100 years ago, as the new 3rd state capitol opened, representatives sat in these very seats to take on the great responsibilities that faced them at that time. They were no different than we are today. Over the course of the past 100 years, the people who sat in this chamber made things happen.
Early on in the century, it was things like creating the first unemployment insurance program in the country. As the century progressed, lawmakers created the UW System, world-class tech colleges, the first LGBT protections in the country and helped guarantee Wisconsin’s place as a national innovator.
More recently, our innovations have continued. School choice, voter ID, ACT 10, eliminating welfare as we knew it. And just this last session, we enacted right-to-work, the H.O.P.E. agenda and many other proposals that continue to improve the lives of our fellow citizens.
The amazing thing about all of these accomplishments is that they were done by Republicans, oftentimes with the cooperation of their Democratic colleagues. In this room, people didn’t just worry about their own political future, they worried about the future of our state. And we will continue that great tradition during this session.
To my fellow representatives, thank you for selecting me to lead these efforts as Speaker of the Assembly. It’s an honor and privilege to serve you and the state of Wisconsin in this capacity.
Before we begin the new session, it’s important to look back and remember the leaders who have helped to shape the significant reforms in our state.
Several former Assembly Speakers have joined us today. I would ask you to hold your applause until I introduce them all. Jeff Fitzgerald served as Speaker from 2011-2012; Mike Sheridan served as Speaker from 2009-2010; Mike Huebsch served as Speaker from 2007-2008; Scott Jensen served as Speaker from 1997-2002; Ben Brancel served as Speaker in 1997; Justice David Prosser served as speaker from 1995-1996; and finally, Judge and former Speaker Harold Froelich, served from 1967-1970. Join me in a round of applause to show our appreciation for their service to our great state.
Former Speakers Anderson, Loftus, Kinicki and Gard were also invited but could not attend and send their best wishes and congratulations as we begin our new session.
I would also like to thank the special guests who joined us for this occasion. Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Chief Justice Pat Roggensack, Dr. Ellsworth Brown, Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and His Most Reverend Excellency Robert Morlino, the Bishop of Madison.
We also share this milestone with the important people in our lives - husbands and wives, sons and daughters, parents and grandparents - the people each of us depend on for support and guidance. On behalf of the Wisconsin State Assembly, I would like to thank you for being here and for your continued love and support.
On a personal note, I would like to recognize my own parents, Tom and Margie Vos. With each new year and every new session, my love and appreciation for them grows and grows. Thanks for being here mom and dad.
Today also marks the beginning of a new chapter of history that we all get a chance to help craft. We are serving the state of Wisconsin during a remarkable time. In an age of great technological advances, with a unified Republican government and the potential spread of federalism, our leaders in Washington DC have indicated that more responsibility will be given to states to decide what’s best for our citizens, our infrastructure and our future. We will again be what former US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis called the “laboratories of democracy”. Hopefully we will be given an opportunity to make decisions that were once left up to bureaucrats in Washington, DC. Let’s take this great responsibility and run with it.
It’s our turn to solve Wisconsin’s problems. Problems that have seemed too difficult to fix or too big to solve. Problems that have been put off for far too long.
Each of the sessions led by the former Speakers I just mentioned had their own challenges. Some dealt with budget deficits and others had the benefit of surpluses. What will our legacy be when we adjourn this session? Let me give you a peek of what I hope we can accomplish working together.
Let’s work together to find a long-term solution to our transportation funding crisis. In the next ten years, more than 40 percent of our main roads and half of our secondary roads will be in poor condition. There is no silver bullet to solving the deficit in the Transportation Fund so we must ensure the DOT spends only what’s needed, by prioritizing projects and finding a sustainable funding source. While there are no easy answers, all options should be on the table.
Let’s work together to fix and modernize our school funding formula. Our children today are the Wisconsin of tomorrow. We need an updated funding mechanism that works for every school and every child. A system that simply gives out state dollars based on population needs to be updated to recognize the fact that more school districts have declining student populations than increasing.
Let’s work together to reform our state’s tax code. We should all take credit for the fact that Wisconsin is finally out of the top ten worst taxed states, but the tax burden on our families is still too much. It’s too complex, it’s outdated and it needs a major overhaul. We can do better. Our tax code should generate the revenue we need but not do it by penalizing hard working middle class families and the businesses that employ them.
Let’s keep working together to address the one issue that isn’t talked about nearly enough - Wisconsin’s worker shortage and the growing crisis ahead. In each of the previous sessions, we have devoted additional resources to preparing the workforce of tomorrow. We know most job openings are primarily due to retirements.
In Wisconsin today about 15% of our population is 65 and older. But if you draw a line from Door County to the Mississippi, in less than 20 years, half the counties north of that line will have more than a third of their population past retirement age. And more than 11-percent of our state’s population will be over the age of 75.
The Department of Workforce Development projects the total average annual job openings through 2024 are close to one-hundred thousand. Let me repeat that: every year our state has 100-thousand jobs to fill.
Here’s another statistic we need to reflect on - we are only graduating less than 58,000 students a year from our high schools and not all of them stay here when they finish their schooling. We need to attract more bright and talented young people to our state and work even harder to give opportunities so that every student stays in the Badger State.
