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
Sincerely,
Dan Knodl
Republican Caucus Chair
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November 20, 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 Democratic Caucus: Minority Leader: Gordon Hintz
Assistant Minority Leader: Diane Hesselbein
Minority Caucus Chair: Mark Spreitzer
Minority Caucus Vice-Chair: Steve Doyle
Minority Caucus Secretary: Beth Meyers
Minority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Christine Sinicki
Sincerely,
Mark Spreitzer
Democratic Caucus Chair
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January 3, 2019
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
The Office of the Assembly Chief Clerk has requested the Wisconsin Elections Commission provide the statutory deadline on which the legislature may act to ensure that a proposed constitutional amendment can be placed on the ballot for the April 2, 2019 spring election. The legislature must complete action on a proposed constitutional amendment no later than Tuesday, January 22, 2019.
