found consensus on contentious issues like juvenile justice reform and we passed that bill unanimously, too.
We can and we will work together on many issues. But it takes political courage, not political posturing. It takes making overtures across the aisle, not putting up a barricade.
Once again, like every session while I’ve been speaker, I will invite the minority party leaders to sit down with us and draft a Memorandum of Understanding. It serves as a bipartisan guide for the legislative session. These MOU’s have proven to be effective and have been recognized by the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau for providing more robust debate and more transparency in the legislature.
But we can’t move forward if there isn't a civil dialogue, if we allow the culture of outrage to undermine state politics and undermine our nation. It’s easy to immediately react to sensationalized headlines without first finding out what really happened. It’s easy to stay in your own lane and only associate with the people who agree with your own philosophies.
But in Wisconsin, we shouldn’t take the traditional choice, we can take the preverbal high road. We can lead in Wisconsin. We can work to find common ground. We can find solutions. That means not allowing hate to rule the day. There is so much hate right now. Does calling any of us names increase civility? Or saying that public servants have governed by retribution? We should all pledge that when we see someone on social media or in person use hate speech or divisive rhetoric, let’s call it out.
It’s interesting that the many of the same people who often have the “coexist” bumper stickers on their cars are the same ones firing off e-mails with profanities to our offices or yelling at our staff. We can't even agree to disagree anymore in our society.
There’s no longer a debate of ideas; far too often there’s only vitriolic, personal attacks. Let’s do better Wisconsin. Let's put an end to this hate, discuss our beliefs and have a greater understanding of one another. We can start in this very chamber.
Instead of having a press conference to score a cheap political point, I invite you to reach out and discuss your idea first. My door has been and always will be open. To my fellow Republicans, compromise doesn’t mean compromising our ideals, so get your head around that. And to my Democratic colleagues, your side isn’t more virtuous than ours just because you want to spend more than we do so, please respect the fact that we just disagree and we aren’t hateful or evil. Let’s listen to each other and work harder to add to our lists of accomplishments.
We can cut taxes on the middle class by good budgeting and using the surplus wisely, not by raising taxes on our job creators and farmers.
Our job is not to find ways to spend more but to find ways to be more efficient and effective with taxpayer dollars. Our job is not to build obstacles for individuals to create small businesses, but to open the doors of opportunity for entrepreneurs. It’s not the government’s job to tell you the way to live your life, but to give you freedom in your own pursuit of happiness.
Our state and our nation have many challenges ahead. We can meet these head on in Wisconsin by working together to find reasonable solutions. We all know our crumbling roads and bridges need attention. Wisconsin must finally have a long-term funding plan to meet our transportation needs. The Department of Transportation should continue to find efficiencies, eliminate wasteful spending where possible, and prioritize projects. But we can’t ignore that almost 55% of our roads will be in poor condition in the next ten years. And our revenue sources are simply not bringing in enough to keep up with costs and the state continues to rely too heavily on borrowing.
We can also work together on an important health care issue. We must ensure that Wisconsinites can access insurance even if they have a previous health condition. The Assembly has approved the pre-existing conditions bill once before, and we’ll do it again to ensure that this bill becomes law.
We can work together on a middle class tax cut. Our state is no longer one of the “top ten” worst taxed states, but that fact doesn’t mean anything to a parent who is struggling to get by and needs extra money for a winter coat or money to pay a heating bill or save for their child’s college education.
Soon Assembly Republicans will deliver a letter to Governor Evers outlining issue areas where we can and should find common ground. But today we celebrate Wisconsin. Not as a Republican or a Democrat, but as Wisconsinites.
I’m proud the UW Badgers won their fifth consecutive bowl game with their victory over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl. I’m proud that Barron’s own Chris Kroeze was the runner up in the Voice this season. Congrats and thank you for singing for us today! And I’m proud to live in the best state, the Badger State, in the greatest country in the world.
As we start our legislative work, I would like to offer one final specific challenge to the legislators in this chamber and to every elected official in this state Capitol. Before the heated rhetoric fires up and rigid ideologies become concrete, let’s begin anew.
