Born Chicago, IL, November 16, 1963; married; 3 children. Graduate Hustisford H.S. 1981; B.S. in journalism UW-Oshkosh 1985; U.S. Army Armor Officer Basic Course 1985; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Former associate newspaper publisher; U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Colonel (ret.). Member: Dodge Co. Republican Party (chm. 1992-94); Juneau Lions Club; Reserve Officers Assn.; Knights of Columbus.
Elected to Senate 1994; reelected since 1998. Majority Leader 2013, 2011(through 7/24/12); Minority Leader 2011 (eff. 7/24/12), 2009, 2007; Majority Leader 9/17/04 to 11/10/04.
Member of Legislative State Supported Programs Study and Advisory Committee
(first or second author, first sponsor)
3/3/2014: 2013 Senate Bill 655
Relating to: various changes in the campaign finance and lobbying laws.
3/3/2014: 2013 Senate Bill 654
Relating to: disclosure of political activity.
2/3/2014: 2013 Senate Bill 557
Relating to: exempting employers from keeping records of the hours of employment of an employee who is exempt from the overtime pay requirement and who is not compensated on an hourly rate basis.
1/31/2014: 2013 Assembly Bill 691
Relating to: liability and immunity of sport shooting ranges.
1/30/2014: 2013 Senate Bill 527
Relating to: liability and immunity of sport shooting ranges.
1/22/2014: 2013 Senate Bill 507
Relating to: providing grants to counties that offer substance abuse treatment and diversion from incarceration and making an appropriation. (FE)
10/4/2013: 2013 Assembly Bill 412
Relating to: exemption of outside salespersons from the minimum wage law.
10/2/2013: 2013 Senate Bill 320
Relating to: exemption of outside salespersons from the minimum wage law.
9/10/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 48
Relating to: Recognition of the Wisconsin Legislative Technology Services Bureau's (LTSB) software development team by the National Association of Legislative Information Technology.
6/5/2013: 2013 Senate Bill 210
Relating to: restrictions imposed by local governmental units on hunting with a bow and arrow or crossbow.
5/13/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 32
Relating to: commending His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama upon his visit to Wisconsin on May 14 and 15, 2013.
5/8/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 31
Relating to: declaring May 2013 Drug Court Month.
4/25/2013: 2013 Assembly Bill 166
Relating to: creating an individual income tax exemption for military income received by active duty members of the U.S. armed forces who die in a combat zone. (FE)
4/18/2013: 2013 Senate Bill 147
Relating to: creating an individual income tax exemption for military income received by active duty members of the U.S. armed forces who die in a combat zone. (FE)
4/16/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 24
Relating to: expressing prayers and condolences to the families, friends of the victims, and the injured from the bombings at the Boston Marathon and praising the first responders who rushed to their aid.
4/12/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 19
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Army First Lieutenant David Andrew Johnson.
4/10/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 17
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Army First Lieutenant David Andrew Johnson.
2/1/2013: 2013 Assembly Bill 4
Relating to: modifying the requirements for sharing tax increments by tax incremental districts and limiting the participation of certain special purpose districts in tax incremental district financing. (FE)
1/25/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 6
Relating to: modifying the session schedule for the 2013-14 biennial session period and extending the deadline for the governor's budget message.
1/15/2013: 2013 Senate Resolution 3
Relating to: the senate rules.
1/14/2013: 2013 Senate Resolution 2
Relating to: the senate rules.
1/7/2013: 2013 Senate Resolution 1
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2013-2014 senate is organized.
3/28/2014: 2013 Senate Resolution 7
Relating to: the life and public service of Jacob Matthew Clark.
2/26/2014: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 80
Relating to: the life and public service of Bruce Dahmen.
2/13/2014: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 70
Relating to: recognizing Black History Month.
8/21/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 46
Relating to: the life and public service of Kathryn Morrison.
8/16/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 45
Relating to: designating the Honor and Remember Flag as Wisconsin's emblem of service and sacrifice by those in the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty.
