“Senator-elect Patrick Testin, representing the 24th Senate District, will be joining the legislature for the first time. Born in Madison, raised in Marinette, Senator-elect Testin has been active in the community since graduating from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. He is a member of the Ignite Leadership Network of Portage County, a young professionals branch of the United Way, and a member of the Elks Lodge 641.
Senator-elect Testin brings his knowledge from a successful career in sales to the legislature, and will apply it as the Chair of Workforce Development, Military Affairs and Senior Issues.
Senator-elect Testin would like to welcome his fiancée, Hannah Henderson, as well as his parents Matt and Paula Testin. Also in attendance today is his Uncle Joel Egan, Bill Henderson, Mary Henderson and BJ Henderson and friends April Disher, Baylie Disher, Amelia Heup, Brian Morczynski, and Nik Nelson.”
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Risser
“Senator Fred Risser was re-elected to represent the 26th Senate District—home of the State Capitol and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The district includes much of the City of Madison and the Village of Shorewood Hills. A native Madisonian, Senator Risser is the fourth generation of his family to represent this area in the Wisconsin Legislature. He was elected to the Assembly in 1956 and to the Senate in 1962. Senator Risser’s lifelong dedication to public service gives him the distinct honor of being the longest serving state legislator in the United States. He is also regarded as an expert on the rules and procedures of the Wisconsin Senate.
During his tenure in the Wisconsin Legislature, Senator Risser has left a mark on countless areas of policy. His most notable achievement has been enactment of the SmokeFree Wisconsin Act, which has cleared the air in businesses and public spaces throughout the state. Senator Risser is a tireless advocate for maintaining the University of Wisconsin as a world-class teaching and research institution by providing appropriate resources and facilities to draw top students and faculty. He is passionate about preserving Wisconsin’s natural resources through stewardship, the protection of state parks, and expansion of Wisconsin’s vast network of recreational trails.
Joining Senator Risser today is his wife, Nancy Risser, his son Warner Risser, his daughters Lisa White and Sara Risser, his son-in-law Doug Falck, and his grandchildren Adam White, Lizzy White and Noelle Risser.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Craig
“Senator Craig joins the Senate after having served in the Assembly from 2011 to 2017.
A practicing real estate agent, former Trustee for the Village of Big Bend, and former aide to Congressman Paul Ryan, Senator Craig brought his experiences to the Assembly where he worked primarily on banking, judiciary and regulatory reform issues.
Joining Senator Craig in attendance today are his wife, Amy, their children; William, James, Henry, Greta, Paul, and Ruth; his parents, Bill and Carol Craig and his in-laws, Bernie and Karen Schulz as well as his sister Mary, brother Paul and many other members of his family who he thanks for their support as well as his constituents and the Lord for blessing him with the opportunity to serve his state in this office.”
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Hansen
“Re-elected to serve the 30th Senate District, Senator Dave Hansen will once again represent communities in Brown, Oconto, and Marinette Counties. He was first elected to the district in November 2000, making this his fifth term in the Legislature. Senator Hansen will also be a strong voice for the Senate Democratic Caucus as Assistant Democratic Leader once again.
Senator Hansen’s roots in the Green Bay area run deep. Not only is he a third-generation resident, but he also worked as a teacher for eight years at Annunciation Grade School, a truck driver for nearly 20 years at Green Bay’s Department of Public Works, and a Supervisor for six years in Brown County.
Through years of dedicated service to his neighbors, Senator Hansen has been a proponent of middle class workers, like himself, and their families. This session, he will be fighting to protect Wisconsin’s shared values as a member of the following committees: Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism, Energy, Consumer Protection, and Government Reform, Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs, and Survey of Retirement Systems.
Joining Senator Hansen today is his wife Jane Hansen, his brother and sister-in-law Dennis and Mary Jo Hansen, his brother Donald Hansen and members of the Bicoy family.”
Senator Bewley Introduced Senator Shilling
“Senator Jennifer Shilling was elected to her second term in the State Senate in November. The 32nd Senate District is home to the communities of Monroe, La Crosse, Vernon, and Crawford counties in western Wisconsin. The area is known for the natural beauty of the Mississippi River, many rural communities and home to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and top notch health care facilities. Prior to being elected to the Wisconsin Legislature, Senator Shilling worked as a legislative aide to State Representative Mark Meyer and Congressman Ron Kind. In addition to representing her community as a State Senator, Senator Shilling also served as a La Crosse County Supervisor and the State Representative for the 95th Assembly District.
