Report of Committees
The committee on Senate Organization reports:
Pursuant to Senate Rule 97, the attached lists shall be the seating chart and room assignments of the Senate for the 2015-2016 Legislative Session. Senator Room Number
Janet Bewley 126 South
Tim Carpenter 109 South
Robert Cowles 118 South
Alberta Darling 317 East
Jon B. Erpenbach 104 South
Paul Farrow 323 South
Scott L. Fitzgerald 211 South
Rick Gudex 415 South
Dave Hansen 106 South
Nikiya Harris Dodd 3 South
Sheila Harsdorf 122 South
Chris Larson 5 South
Frank G. Lasee 316 South
Julie Lassa 20 South
Mary Lazich 219 South
Devin LeMahieu 15 South
Howard Marklein 8 South
Mark Miller 7 South
Terry Moulton 310 South
Stephen Nass 10 South
Luther Olsen 313 South
Jerry Petrowski 123 South
Janis Ringhand 22 South
Fred A. Risser 130 South
Roger Roth 306 South
Jennifer Shilling 206 South
Lena C. Taylor 19 South
Tom Tiffany 409 South
Kathleen Vinehout 108 South
Leah Vukmir 131 South
Van H. Wanggaard 319 South
Robert Wirch 127 South
Vacant 18 South
The Senate Session Chamber seating arrangement is listed from facing out from the President’s chair, going left to right, starting with the inner ring:
Senators Harris Dodd, Ringhand, Larson, Wirch, Lassa, Carpenter, Taylor, Erpenbach, Risser, Miller, Bewley, and Vinehout.
Outer Ring:
Senators Lazich, Wanggaard, Marklein, Roth, Moulton, LeMahieu, Nass, Olsen, Harsdorf, Cowles, Gudex, Darling, Farrow, Fitzgerald, Shilling, Hansen, Vacant, Lasee, Tiffany, Vukmir, and Petrowski.
Ayes: 5 − Senators Fitzgerald, Lazich, Farrow, Shilling, and Hansen.
Noes: 0−None.
Sincerely,
SCOTT FITZGERALD
Majority Leader
Chair, Committee on Senate Organization
___________
The committee on Senate Organization reports:
Pursuant to Senate Rule 20 (1) (c), the attached list shall be the standing committees of the Senate for the 2015-16 Legislative Session: Number of members on each committee are listed in parenthesis. 9 member committees will have 5 majority party members and 4 minority party members. 7 member committees will have 4 majority party members and 3 minority party members. 5 member committees will have 3 majority party members and 2 minority party members.
Committee on:
Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism (9)
Economic Development and Commerce (5)
Education (7)
Education Reform and Government Operations (5)
Elections and Local Government (5)
Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry (5)
Health and Human Services (5)
Insurance, Housing, and Trade (5)
Judiciary and Public Safety (5)
Labor and Government Reform (5)
Natural Resources and Energy (5)
Revenue, Financial Institutions, and Rural Issues (5)
Transportation and Veterans Affairs (5)
Universities and Technical Colleges (5)
Workforce Development, Public Works, and Military Affairs (5)
Ayes: 5 − Senators Fitzgerald, Ellis, Grothman, Larson, and Hansen.
Noes: 0−None.
Sincerely,
SCOTT FITZGERALD
Majority Leader
Chair, Committee on Senate Organization
___________
Petitions and Communications
State of Wisconsin
Government Accountability Board
December 23, 2014
The Honorable, the Senate:
You have asked for 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 7, 2015 spring election. The Legislature must complete action on a proposed constitutional amendment no later than Tuesday, January 27, 2015.
By statute, all proposed constitutional amendments and any other measure or questions 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 70 days before the election at which the amendment, measure, or question will appear on the ballot. Wis. Stat. §8.37. Tuesday, January 27, 2015 is 70 days before the April 7, 2015 spring election. In order for the legislative action to be filed in our office, it is sufficient for the chief clerks to notify our office by e-mail no later than Tuesday, January 27, 2015 that the Legislature passed the resolution. It is not necessary that we received the signed resolution by the close of business on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.
In order to facilitate preparation for the April 2015 spring election, I suggest sponsoring legislators contact the office of the Attorney General to make arrangements for the preparation of the explanatory statement required by Wis. Stat. §10.01 (2)(c). The explanatory statement is published in the paper by the county clerk immediately before the election. It is also posted at the polling place on Election Day. Please make the appropriate arrangements to ensure that this information is communicated to the members of the Legislature. If you or any member of the Legislature has a question, please contact me at 608-261-8683, Elections Division Administrator Michael Haas at 608-266-0136, or ask to speak to one of our Elections Specialists.
Sincerely,
KEVIN J. KENNEDY
Director and General Counsel