When we, in this special place, use partisan or parochial battles to tear each other down, all the people of this state lose.
When we focus on our own personal, political fortunes rather than the collective good of the entire state, even what we may call "success" rings hollow in the ears of the individuals and families looking to us for real leadership.
I spoke earlier about an opportunity to make a difference. Let us resolve today to enthusiastically seize that opportunity, and conduct ourselves in such a way that two years from now, whether I'm still standing here or you're still sitting there, or whether we are home reflecting on a political career that was, we will all be able to look back with pride on the work we did here and say we made Wisconsin a better place.
Now let's get to work...together!
Thank you all very much."
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Election of Speaker Pro Tempore
Representative Honadel nominated Representative Gottlieb for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative J. Fitzgerald asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the Assembly recorded as voting for Representative Gottlieb for Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. Granted.
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For Representative Gottlieb - Representatives Albers, Ballweg, Benedict, Berceau, Bies, Black, Boyle, Colon, Cullen, Davis, Fields, J. Fitzgerald, Friske, Garthwaite, Gottlieb, Grigsby, Gronemus, Gunderson, Gundrum, Hahn, Hilgenberg, Hines, Hintz, Hixson, Honadel, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jeskewitz, Jorgensen, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kessler, Kestell, Kleefisch, Kramer, Kreuser, Krusick, F. Lasee, LeMahieu, Lothian, Mason, Meyer, Molepske, Montgomery, Moulton, Mursau, Murtha, Musser, Nass, Nelson, Nerison, Newcomer, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Owens, Parisi, Petersen, Petrowski, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Pridemore, Rhoades, Richards, Roth, Schneider, Seidel, Sheridan, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Stone, Strachota, Suder, Tauchen, Toles, Townsend, Travis, Turner, Van Akkeren, Van Roy, Vos, Vruwink, Vukmir, Wasserman, A. Williams, M. Williams, Wood, Young, Zepnick, Ziegelbauer, Zipperer and Speaker Huebsch - 97.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Hebl and Wieckert - 2.
Representative Gottlieb was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representatives M. Williams and A. Ott escorted Representative Gottlieb to the rostrum.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Huebsch.
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Remarks by the
Speaker Pro Tempore
"Mr. Speaker, members, distinguished guests and visitors: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as speaker pro tempore for the 2007-2008 legislative session.
In the months to come, we will debate legislation that affects the lives of everyone in our state. As your speaker pro tempore, it will often be my responsibility to preside over those debates. I promise to do so fairly, in accordance with our rules and precedents, and always mindful of the respect due to each of you, on both sides of the aisle, as the elected representatives of the citizens of Wisconsin.
From time to time our debates may become passionate and even acrimonious. But if each of us resolves to act in a spirit of good decorum and collegiality, we will enhance the reputation of the Assembly as an institution, and earn the respect of the people we are privileged to represent.
In the last 12 years, the Assembly has had four speakers, three majority leaders, four minority leaders, but only one speaker pro tempore, former representative Steve Freese. I'm afraid that I can't claim to have Steve's institutional knowledge, his imposing physical presence, or his booming baritone voice. But I will try to keep the body running with the same calm professionalism that we came to expect when Steve was in the chair.
None of us would be able to serve here without the support of our families, so I'd like to recognize three members of my family who were able to be here today, my wife Linda and two of our four children: Sarah and Christopher.
Thank you again, and I look forward to serving with each of you in the upcoming session."
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Election of Chief Clerk
Representative Kaufert nominated Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representative Kreuser seconded the nomination of Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative J. Fitzgerald 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 Albers, Ballweg, Benedict, Berceau, Bies, Black, Boyle, Colon, Cullen, Davis, Fields, J. Fitzgerald, Friske, Garthwaite, Gottlieb, Grigsby, Gronemus, Gunderson, Gundrum, Hahn, Hilgenberg, Hines, Hintz, Hixson, Honadel, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jeskewitz, Jorgensen, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kessler, Kestell, Kleefisch, Kramer, Kreuser, Krusick, F. Lasee, LeMahieu, Lothian, Mason, Meyer, Molepske, Montgomery, Moulton, Mursau, Murtha, Musser, Nass, Nelson, Nerison, Newcomer, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Owens, Parisi, Petersen, Petrowski, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Pridemore, Rhoades, Richards, Roth, Schneider, Seidel, Sheridan, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Stone, Strachota, Suder, Tauchen, Toles, Townsend, Travis, Turner, Van Akkeren, Van Roy, Vos, Vruwink, Vukmir, Wasserman, A. Williams, M. Williams, Wood, Young, Zepnick, Ziegelbauer, Zipperer and Speaker Huebsch - 97.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Hebl and Wieckert - 2.