Senator Shilling has been a strong vice for the values ad priorities of her neighbors and constituents. She is proud to support public education and higher education, including our technical colleges and university system, in addition to fostering economic development and creating family supporting jobs. Senator Shilling will again further her efforts to move Wisconsin forward by continuing to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader.
Joining Senator Jennifer Shilling today is her husband Chris, their sons Nate and Zach, several family members, including her sisters Joy Ehlenfeldt and Dana Sampson, several nieces, nephews and cousins, Chris’s sister, Amanda Shilling, and relatives Bill and Marge Babcock, Ann Elhlenfeldt, and Barbara Wiese. Jennifer thanks her family for their love and support and good humor. Together they attend parades, pancake breakfasts, county fairs, and countless other community events, and after 5 years in the Senate, they are still good sports about it. “
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Oath of Office
Upon the calling of the newly elected Senators on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, the following appeared before the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Daniel Kelly, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Robert Cowles Lena C. Taylor
LaTonya Johnson Alberta Darling
Sheila E. Harsdorf Tom Tiffany
Luther S. Olsen Mark Miller
Dan Feyen Duey Stroebel
Robert W. Wirch Patrick Testin
Fred A. Risser Dave Craig
Dave Hansen Jennifer Shilling
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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 Bewley, Carpenter, Cowles, Craig, Darling, Erpenbach, Feyen, S. Fitzgerald, Hansen, Harsdorf, Johnson, Kapenga, C. Larson, Lasee, LeMahieu, Marklein, Miller, Moulton, Nass, Olsen, Petrowski, Ringhand, Risser, Roth, Shilling, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Tiffany, Vinehout, Vukmir, Wanggaard and Wirch - 33.
Absent with leave – None - 0.
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In the Chair
Pursuant to Senate Rule 2 (1), Senator Fitzgerald in the chair. 2:54 P.M.
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Consideration of motions, resolutions, and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading
hist62970Considered as privileged and taken up. Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2017-2018 senate is organized.
By Senators S. Fitzgerald, Roth, Vukmir, Shilling and Bewley.
hist62972The question was: Adoption of Senate Resolution 1? The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 33; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Bewley, Carpenter, Cowles, Craig, Darling, Erpenbach, Feyen, S. Fitzgerald, Hansen, Harsdorf, Johnson, Kapenga, C. Larson, Lasee, LeMahieu, Marklein, Miller, Moulton, Nass, Olsen, Petrowski, Ringhand, Risser, Roth, Shilling, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Tiffany, Vinehout, Vukmir, Wanggaard and Wirch - 33.
Noes – None - 0.
Absent or not voting – None - 0.
Adopted.
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Senate Officers Oath of Office
The President, Roger Roth, the President Pro Tempore, Howard Marklein, the Chief Clerk, Jeffery Renk, and the Sergeant at Arms, Edward A. Blazel, 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 Daniel Kelly, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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In the Chair
Senate President Roth in the chair.
3:01 P.M.
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Remarks of President Roth
“I’d like to begin by thanking a few people whose presence here today has greatly added to the spirit of this celebration. Pastor Alvin Dupree, I deeply appreciated your opening prayer today. Pastor Dupree came to my community not that many years ago – after a 20 plus career in the Marine Corps, he and his wife Chantelle established Family First Ministries in Appleton. Pastor thank you for being with us today.
I would like to thank Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly. Your presence here today made everything official, so thank you for being here. We appreciated your words.
I’d also like to thank Craig Kellenberger, who is the Director of Orchestras at the Renaissance School of Arts, which is a half-day charter school and part of the Appleton Area School District. You and your students did an amazing job here today – thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Next, I’d like to recognize the members of the Chief Clerk’s office, particularly those seated before me today: Chief Clerk Jeff Renk, Erin Gillitzer, Sarah Burhop, Jeffrey Beighley and John Gibson. Together with the Sergeant at Arms Ted Blazel, the Sergeant’s staff and page staff – you make our lives as Senators easier in immeasurable ways. We thank you in advance for all you do for us.
And now I’d like to thank the individuals closest to me. First, I’d like to recognize my life’s inspiration, motivation and love – the mother of our three amazing little boys – my beautiful wife Rebecca. Thank you for your love and support.
