“The Senator from the 31st is the fourth and final new Senator that we welcome today.
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From cranberry bogs to rolling hills of dairy farms and on to bluffs high above the Mississippi River, her Senate District covers all or parts of nine rural counties and the southern half of the city of Eau Claire, including the UW Eau Claire.
With her background as a farmer and former university professor, she is ideally suited to represent the 31st District. She is the 28th senator to serve the district and the first woman.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Senator Kathleen Vinehout.
Joining Senator Vinehout today are her husband, Doug Kane and her son, Nathan. Please stand and be recognized."
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Kanavas
“Senator Ted Kanavas was elected to serve the 33rd Senate District in the summer of 2001 by winning a special election. Since his election victory in 2001, Senator Kanavas has won two more elections by large margins.
Senator Kanavas' district includes portions of Waukesha, Washington and Dodge Counties.
His focus, since being elected, has been on economic development and job creation initiatives, which have been instrumental in helping make our state more attractive for business retention and attraction.
Senator Kanavas has served on the Joint Committee on Finance, chaired the Senate Committee on Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs, and has used his private sector experience to shape high-quality public policy.
In the Senate, Senator Kanavas was a leader in the effort to pass the Broadband Deployment Act, Act 255--which increased venture capital activity in this state. He authored the County Board Reduction Bill, making it easier for county boards to reduce their size. He has also helped craft both the GROW Wisconsin Agenda and Invest Wisconsin Package.
Senator Kanavas has been a life-long resident of the city of Brookfield, where he and his wife Mary are raising their three children--Kelly, Nick, and Kate.
Joining him today are his wife Mary, his daughter Kate, his son Nick and his mother Min Kanavas."
Senator Leibham Introduced Senator Fitzgerald
“Senator Scott Fitzgerald was first elected to represent the 13th Senate District in 1994. Last November he was re-elected to his 4th term. The 13th Senate District includes parts of Dodge, Jefferson, Columbia, Waukesha and Dane Counties.
Scott has been elected by his Republican colleagues to serve as Minority Leader during this legislative session.
In prior sessions, he has served as Majority Leader, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, and Chairman of Senate Corrections Committee. He is a Lt. Colonel in the US Army Reserves.
As co-chair of the finance committee last session, Scott helped craft a budget that froze property taxes, supported public education, cut taxes and fully-funded vital health care programs. He is recognized as a leader who can work across partisan lines to find solutions and is a tireless advocate for Wisconsin taxpayers.
Scott has been honored for his work on behalf of Wisconsin's veterans, farmers and small business owners.
Scott is joined today by his wife Lisa; his sons Scottie, Brennan and Connor; his parents, Steve and Bonnie; and his in-laws, Elvin and Louise Will."
Senator Jauch Introduced Senator Robson
“Each inauguration marks a milestone in our Democracy as duly elected officials are sworn to uphold the Constitution and begin the important work of fulfilling our responsibilities to serve the public will. On November 7th the Wisconsin electorate chose Democrats as majority party in the State Senate and it is my privilege to introduce Senator Judy Robson, the new Senate Majority Leader.
It is an historical occasion for so many reasons and a day of firsts for all of us. Notably Judy Robson will be the first woman in Wisconsin history to hold the office of Democratic Majority Leader.
This historic day affirms an essential principle that Wisconsin women are established as powerful players but also are a part of the basic furnishing of the State Senate.
Judy has earned the distinction of serving as Senate Majority Leader. She has held public office since 1987 representing the citizens of southern Wisconsin. Formerly a nurse, she has been a leading advocate regarding senior citizen and health care issues. As a mother of two sons and one daughter she has passionately worked for a legislative agenda to strengthen families by providing opportunities for education, quality and affordable health care and an ability to achieve the promise of the American dream.
The foundation for Judy's service and leadership are based upon the values of respect for others, her love of the Institution, and her desire to make the Legislative process serve public interests rather than politics.
Across the political spectrum she is respected for her diplomacy, fairness, for her reasonable approach to both public policy and politics and for her dedication to making this Institution and this process worthy of the confidence of Wisconsin citizens.
Judy's commitment is to foster unity rather than division, tolerance rather than political partisanship, cooperation rather than conflict and encouragement for solving the important issues of the day. Judy's leadership will set a high standard for her colleagues and for this body that will match or exceed public expectation.
This is an extremely special day for all of us, but it is most fulfilling for our families.
Joining Senator Robson today are her children; her son Mark, her son Matt and Matt's wife, Linda, her daughter Beth and Beth's husband Mark. Additionally, all four of her grandchildren are here, David, Kyla, Jesse and Ryanne.
Please join me in honoring Senator Robson and her family."
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Upon the calling of the newly elected Senators on Wednesday, January 3, 2007, the following appeared before the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.
Alan J. Lasee Tim Carpenter
James O. Sullivan, Jr. Jeff Plale
Joe Leibham Neal Kedzie
Scott Fitzgerald Judy Robson
Dale W. Schultz Michael G. Ellis
John W. Lehman Pat Kreitlow
Bob Jauch Jon Erpenbach
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Russ Decker
Kathleen Vinehout
and Theodore J. Kanavas
Senator Lasee in the chair.