It’s clear Wisconsin needs more workers and these workers need the necessary training. One way to do that is to focus on populations that need a helping hand. People who are disabled, people who have been incarcerated, people who have substance abuse problems, folks who haven’t gotten a high school diploma.
If we are going to grow our state, we can’t afford to leave anyone behind. We are a compassionate state that will continue to help our citizens through difficult financial times. We can and should provide temporary help to get Wisconsinites back on their feet. But for many in Wisconsin, government dependence has become a way of life. We must work to get these individuals off of welfare and help them find a good paying job.
As you think about these serious challenges; reforming and reducing the tax burden, rewriting the school funding formula, addressing the transportation fund deficit, training more workers and the myriad of other challenges we will tackle, we must never forget that these problems have taken quite a while to grow to the point they are today so we won’t rush into any quick fixes. Just passing more well-meaning laws that don’t actually deal with the root problem isn’t our job; finding long-term solutions is the real reason we are here.
One of my favorite Presidents Calvin Coolidge once said, ‘You can display no greater wisdom than by resisting proposals for needless legislation…it is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.’
And for the folks we represent back home who are depending on us, I can assure them, government will not grow on our watch. We will kill bad bills and work hard to pass good, well thought out proposals to move our state forward.
So today, as we start our legislative work, I would like to issue a challenge to every elected official in this beautiful State Capitol. I challenge you to put aside what’s best for your own political career, and do what’s best for Wisconsin.
Instead of attacking one another and saying what shouldn’t be done, let’s work together to find what can be done. The political campaigns are over so it’s time to put aside our differences and the rigid ideologies some would ask us to maintain. We must stop the name calling and incessant hyperbole, and actually work together to solve the real issues facing our state’s future.
As Wisconsinites, I know we can look beyond our regional and political differences and find common ground. We do that every day.
Just this past weekend, our state celebrated a tremendous Packer victory over the Lions and the Badgers brought home another trophy with their win at the Cotton Bowl. We have much more to celebrate in Wisconsin because I’m certain the Packers will bring back the Lombardi trophy.
Our economy is growing: we have low unemployment, more people are working than ever before, and new businesses are opening their doors every day. These are historic times for Wisconsin and our country. Let’s make history ourselves, in this chamber, this session, by turning our big ideas into reality.
You are the leaders who have been called upon to move our state forward and create a better future for Wisconsin. Let’s get to work.
God bless you and God Bless the state of Wisconsin.”
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Election of Speaker Pro Tempore
Representative R. Brooks nominated Representative August for the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third 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 – Allen, Anderson, August, Ballweg, Barca, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Crowley, Doyle, Duchow, Edming, Felzkowski, Fields, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Pronschinske, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snyder, Spiros, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Wachs, Weatherston, Wichgers, Young, Zamarripa, Zepnick, Zimmerman and Speaker Vos - 99.
Noes - None.
Representative August was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Election of Chief Clerk
Representative Swearingen nominated Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third Session of the Legislature.
Representative C. Taylor seconded the nomination of Patrick E. Fuller for the position of Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third 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 − Allen, Anderson, August, Ballweg, Barca, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Crowley, Doyle, Duchow, Edming, Felzkowski, Fields, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Pronschinske, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snyder, Spiros, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Wachs, Weatherston, Wichgers, Young, Zamarripa, Zepnick, Zimmerman and Speaker Vos - 99.
Noes - None.
Patrick E. Fuller was elected Chief Clerk of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Election of Sergeant-at-Arms
Representative Jagler nominated Anne Tonnon Byers for the position of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third Regular Session of the Legislature.
Representative Meyers seconded the nomination of Anne Tonnon Byers for the position of Sergeant-At-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third 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, Anderson, August, Ballweg, Barca, Berceau, Bernier, Billings, Born, Bowen, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Considine, Crowley, Doyle, Duchow, Edming, Felzkowski, Fields, Gannon, Genrich, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, Jarchow, Katsma, Kerkman, Kessler, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kolste, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Loudenbeck, Macco, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Nerison, Neylon, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pope, Pronschinske, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snyder, Spiros, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Steffen, Steineke, Stuck, Subeck, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Wachs, Weatherston, Wichgers, Young, Zamarripa, Zepnick, Zimmerman and Speaker Vos - 99.
Noes - None.
Anne Tonnon Byers was elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly for the One-Hundred and Third Regular Session of the Legislature.
The oath of office was administered by Speaker Vos.
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Communications
December 30, 2016
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: Rob Brooks
Majority Caucus Chair: Dan Knodl
Majority Caucus Vice-Chair: Romaine Quinn
Majority Caucus Secretary: Jessie Rodriguez
Majority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Samantha Kerkman
Sincerely,
Dan Knodl
Republican Caucus Chair
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December 29, 2016
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: Diane Hesselbein
Minority Caucus Chair: Mark Spreitzer
Minority Caucus Vice-Chair: Steve Doyle
Minority Caucus Secretary: Beth Meyers
Minority Caucus Sergeant-at-Arms: Christine Sinicki
Sincerely,
Mark Spreitzer
Democratic Caucus Chair
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November 23, 2016
