Representative Steineke nominated Representative Vos for the position of Speaker of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the chair declared nominations closed.
Representative Steineke asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the Assembly recorded as voting for Representative Vos for Speaker of the Assembly. Granted.
For Representative Vos − Representatives Allen, August, Ballweg, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Craig, Czaja, Danou, Doyle, Edming, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Heaton, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kapenga, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Knudson, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, T. Larson, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Spiros, Spreitzer, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Vos, Wachs, Weatherston, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick - 98.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Representative Milroy - 1.
Representative Vos was elected Speaker of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by the Honorable Justice David Prosser, Jr. of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Speaker Vos in the chair.
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Remarks by the Speaker
“Good afternoon and thank you for attending the inauguration of the 102nd Wisconsin State Assembly.
First and foremost, let me offer a warm and heartfelt welcome to the family, friends and special guests joining us today: Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Justice Patience Roggensack, and Superintendent Tony Evers.
To my fellow representatives, thank you for selecting me, once again, as Speaker of the Assembly. It’s an honor and privilege to serve you and the state of Wisconsin in this capacity.
I also must thank the citizens of the 63rd Assembly District in Racine County who continue to put their trust in me to be their representative.
Today is a day to celebrate. Ninety-nine men and women took the oath of office and became state representatives, each serving as the voice of 57,000 people. Congratulations to all of you.
We share this special occasion with the important people in our lives - sons and daughters, husbands and wives, parents and grandparents - the people each of us depend on for support and guidance. I would like to recognize my mom and dad for being here. Their love and support made me who I am today. Thanks mom and dad.
While we never say it often enough – thank you. Let’s take a moment and give all of our families a well-deserved round of applause from the members.
As we begin a new session of the legislature, we should also take time to remember our predecessors. More than 5,000 people have served in this chamber since Wisconsin’s statehood in 1848.
Today, we are honored to have several former Assembly Speakers with us. I would ask you to hold your applause until I introduce them all. Jeff Fitzgerald served as Speaker from 2011-2013; Mike Huebsch served as Speaker from 2007-2009; John Gard served as Speaker from 2003-2007; Scott Jensen served as Speaker from 1997-2003; and Ben Brancel served as Speaker in 1997. Justice David Prosser is behind me and I thank him for administering the oath of office. He served as Speaker from 1995-1997. Finally, Judge and former Speaker Harold Froelich served from 1967-1971. Let’s show them our appreciation for their service to the state.
The other former speakers were invited but could not attend and sent their best wishes.
The longest serving Assembly Speaker, Tom Loftus once said to me: we should never forget the Legislature is a co-equal branch of government. As state legislators, we have been given a great responsibility. It’s our job to listen to our constituents and serve as their voice when passing laws and approving a state budget.
But the representatives in the Wisconsin State Assembly do much more: we are creators of big ideas. The legislators in this chamber solve problems impacting families across our state. And they make reforms that improve the state’s bottom line and improve the lives of every person in Wisconsin.
Whether it’s reforming the mental health system, the “first in the nation” independent review of officer involved shootings, or our H.O.P.E. agenda to combat heroin and opiate abuse, these big ideas come from you.
And now it’s your time, it’s our time, to make our mark on the future of Wisconsin. As we work together on these big ideas, I ask that you not take the easy route and just propose additional ways to spend taxpayer dollars. Instead, let’s work to find ways to curb government spending and reduce bureaucracy.
In the next session, we won’t look to create new government programs. Instead, I challenge you to think of ways to reduce the size of government by consolidating agencies and eliminating programs to make government more efficient and effective.
As President Ronald Reagan once said, “Man is not free unless government is limited: as government expands, liberty contracts."
When Republicans took back the majority in the state Assembly four years ago, we seized the opportunity to make a better Wisconsin. We made important budget reforms and got our fiscal house in order. Last session, we cut taxes, not once, not twice, but three separate times. This session, we can now focus on fundamental government reform.
Wisconsin is a compassionate state and we will continue to help those who are less fortunate and in need of a helping hand. But we will also reform those programs to ensure that temporary assistance is a tool to move people into the real world of work.
It’s time to ask ourselves some tough questions: How much government do we really need as we position ourselves in the global economy? How do we make every citizen as productive as possible? Do we need every state agency? Is every school, university and technical college preparing every student to succeed in this hypercompetitive world? What regulations can we eliminate? Where can we reduce the role of government and still provide necessary safety nets so the private sector can create jobs?
As we start this session, let us never forget why we are here. We are here to work together to solve problems and I promise you at the end of this legislative session, we will all look back with pride on our accomplishments.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you, Republicans and Democrats alike, to help make your big ideas a reality and make an even better Wisconsin for generations to enjoy.
God bless you and God bless the state of Wisconsin.”
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Election of Speaker Pro Tempore
Representative Nygren nominated Representative August for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative Steineke asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the assembly recorded as voting for Representative August for Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. Granted
For Representative August – Representatives Allen, August, Ballweg, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Craig, Czaja, Danou, Doyle, Edming, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Heaton, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kapenga, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Knudson, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, T. Larson, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Spiros, Spreitzer, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Wachs, Weatherston, Young, Zamarripa, Zepnick and Speaker Vos - 98.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Representative Milroy - 1.
Representative August was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Election of Chief Clerk
Representative Schraa nominated Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Session of the Legislature.
Representative Danou seconded the nomination of Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative Steineke 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 Allen, August, Ballweg, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Craig, Czaja, Danou, Doyle, Edming, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Heaton, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kapenga, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Knudson, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, T. Larson, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Spiros, Spreitzer, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Wachs, Weatherston, Young, Zamarripa, Zepnick and Speaker Vos - 98.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Representative Milroy - 1.
Patrick E. Fuller was elected Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Election of Sergeant-at-Arms
Representative Kerkman nominated Anne Tonnon Byers for the position of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representative Hebl seconded the nomination of Anne Tonnon Byers for the position of Sergeant-At-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
There being no further nominations, the Speaker declared nominations closed.
Representative Steineke asked unanimous consent that a unanimous ballot be cast with all members of the Assembly recorded as voting for Anne Tonnon Byers for Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms. Granted.
For Anne Tonnon Byers: Representatives Allen, August, Ballweg, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Craig, Czaja, Danou, Doyle, Edming, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Heaton, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kapenga, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Knudson, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, T. Larson, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Spiros, Spreitzer, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Wachs, Weatherston, Young, Zamarripa, Zepnick and Speaker Vos - 98.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Representative Milroy - 1.
Anne Tonnon Byers was elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Second Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Communications
December 23, 2014
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 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: Jim Steineke
Assistant Majority Leader: Dan Knodl
Majority Caucus Chair: John Murtha
Majority Caucus Vice-Chair: Lee Nerison
Majority Caucus Secretary: Jessie Rodriguez
Majority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Samantha Kerkman
Sincerely,
JOHN MURTHA
Republican Caucus Chair
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December 23, 2014
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 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: Peter Barca
Assistant Minority Leader: Katrina Shankland
Minority Caucus Chair: Andy Jorgensen
Minority Caucus Vice-Chair: JoCasta Zamarripa
Minority Caucus Secretary: Beth Meyers
Minority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Josh Zepnick
Sincerely,
Andy Jorgensen
