Jeff was born and raised in Eau Claire, one of six brothers and one sister. He and his dad operated Bob Smith Window Cleaning and eventually Jeff took over the business. Recently, one of his former employees reminded Jeff how, even though he owned the business, Jeff never asked his employees to do something he wouldn’t do. Which included cleaning windows on multi-story buildings.
The year he and Sue were married, they built their own home, much of which was learned by following instructions page by page in a home building book. When things went wrong that ‘I can fix that’ determination resulted in the hobby farm which they still enjoy. As a public school teacher, Sue encouraged Jeff to be involved with the schools their daughters attended. He went from volunteering in classrooms to P.T.A. president. When Jeff saw the need for more widespread parental involvement, he created the parent advisory council for the Eau Claire Area School District. The council, renamed family advisory council, is still in operation. When Jeff saw issues that needed fixing in the township in which he lives he ran and was elected to Brunswick Town Chair. This led to the realization that in order to make real change, he needed to work at the state level and so he was elected to the state assembly in 2006.
In 2018 when Jeff saw many things still needed fixing at the state level, he ran and was elected to the State Senate. Jeff fixed the issue of accountability and availability by elected officials by creating his signature ‘Stop and Talk’ sessions, parked on the roadside with his old red pickup and talking with anyone who wanted to stop. While Sue has lots of things she would like Jeff to fix around home, he is determined to continue to prioritize health care access and affordability, fair redistricting maps and environmental issues such as clean water.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Kapenga
“Senator Chris Kapenga has worked for a Fortune 500 company and as a CPA in one of the largest public accounting firms in the world. He owns several businesses and has served in public office for the past 12 years.
Growing up on a family farm, Chris was the first member of his family to graduate college. His wide-ranging professional experience has empowered his understanding of how organizations function effectively, how to achieve reform, and how to gain efficiencies through planning and execution of process change.
Chris was elected to serve as a member of the state Assembly in 2010 and has been serving in the state Senate since 2015. In 2020, he was elected by his peers to Senate President and currently serves as Co-Chair on the Joint Legislative Counsel, Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Joint Committee on Employment Relations, and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Senate Organization.
Chris and his wife, Cari, reside in Delafield, WI. They enjoy spending time with their two grown daughters, serving in their church community, and traveling.”
Senator Feyen Introduced Senator LeMahieu
“Devin LeMahieu is a native of Sheboygan County, having attended Sheboygan County Christian High School before graduating with a BA in Business Administration and Political Science from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Devin currently resides in Oostburg and is the publisher and owner of the Lakeshore Weekly, a family-owned small business that serves the Sheboygan County area. He has previously served on the Sheboygan County Board and continues to serve his community as a member of the Oostburg and Sheboygan County’s Chambers of Commerce and Bethel OPC.
In his free time, Devin is an avid golfer and Ironman competitor. Devin has successfully completed nine Ironman triathlons.
Devin was elected to serve a member of the State Senate in 2014. In 2020, Devin was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Senate Majority Leader and currently serves on the Committee of Senate Organization, the Joint Committee of Employment Relations, the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization and the Joint Legislative Council.”
_____________
Oath of Office
Upon the calling of the newly elected Senators on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 the following appeared before the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Annette Kingsland Ziegler, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court:
André Jacque Tim Carpenter
Rob Hutton Chris Larson
Devin LeMahieu Steve Nass
John Jagler Mark Spreitzer
Howard Marklein Rachael Cabral-Guevara
Van H. Wanggaard Jesse James
Romaine Robert Quinn Dianne H. Hesselbein
Cory Tomczyk Jeff Smith
Chris Kapenga
_____________
Call of Roll
The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 15, the official attendance for session was: Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Cowles, Felzkowski, Feyen, Hesselbein, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, James, L. Johnson, Kapenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Pfaff, Quinn, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Taylor, Testin, Tomczyk, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 32.
Absent with leave - None - 0.
Vacancies - 8th Senate District - 1.
_____________
Consideration of resolutions and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2023-2024 senate is organized.
By Senators LeMahieu, Kapenga, Feyen, Agard and Smith.
hist161102The question was: Adoption of Senate Resolution 1? The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 29; noes, 3; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Cowles, Felzkowski, Feyen, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, James, L. Johnson, Kapenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Pfaff, Quinn, Smith, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Taylor, Testin, Tomczyk, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 29.
Noes - Senators Hesselbein, Larson and Roys - 3.
Absent or not voting - None - 0.
Adopted.
_____________
Senate Officers Oath of Office
The President, Chris Kapenga, the President Pro Tempore, Patrick Testin, the Chief Clerk, Michael J. Queensland, and the Sergeant at Arms, Tom Engels, having been duly elected by the adoption of Senate Resolution 1, appeared together before the bar of the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Annette Kingsland Ziegler, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
_____________
In the Chair
Senate President Kapenga in the chair.
2:48 P.M.
_____________
Remarks of President Kapenga
“As Senate President, I want to thank the members for allowing me the privilege of being in the chair again.