7/23/2013: 2013 Senate Bill 231
Relating to: corporate powers of Marine Corps League corporations. (FE)
6/24/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 42
Relating to: designating December 14 as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Sandy Hook school shootings.
5/13/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 32
Relating to: commending His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama upon his visit to Wisconsin on May 14 and 15, 2013.
5/13/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 33
Relating to: recognizing the 110th anniversary of the founding of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
5/8/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 30
Relating to: proclaiming May 17, 18, and 19, 2013, Syttende Mai Weekend.
5/8/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 31
Relating to: declaring May 2013 Drug Court Month.
5/6/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 29
Relating to: proclaiming May 22, 2013, as Pediatric Stroke Awareness Day.
5/3/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 26
Relating to: commending the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team on winning the 2012-13 NCAA Division III Championship.
4/12/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 21
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Marine Corporal Michael Conrad Nolen.
4/12/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 20
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda.
4/1/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 15
Relating to: commending Ms. Tasha Schuh for being crowned Ms. Wheelchair USA.
3/1/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 13
Relating to: the life and military service of United States Army Staff Sergeant Joseph James Altmann.
2/28/2013: 2013 Senate Bill 41
Relating to: designating and marking a specified highway route in the counties of Rock, Dane, Jefferson, Dodge, and Fond du Lac as the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route. (FE)
1/31/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 8
Relating to: the retirement of Pam Shannon, Senior Staff Attorney, Legislative Council Staff, following a long and distinguished career in nonpartisan service to the Wisconsin legislature.
1/17/2013: 2013 Senate Joint Resolution 3
Relating to: the life and public service of Orlan Prestegard.
2/11/2014: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 94
Relating to: commending and congratulating Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen for his contributions to the University of Wisconsin-Stout and the state of Wisconsin.
1/31/2014: 2013 Assembly Bill 712
Relating to: exempting employers from keeping records of the hours of employment of an employee who is exempt from the overtime pay requirement and who is not compensated on an hourly rate basis.
1/24/2014: 2013 Assembly Bill 668
Relating to: providing grants to counties that offer substance abuse treatment and diversion from incarceration and making an appropriation. (FE)
10/28/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 69
Relating to: the life and public service of Lary J. Swoboda.
10/28/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 68
Relating to: commending the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing on its 65th anniversary.
9/17/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 54
Relating to: congratulating Steve Walters on being named Wisconsin Journalist of the Year.
9/13/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 53
Relating to: commending WFAW-AM/WSJY-FM radio for 50 years of quality community broadcasting.
8/5/2013: 2013 Assembly Bill 271
Relating to: corporate powers of Marine Corps League corporations. (FE)
6/11/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 42
Relating to: recognizing June 19, 2013, as Juneteenth Day.
5/8/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 33
Relating to: the life and military service of Sergeant Andrew Steiner, United States Army Reserve.
5/1/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 29
Relating to: the life and public service of Judge William J. Duffy.
5/1/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 30
Relating to: recognizing May as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month.
4/30/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 28
Relating to: commending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team for winning a second consecutive national championship.
4/30/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 27
Relating to: commending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's wheelchair basketball team for winning a second consecutive national championship.
3/4/2013: 2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 11
Relating to: proclaiming women's history month.
3/1/2013: 2013 Assembly Bill 55
Relating to: designating and marking a specified highway route in the counties of Rock, Dane, Jefferson, Dodge, and Fond du Lac as the Rock River Trail Scenic and Historic Route. (FE)
2/1/2013: 2013 Assembly Bill 8
Relating to: restrictions on hunting within a specified distance of hospitals, sanatoriums, or school grounds and restrictions imposed by local governmental units on hunting with a bow and arrow or crossbow.
3/11/2014: 2013 SA2-SA1-SB324
3/11/2014: 2013 SA1-AA3-SB338
2/18/2014: 2013 SA3-SB527
5/7/2013: 2013 SA1-SB147