Patrick E. Fuller was elected Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Huebsch.
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Election of Sergeant-at-Arms
Representative Petrowski nominated Richard Skindrud for the position of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representative Gronemus seconded the nomination of Richard Skindrud for the position of Sergeant-At-Arms of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared nominations closed.
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Representative J. Fitzgerald asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the Assembly recorded as voting for Richard Skindrud for Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms. Granted.
For Richard Skinrud - Representatives Albers, Ballweg, Benedict, Berceau, Bies, Black, Boyle, Colon, Cullen, Davis, Fields, J. Fitzgerald, Friske, Garthwaite, Gottlieb, Grigsby, Gronemus, Gunderson, Gundrum, Hahn, Hilgenberg, Hines, Hintz, Hixson, Honadel, Hraychuck, Hubler, Jeskewitz, Jorgensen, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kessler, Kestell, Kleefisch, Kramer, Kreuser, Krusick, F. Lasee, LeMahieu, Lothian, Mason, Meyer, Molepske, Montgomery, Moulton, Mursau, Murtha, Musser, Nass, Nelson, Nerison, Newcomer, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Owens, Parisi, Petersen, Petrowski, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Pridemore, Rhoades, Richards, Roth, Schneider, Seidel, Sheridan, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Soletski, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Stone, Strachota, Suder, Tauchen, Toles, Townsend, Travis, Turner, Van Akkeren, Van Roy, Vos, Vruwink, Vukmir, Wasserman, A. Williams, M. Williams, Wood, Young, Zepnick, Ziegelbauer, Zipperer and Speaker Huebsch - 97.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Hebl and Wieckert - 2.
Richard Skindrud was elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Huebsch.
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Sergeant-at-Arms' Announcement
Richard Skindrud announced that he has appointed Anne Tonnon Byers as Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the Ninety-Eighth Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Huebsch.
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Oath of Office
On Wednesday, December 27, 2006, the Honorable Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court administered the oath of office to Steve Wieckert of the 57th Assembly District in a ceremony held in the Supreme Court Chambers in Madison.
On Thursday, December 28, 2006, the Honorable Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court administered the oath of office to Gary Hebl of the 46th Assembly District in a ceremony held in the Assembly Chamber at the State Capitol in Madison.
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Communications
November 15, 2006
Mr. Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
Room 401, 17 West Main Street
Madison, Wisconsin 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: Jeff Fitzgerald
Assistant Majority Leader: Mark Gundrum
Majority Caucus Chair: Mark Honadel
Majority Caucus Vice-Chair: Pat Strachota
Majority Caucus Secretary: Mary Williams
Majority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Jerry Petrowski
Sincerely,
Mark Honadel
Republican Caucus Chair
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November 16, 2006
Mr. Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
Room 401, 17 West Main Street
Madison, Wisconsin 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: James Kreuser
Assistant Minority Leader: Jon Richards
Minority Caucus Chairperson: Anthony Staskunas
Minority Caucus Vice-Chair: Tamara Grigsby
Minority Caucus Secretary: Donna Seidel
Minority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Ann Hraychuck
Sincerely,
Anthony J. Staskunas
Democratic Caucus Chair
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December 11, 2006
The Honorable Patrick E. Fuller, Chief Clerk
Wisconsin State Assembly
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
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The State Elections Board staff has received a number of inquiries concerning the last day on which the legislature may act to ensure that a proposed constitutional amendment can be placed on the ballot for the April 3, 2007 spring election. The legislature must complete action on a proposed constitutional amendment no later than Tuesday, February 20, 2007.
By statute all proposed constitutional amendments and any other measure or question that is to be submitted to a vote of the people shall be filed with the official or agency responsible for preparing the ballots for the election no later than 42 days prior to the election at which the amendment, measure or question will appear on the ballot. S.
8.37 Wis. Stats. Tuesday, February 20, 2007, is 42 days before the April 3, 2007 spring election.