As we begin the 2023-24 session of the Wisconsin State Senate, and look forward to what will be accomplished, I thought it would be prudent to take a look back at why this body was created, and what our purpose is while temporarily serving in this role.
It goes back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. We can see the discussion of the Senate in Federalist 62. One house would be, in the words of Virginia’s George Mason, the “grand depository of the democratic principle of government.” This is the Wisconsin State Assembly.
To counter this popular influence, James Madison of Virginia proposed another house that would be small, deliberative, and independent from the larger, more democratic house. It would be a body “requiring greater extent of information and stability of character”. This is the Wisconsin State Senate.
Madison’s concern was that proposed legislation would come from the larger house in an emotional state, and the Senate would vet that emotion with sound and wise logic to ensure proper checks and balances were being applied.
Note that we, as the Senate, are of equal power to the Assembly. It isn’t about power then, but it is about quality of law that our citizens must abide and live with. The purpose of law is to protect our rights as individual citizens, and nothing more.
So as we move into this session, I look forward to directing vigorous debate as we work together to serve those who elected us to this position. My responsibility is to ensure the voice of the minority is heard and that the will of the majority is carried out.
Thank you for once again allowing me the honor of this position.”
_____________
President Kapenga introduced the Senators returning from the 105th Session: Senators Cowles, Taylor, Johnson, Stafsholt, Felzkowski, Ballweg, Agard, Feyen, Stroebel, Wirch, Testin, Roys, Bradley, Wimberger, and Pfaff.
_____________
With unanimous consent, Senator LeMahieu addressed the members from the rostrum.
Remarks of Majority Leader LeMahieu
“A new year and a new legislative session brings with it opportunity. Opportunities to work together to address issues that are faced by all Wisconsinites. An opportunity to build common sense policy that improves how our government functions. Opportunities to reform our laws to better serve the future needs of the State.
Let’s focus for a moment on what we have done in the past to put Wisconsin in the unique position that we are in today. In 2010 we inherited a multi-Billion dollar deficit. Over the last 12 years we have focused on investing in core priorities, responsible budgeting, reducing the tax burden on the hard-working families of Wisconsin and passing meaningful legislative reforms. Today we are looking at a projected surplus approaching 7 Billion.
There are challenges that we face. Challenges the people of Wisconsin expect us to tackle. Education, taxes, healthcare, public safety and our State’s infrastructure are all items that we need to address. Families and businesses are facing inflationary pressures. The rising costs of gas, groceries and energy are hurting Wisconsin families. The best way to help them out is by reducing their tax burden.
We have a chance to reshape our tax policies. We can also take this opportunity to streamline and simplify interactions with State agencies. We look forward to finding solutions to difficult topics such as the mental health issues being faced by all too many of our friends and neighbors. We are in a good position to take bold and decisive action to ensure our best days remain ahead of us.
Last session we passed a budget that was supported by both sides of the aisle and signed by the Governor. Let’s work toward that again. As we go through the budget process, we need to understand inflationary pressures. This includes local governments, education, transportation, corrections and healthcare. Fortunately, we have set ourselves up with resources to address these needs.
We need to remember why we are in our current position. We have worked on legislation to advance the best interest of Wisconsin while remaining fiscally conservative. We look forward to working with the Governor and Assembly to make sure that we not only provide transformational tax relief, but also solutions that benefit the great state of Wisconsin.
God bless Wisconsin and God bless America.”
_____________
With unanimous consent, Senator Agard addressed the members from the rostrum.
Remarks of Minority Leader Agard
“Mr. President, friends, and colleagues. I am honored to join you here today as we begin a new legislative session.
I want to welcome our new and returning members as well as their families. Welcome to our guests watching on the floor and in the galleries, and welcome to everyone watching at home on Wisconsin Eye.
So before I get started, I need to give a special shout out to my four boys: Devin, Bailey, Keanan, and Trystan - thank you for being you. I often say you’re as different as the four points of a compass and that’s what makes you so unique. I’m so proud to be your mom.
The beginning of each legislative session is the most hopeful time of our two-year cycle. We are here today with optimism in our hearts and a willingness in our spirit to do great things.
Like me, I’m sure you all knocked on a lot of doors during the recent election. And I’m sure you heard the same things I did. While we may put up political lines around our districts - the people of Wisconsin are one. They share the same values, hopes, and dreams whether they live in Superior or Elkhorn. Ellsworth or Oconto.
At the end of the day, Wisconsinites generally want the same things out of their state government - affordable health care and prescriptions, housing that doesn’t break the bank, clean air and water, the ability to live with purpose and with the freedoms we expect as Americans.
Now a common theme I heard on doorsteps across Wisconsin were frustrations over the state of our politics and how divided we’ve become.
They want us to stop arguing, stop the partisanship, and instead - focus on getting things done.
My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Make no mistake, we will hold true to our values but we are genuine in our interest in creating a better discourse.
We do this with a sense of duty, a sense of hope, and with an eye to the future of our state.
We are privileged to hold these positions. They are positions of consequence and possibility.
