Thirteen new members were voted into the Wisconsin Legislature on November 9. There will be two fresh faces in the Wisconsin Senate, Sens. – elect Patrick Testin (R-Marinette) and Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac). Also, joining the Senate from the Assembly will be Reps. Dave Craig (R- Big Bend) and LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee). The State […]
2017-18 Wisconsin State Legislature
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2016 - 8:39am By Hamilton
2017-18 Wisconsin State Legislature State Senate: 20 Republicans, 13 Democrats State Assembly: 64 Republicans, 35 Democrats
Fitzgerald, Vos, Shilling Announce JFC Members
Date Fri, Dec. 2, 2016 - 10:29am By Hamilton
GOP legislative leaders officially chose who will lead the all-powerful Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) through next session’s budget process. Despite being amid a recount, Sen. Minority Leader Shilling (D-La Crosse) announced today her reappointment of Sens. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and John Erpenbach (D-Middleton) to the JFC. On Dec. 1, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) […]
Caucus Leadership Elections Held
Date Thu, Dec. 1, 2016 - 8:21pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin legislators have held their caucus leadership elections for the 2017-18 legislative session. In the Senate, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R – Juneau) was again selected to be Senate Majority Leader. Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D – La Crosse) was re-elected as Senate Minority Leader, even with the ongoing recount in […]
Sen. Shilling Faces Recount in District 32
Date Thu, Dec. 1, 2016 - 8:10pm By Hamilton
The recount of the District 32 Senate race began Monday. After the Nov. 8 election results showed that Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) finished just 56 votes ahead of her challenger, former Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke requested the recount. The recount is expected to last up to six days. So far, unofficial results […]
Can a Democratic Wave Hit the Wisconsin Assembly?
Date Fri, Oct. 21, 2016 - 10:41am By Hamilton
In 2010, Republicans nationwide swept Democrats out of state houses, and Wisconsin’s state Assembly was no different. Wisconsin Assembly Republicans went from the minority to a commanding majority in one fell swoop following the 2010 elections, picking up 15 seats across the state. A majority that, while ushered in by a wave, has expanded over […]
State Senator Rick Gudex Passes Away at 48
Date Fri, Oct. 21, 2016 - 10:13am By Hamilton
Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac), the 48-year-old Republican representative of the 18th Senate District of Wisconsin, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. The Fond du Lac County sheriff’s office announced that their preliminary investigation found the cause of death to be from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Elected officials across the aisle and throughout all […]
Legislative Study Committees Update
Date Fri, Oct. 21, 2016 - 10:10am By Hamilton
Each interim summer, the Wisconsin Legislative Council provides legal and policy support to the study committees established by the Joint Legislative Council. This year, there are seven legislative study committees, which are comprised of legislators and public members. The 2016 committees include: Study Committee on Access to Civil Legal Services Study Committee on Preservation of […]
Study Committee on Reducing Recidivism and Removing Impediments to Ex-Offender Employment
Date Fri, Oct. 21, 2016 - 10:09am By Hamilton
Chaired by Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), the Study Committee on Reducing Recidivism and Removing Impediments to Ex-Offender Employment has convened multiple times over the last several months, with the most recent meeting held on Oct. 19. The committee focused on evidence-based strategies to decrease recidivism, examined earned-time credit systems, and […]
Study Committee on Rural Broadband
Date Fri, Oct. 21, 2016 - 10:08am By Hamilton
The Legislative Study Committee on Rural Broadband was created in response to the lack of broadband access throughout parts of Wisconsin. This lack of access has become a priority for legislators because people who live in areas with little or no broadband lose valuable opportunities related to the delivery of goods, services and education. With […]