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The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Breske, Carpenter, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kapanke, Kedzie, Kreitlow, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Lehman, Leibham, Miller, Olsen, Plale, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Sullivan, Taylor, Vinehout and Wirch - 33.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - None.
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Considered as privileged and taken up.
Senate Resolution
1
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2007-2008 senate is organized.
By Senators Robson, Risser, Hansen, Fitzgerald, and Leibham.
Read.
The question was: Shall Senate Resolution
1 be adopted?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 33; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Breske, Carpenter, Coggs, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Erpenbach, S. Fitzgerald, Grothman, Hansen, Harsdorf, Jauch, Kanavas, Kapanke, Kedzie, Kreitlow, A. Lasee, Lassa, Lazich, Lehman, Leibham, Miller, Olsen, Plale, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Schultz, Sullivan, Taylor, Vinehout and Wirch.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - None.
Adopted.
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The President, Fred A. Risser, the President Pro Tempore, Tim Carpenter, the Chief Clerk, Robert J. Marchant, 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 Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Senate President Risser in the chair.
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Remarks of President Risser
“Before I make any remarks, I notice that we have former Senator Rude with us. I would like to invite him up to the podium to join us for a minute. The three of us, Senator Lasee, Senator Rude, and myself are the only Senators to have served as President of the Wisconsin state Senate and I am so pleased that Senator Rude could join us today.
The gavel just handed to me by Senator Lasee is still warm and I notice several new notches in it. Senator Lasee has had a distinguished record as President of the state Senate for the last four years. One of his legacies is his effort, under very difficult circumstances, to run the Senate on schedule even to the exasperation of his own party at times. It's an effort that I am going to continue. Senator Lasee did a very admirable job and I'm going to try to do as well as he did, and yet better if possible. I consider this an important part of Senate procedure.
I would like to express my appreciation also to Rob Marchant, our Chief Clerk, and to Ted Blazel, our Sergeant at Arms, for their past services and for their willingness to continue. It used to be that these jobs were patronage jobs and whenever the party shifted in the state Senate they would shift the Sergeant and the Clerk accordingly. Under our previous Chief Clerk Don Schneider, who served for 26-1/2 years, we professionalized these positions. I am so pleased that we have kept this tradition. I have full confidence that Rob and Ted will continue to serve Democrats and Republicans alike in the Senate in the same professional manner as they have in the past.
I am also pleased that Senator Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee has been selected as the President Pro Tem. He's a student of the rules. He served in a similar position in the Assembly as the assistant to the Speaker Pro Tem. I am sure that he will serve us well.
Just a little bit of history: We became a state in 1848 and until 1979 the presiding officer of the state Senate was the Lieutenant Governor. In 1979, a constitutional amendment was overwhelmingly supported by the voters of this state to provide that the state Senate select its own presiding officer as is done in 25 of the 50 states in the U.S. I was selected the first presiding officer. Since then there have been several shifts in the majority party and in the presiding officers of this body. Four years ago I handed this gavel to Senator Lasee. I'm honored to have it back again.
I want to welcome all our guests here today. We're glad you could join us in our swearing-in ceremony this afternoon. In the same 50 years I have served in the Legislature, neither the Senate nor Assembly Chambers have been closed to the public. We welcome you to come and watch your government in action at any time. Later this spring or early this summer you may not have to travel to Madison to see what we are doing. The state Legislature has made an agreement with WisconsinEye to have them cover our sessions from gavel to gavel and also to photograph and broadcast some of the more important hearings. In the interest of good and open government I think this is a very desirable innovation.
I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as President of the Senate again and I pledge to all of you that I will try to make this body the best legislative body in the country and that we will be having an open and a fair forum to discuss and address the issues of the day.
Thank you so much."
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With unanimous consent, Senator Robson addressed the members from the rostrum.
Remarks of Majority Leader Robson
“Mr. President, leader Fitzgerald, fellow senators, public servants, family, friends, and proud citizens of the state of Wisconsin:
“If not us...who?"
The words of Robert Kennedy from so many years ago remain relevant today. These precious words offer us a starting point...a stepping stone...a bridge to accomplish our shared goals.
As we begin this New Year and begin this 98th session of the State Senate, we embark on a journey together as public servants.
We are teachers, bricklayers, lawyers, dairy farmers and nurses. We are veterans, business entrepreneurs, factory workers, and truck drivers.
Diverse...yet...united. United as a community. A community of senators.
The first Wisconsin State Senate convened 159 years ago in 1848. Many eloquent speeches given...one thousand senators having served.
We now stand with each other before you...the people of this state as colleagues. Colleagues linked to this history but also linked to the future with our shared goal: to renew our commitment to uphold, honor and revere the legacy of this great institution.
With this power comes great responsibility: the awesome responsibility to protect and reaffirm the public's confidence and trust in its government.