Let’s choose to work together instead of attacking one another. Let’s find similarities that can bring us together. Let’s end the name calling and incessant outrage. You are the new members of the 104th Wisconsin State Assembly and it’s time to get things done, during divided government through real leadership. Let’s get to work.
God bless you and God Bless the state of Wisconsin.”
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Election of Speaker Pro Tempore
Representative Nygren nominated Representative August for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representative Spreitzer nominated Representative Hesselbein for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the speaker declared nominations closed.
For Representative August − Representatives Allen, August, Ballweg, Born, Brandtjen, Brooks, Dittrich, Duchow, Edming, Felzkowski, Gundrum, Horlacher, Hutton, Jagler, James, Katsma, Kerkman, Kitchens, Knodl, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Kurtz, Loudenbeck, Macco, Magnafici, Murphy, Mursau, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Oldenburg, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Plumer, Pronschinske, Quinn, Ramthun, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Schraa, Skowronski, Snyder, Sortwell, Spiros, Stafsholt, Steffen, Steineke, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Wichgers, Wittke, Zimmerman and Speaker Vos – 63.
For Representative Hesselbein – Anderson, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Cabrera, Considine, Crowley, Doyle, Emerson, Fields, Goyke, Gruszynski, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Myers, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Vining, Vruwink and Zamarripa – 35.
Absent with leave – None.
Vacancies – 64th Assembly District – 1.
Representative August was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Election of Chief Clerk
Representative Novak nominated Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Session of the Legislature.
Representative Goyke seconded the nomination of Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative Steineke asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the Assembly recorded as voting for Patrick E. Fuller for Assembly Chief Clerk. Granted.
For Patrick E. Fuller − Representatives Allen, Anderson, August, Ballweg, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, Brooks, Brostoff, Cabrera, Considine, Crowley, Dittrich, Doyle, Duchow, Edming, Emerson, Felzkowski, Fields, Goyke, Gruszynski, Gundrum, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jagler, James, Katsma, Kerkman, Kitchens, Knodl, Kolste, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Kurtz, Loudenbeck, Macco, Magnafici, Meyers, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Myers, Neubauer, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, Oldenburg, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Plumer, Pope, Pronschinske, Quinn, Ramthun, Riemer, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snyder, Sortwell, Spiros, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Steffen, Steineke, Stubbs, Stuck, Subeck, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vining, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Wichgers, Wittke, Zamarripa, Zimmerman and Speaker Vos - 98.
Noes - None.
Vacancies – 64th Assembly District – 1.
Patrick E. Fuller was elected Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Election of Sergeant-at-Arms
Representative Loudenbeck nominated Anne Tonnon Byers for the position of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representative Ohnstad seconded the nomination of Anne Tonnon Byers for the position of Sergeant-At-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative Steineke asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the Assembly recorded as voting for Anne Tonnon Byers for Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms. Granted.
For Anne Tonnon Byers: Representatives Allen, Anderson, August, Ballweg, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, Brooks, Brostoff, Cabrera, Considine, Crowley, Dittrich, Doyle, Duchow, Edming, Emerson, Felzkowski, Fields, Goyke, Gruszynski, Gundrum, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jagler, James, Katsma, Kerkman, Kitchens, Knodl, Kolste, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Kurtz, Loudenbeck, Macco, Magnafici, Meyers, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Myers, Neubauer, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, Oldenburg, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Plumer, Pope, Pronschinske, Quinn, Ramthun, Riemer, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snyder, Sortwell, Spiros, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Steffen, Steineke, Stubbs, Stuck, Subeck, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vining, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Wichgers, Wittke, Zamarripa, Zimmerman and Speaker Vos - 98.
Noes - None.
Vacancies – 64th Assembly District – 1.
Anne Tonnon Byers was elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Fourth Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Communications
December 21, 2018
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
Pursuant to Assembly Rule 2 (2), the following officers have been duly elected by the Assembly Republican Caucus: Majority Leader: Jim Steineke
Assistant Majority Leader: Mary Felzkowski
Majority Caucus Chair: Dan Knodl
Majority Caucus Vice-Chair: Romaine Quinn
Majority Caucus Secretary: Jessie Rodriguez
Majority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Samantha Kerkman