Sir Isaac Newton was rumored to have once said that, “if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Seated next to my wife are the two individuals whose shoulders my three brothers and I stand on. They taught us to be gentlemen – to love God and treat people with dignity and respect. They have names in their own right, but to me they’re Mom and Dad. Thanks for all you do for me.
And now to the members of this body. I am honored by your selection of me to serve as Senate President for this body during the upcoming session. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I’m deeply committed to ensuring this session of the legislature is wildly successful – and I assure you it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m up for re-election in two years.
Inaugurations like these truly are remarkable celebrations. They are the crowning achievement in our system of self-government, as fought for and advanced by faithful men and women through the ages. The people of our great state have spoken on Election Day, and we here today respect their wishes with a peaceful transfer of power to the 33 men and women seated here – chosen by the people – who will exercise their powers in the upcoming session as granted to them through our constitution.
We have been well served by our past Senate presidents through the years, from Senator Fred Risser, whose accomplishments have been well noted already today, to that of Senator Mary Lazich who herself became the first woman to serve in that leadership role, whom I might add did an amazing job.
In talking with my immediate predecessor in the State Senate, former Senator Mike Ellis, he impressed upon me the fact that though political parties have their place – nothing can be allowed to trump the integrity and institution of the Wisconsin State Senate. To that end, it is my aim to enforce the rules of this body in equal measure on all members to ensure the minority has an opportunity to be heard while at the same time not infringing on the right of the majority in achieving their goals.
I appreciate in advance your patience with me presiding, as I become more settled in this new role, and I look forward to listening to your many thought-filled debates.
Thank you.”
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President Roth introduced the Senators returning from the 102nd Session: Senators Lasee, Carpenter, Vukmir, Larson, LeMahieu, Nass, Fitzgerald, Ringhand, Marklein, Roth, Wanggaard, Moulton, Bewley, Erpenbach, Petrowski, and Vinehout.
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With unanimous consent, Senator Fitzgerald addressed the members from the rostrum.
Remarks of Majority Leader Fitzgerald
“As we begin the important duty of conducting the work of the people of Wisconsin, I would like to welcome and congratulate the 16 Senators whose oaths were renewed or taken for the first time today. Your constituents have entrusted you with the great privilege and responsibility of representing their interests here in Wisconsin’s statehouse, and I look forward to working with each and every member of this body, new and returning.
I am particularly excited to get back to the work of the legislature after an incredible year both for the Senate and for Wisconsin. Thanks to our work, in 2016 Wisconsin reached record high employment levels, saw our best twelve month private sector job growth in a decade, and is currently enjoying our state’s lowest unemployment rate in 15 years.
In this new session, we must build upon all of the achievements of the last. While Wisconsin’s voters once again cast a vote of confidence in our responsible stewardship, this session we must renew our commitment to moving Wisconsin in the right direction. Over the next two years, this body will be dedicated to improving our business climate and continuing to ensure accountability and efficiency at every level of government. Just as every Wisconsin family must budget for their needs each year, our government must continue to operate within its means, eliminating waste and checking abuse to ensure that our taxpayers’ dollars are well spent.
As we embark on the process of crafting the next biennial budget, we will ensure that the best interests of Wisconsin’s residents remain a priority. Under Republican control, Wisconsin has already seen over four and a half billion dollars returned to the pockets of taxpayers. We still believe that individuals should ultimately decide how to spend their hard-earned paychecks—not the government. Despite our already significant efforts to lower the tax burden, Wisconsin remains a high-tax state due to the exceptional quantity and quality of services that the state provides. More reform of our tax code is still needed so that it is simple, streamlined, and eases the overall burden on hard-working Wisconsin residents while maintaining this excellent quality.
Last session I began the year by reminding this body not only of all that we have been able to accomplish, but how much we have achieved with a spirit of bipartisanship and cooperation. This remains true today: in the last two legislative sessions, well over 90 percent of the bills that passed through these chambers and were signed into law in Wisconsin garnered support from both sides of the aisle.
Once again, I call on all of my colleagues gathered here today to enter into this legislative session with that renewed spirit.
As members of the legislature, we are too often characterized by our divisions, but all of us here today are united by our shared desire to make our state a better place. With that in mind, I welcome all of you–new and returning—to the 103rd Session of the Wisconsin State Senate.”
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